Genuine components on eBay

[Srbel]

Are there any reliable eBay sellers that buy electronic components in big quantities of reputable distributors (Farnell, Digikey, Mouser,...) and then sell them in small quantities on eBay?

So, genuine components. For smaller price, or the same.

The thing is, if I want to buy something of Farnell, the shipping (even for 1 resistor) would be like 40 pounds, or I think 80 dollars of Digikey. And then, I need to pay customs fee and taxes.

I could use a local electronic component distributor to order parts of Farnell via them. But they charge 10% of the value, plus I again have to pay customs fee and taxes, plus a local shipping.

But, if I buy on eBay, something that can fit in an envelope (most of things I buy there come in an envelope), shipping is usually free and customs don't even open it nor do they charge me customs fee nor taxes.

[BravoV]

Same problem & situation here on the shipping cost and local customs.

Just suggesting you to hang around for a while here in this forum, you probably will find good friends around here that live in US, that will help you to purchase stuff from Digikey,Mouser etc and then ship it thru cheaper courier into your country.

Much more cheaper and I've done numerous transactions without any problem. 

[Tandy]

I doubt that there would be enough to be made from doing this. Lets say for example the difference between the 1off price and the 1000 price is 15%. Now add eBay and PayPal fees to this price and half your margin is taken by eBay. Who is going to be able to make enough to earn a living earning 70c on every $10 order. They would have to take 100 such orders just to make enough to be equivalent to working a minimum wage job for the day.

[Kostas]

There is at least one UK based ebay seller who seems to buy from Farnel on a "when needed" basis and resells with a markup. He obviously doesn't stock any of the ~190k items he sells. In other words, it's highly unlikely that you'll find such a seller.

[nctnico]

There is at least one UK based ebay seller who seems to buy from Farnel on a "when needed" basis and resells with a markup. He obviously doesn't stock any of the ~190k items he sells. In other words, it's highly unlikely that you'll find such a seller.

I did buy something from that UK based seller (by mistake) last year. I could be an option though for the topic starter.

[Wilksey]

I've purchased some CPLD's from Ebay before now, not knowing where they came from, but the seller was a auto electronics company, and what arrived were 40 Lattice CPLD's still sealed in the Farnell wrapping, got all 40 for around £13, which is a fair deal cheaper than buying from Farnell.  Maybe I was lucky, but here in the UK, the min order is £20 for free delivery I think for Farnell, DigiKey and Mouser are not too badly priced, but you have to make it worth your while by buying bulk, Future Electronics are always a favourable source amongst my work colleagues also.

[JoeN]

Are there any reliable eBay sellers that buy electronic components in big quantities of reputable distributors (Farnell, Digikey, Mouser,...) and then sell them in small quantities on eBay?

So, genuine components. For smaller price, or the same.

The thing is, if I want to buy something of Farnell, the shipping (even for 1 resistor) would be like 40 pounds, or I think 80 dollars of Digikey. And then, I need to pay customs fee and taxes.

I could use a local electronic component distributor to order parts of Farnell via them. But they charge 10% of the value, plus I again have to pay customs fee and taxes, plus a local shipping.

But, if I buy on eBay, something that can fit in an envelope (most of things I buy there come in an envelope), shipping is usually free and customs don't even open it nor do they charge me customs fee nor taxes.

Just buy the eBay parts.  Even if they are not genuine they work.  I have bought quite a bit and even the obviously fake parts like the cheap MAX7219s actually work.

[Kostas]

Just buy the eBay parts.  Even if they are not genuine they work.  I have bought quite a bit and even the obviously fake parts like the cheap MAX7219s actually work.

For the most part, I aggree with you. Many parts are pretty safe anyway, I'd feel safe buying microcontrollers off ebay. Jellybean parts like an LM324 op amp are probably safe too. It's a low spec op amp, so it will probably work just fine, even if fake. But I'd be very suspicious of any mid - high spec analog part, be it an op amp, a transistor, whatever, regardless if its cheap or not. I'd also be very suspicious of any "quality" passives, like NCC electrolytic capacitors.

[IconicPCB]

Sta ti je potrebno?

[ez24]

What do you think of the LM338K

about $1 on ebay  and $50 from a retailer

I wonder if you could buy 25 on ebay and test them to try and get one good one.  If so that one would be half price ?

I wished there was a repository where people could leave feedback on components.  For example I could look up LM338K and see where I could get a good one (other than a retailer).  Aliexpress can do this but only under the seller which is not all that helpful.

[IconicPCB]

EZ ,

Since you are in the states look to Rochester electronics, they carry and in some cases make old or obsolete items.
There are a number of other vendors who try to support technologies of that era.
I have had contact with a number of suppliers of legacy parts.
Try   

Abacus Technologies
Orange County, California

[JoeN]

Just buy the eBay parts.  Even if they are not genuine they work.  I have bought quite a bit and even the obviously fake parts like the cheap MAX7219s actually work.

For the most part, I aggree with you. Many parts are pretty safe anyway, I'd feel safe buying microcontrollers off ebay. Jellybean parts like an LM324 op amp are probably safe too. It's a low spec op amp, so it will probably work just fine, even if fake. But I'd be very suspicious of any mid - high spec analog part, be it an op amp, a transistor, whatever, regardless if its cheap or not. I'd also be very suspicious of any "quality" passives, like NCC electrolytic capacitors.

I bought some 0.01% 1ppm Vishay ultra precision resistors off a Chinese seller.  Now, they were correctly labeled as used and had the short leads as they were removed from equipment.  Two fifty each instead of $15 each which is what you pay at Digikey.  They all tested within spec (initial accuracy, not the temp coefficient which would be more complex to do) on a 34410A 6 1/2 digit meter.  So they are used and have short leads, but I feel like I got a good deal.  I agree on precision opamps though for sure.  Much harder to test out.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-10-10K000-Vishay-S102K-Series-Metal-Foil-Resistors-0-01-10K-/110982764818
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/Y006210K0000T9L/Y0062-10KA-ND/2609882

[rolycat]

Maybe I was lucky, but here in the UK, the min order is £20 for free delivery I think for Farnell, DigiKey and Mouser are not too badly priced, but you have to make it worth your while by buying bulk, Future Electronics are always a favourable source amongst my work colleagues also.

Farnell, CPC and RS all currently offer free delivery in the UK for online orders of any value.

[Srbel]

I doubt that there would be enough to be made from doing this. Lets say for example the difference between the 1off price and the 1000 price is 15%. Now add eBay and PayPal fees to this price and half your margin is taken by eBay. Who is going to be able to make enough to earn a living earning 70c on every $10 order. They would have to take 100 such orders just to make enough to be equivalent to working a minimum wage job for the day.

I did not mean resistors, I meant ICs, and so on.

Like, for example: http://uk.farnell.com/texas-instruments/lm2734xmk-nopb/ic-dc-dc-converter/dp/1652388

1 - 24            £2.15
25 - 49            £1.71
50 - 99            £1.63
100 - 499    £1.24
500 - 799    £1.07
800 - 2999    £1.04
3000 - 4999    £0.996
5000+            £0.95

Even at 100 quantity, the price difference is huge.

[Srbel]

There is at least one UK based ebay seller who seems to buy from Farnel on a "when needed" basis and resells with a markup. He obviously doesn't stock any of the ~190k items he sells. In other words, it's highly unlikely that you'll find such a seller.

I don't follow. 

[Srbel]

Sta ti je potrebno?

Nothing specific at this particular moment. I am asking in general, for my future buys.

[IconicPCB]

There are some companies in Belgrade who purport to be affiliated with Element14 but do not actually carry stocks.
I found Kelco ( Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 326 ) to be a reasonable supplier  a couple of years ago on a visit to Pancevo trying to start up an assembly company under the new "aktivno oplemenjivanje" customs ruling.

The other option is Tagor from old imperial Naissus ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ni%C5%A1)

[Srbel]

Yes, there are numerous electronic component stores in Belgrade, and the rest of Serbia, but they only stock components that are oftenly used. For example, you can only buy a few different DC-DC converter chips, that's it. Can't even find lithium battery charger ICs, they are too much "specialised".

And yes, I have been using Tagor to order components form Farnell few times. They charge 10% for it, and I still need to wait for at least a month.

[wraper]

What do you think of the LM338K

about $1 on ebay  and $50 from a retailer

I wonder if you could buy 25 on ebay and test them to try and get one good one.  If so that one would be half price ?

I wished there was a repository where people could leave feedback on components.  For example I could look up LM338K and see where I could get a good one (other than a retailer).  Aliexpress can do this but only under the seller which is not all that helpful.

It will be 10x of the price when something expensive burns out because of the the fake voltage regulator. There is no good one among them, also likely they'll work at the beginning, the question is for how long. Who (in sane mind) buys LM338K for new projects anyway.

[mzzj]

Yes, there are numerous electronic component stores in Belgrade, and the rest of Serbia, but they only stock components that are oftenly used. For example, you can only buy a few different DC-DC converter chips, that's it. Can't even find lithium battery charger ICs, they are too much "specialised".

And yes, I have been using Tagor to order components form Farnell few times. They charge 10% for it, and I still need to wait for at least a month.

Wow, didn't know how bad it can get: Digikey offers free shipping to Finland on orders over 65 euros but for Serbia they have 120 USD flat rate shipping 

How about TME.eu?
Selection is limited compared to Farnell or Digikey but they seem to offer shipping to Serbia for 16 euros.

[Srbel]

Don't know. This is the first time I heard of TME.

But even so, 16 euros is not cheap either (it is more than I earn in a day). I don't buy large quantities of components, only those few I need at the particular moment.

[Wilksey]

Farnell, CPC and RS all currently offer free delivery in the UK for online orders of any value.

Oh they have gone back now have they? I knew CPC did still, and I had a feeling that RS was doing it, but I didn't know Farnell had reverted back to free delivery, used to be that even if you were a business you had to buy >= £20 worth of goods, that requirement seems to have disappeared from their website now.

[Kostas]

There is at least one UK based ebay seller who seems to buy from Farnel on a "when needed" basis and resells with a markup. He obviously doesn't stock any of the ~190k items he sells. In other words, it's highly unlikely that you'll find such a seller.

I don't follow. 

I was talking about this seller. Given your location and the difficulties that you face, it might be ok for 1 - 2 parts that you need right now, but it gets too expensive too quickly. Ultimately, you will have to make do with what you can have/afford, as all of us.  It's no good designing anything with a part you just can't obtain. Perhaps you could have a look at more obscure parts from chinese manufacturers. For example, battery charger - protection ICs can be bought cheaply from ebay, but don't expect TI branded stuff. 

[zapta]

I could use a local electronic component distributor to order parts of Farnell via them. But they charge 10% of the value, plus I again have to pay customs fee and taxes, plus a local shipping.

10% margin looks reasonable to me.

Can you give an example for a component you want to buy?

[Srbel]

There is at least one UK based ebay seller who seems to buy from Farnel on a "when needed" basis and resells with a markup. He obviously doesn't stock any of the ~190k items he sells. In other words, it's highly unlikely that you'll find such a seller.

I don't follow. 

I was talking about this seller. Given your location and the difficulties that you face, it might be ok for 1 - 2 parts that you need right now, but it gets too expensive too quickly. Ultimately, you will have to make do with what you can have/afford, as all of us.  It's no good designing anything with a part you just can't obtain. Perhaps you could have a look at more obscure parts from chinese manufacturers. For example, battery charger - protection ICs can be bought cheaply from ebay, but don't expect TI branded stuff. 

Thanks. I was thinking more on the lines of Chinese sellers. UK sellers charge for shipping. :/

EDIT: Oh, wow! This seller is rirping people off. Check his prices, and on top of that 2 quid shipping. An example:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOSFET-DUAL-NP-Part-SP8M3FU6TB-/390614558013?hash=item5af271253d
http://uk.farnell.com/rohm/sp8m3fu6tb/mosfet-dual-n-p--30v-4-5a-sop/dp/1525586

He is a lot more expensive than Farnell.

I could use a local electronic component distributor to order parts of Farnell via them. But they charge 10% of the value, plus I again have to pay customs fee and taxes, plus a local shipping.

10% margin looks reasonable to me.

Can you give an example for a component you want to buy?

Nothing at the moment.

Last thing I ordered from Farnell using Tagor where for some DC-DC boost converter (5V 1A, I think), so high efficiency controller chip, low ESR Japanese caps, low DC resistance coils, schottky diode, and similar. None of which I could buy in my country (except maybe for diodes).

[IconicPCB]

Serbel,

Dont worry ... I can not purchase some of the components from DigiKey or Mouser unless I sign my soul off to the devil... they want to know what project this is for and who the end beneficiary is..


Paranoia rules

[eas]

Serbel,

Dont worry ... I can not purchase some of the components from DigiKey or Mouser unless I sign my soul off to the devil... they want to know what project this is for and who the end beneficiary is..


Paranoia rules

For an Aussie address? I would have thought you guys would be just like here, just check a box saying you aren't planning to export the part. I'm sure checking a box is really going to prevent a real terriost from exporting. I wonder which bureaucrat thought that up and how much we are paying him to bring his formidable intellect to bare on security of the homeland. God I sleep like a baby knowing all these half-wits are watching out for us.

I think you fail to understand how both terrorism and rule-of-law work. Sleep well.

[ez24]

I think you fail to understand how both terrorism and rule-of-law work. Sleep well.

I do not fear eBay and Aliexpress - especially buying components from them.  Granted most of my purchases are under $100 but if I was spending millions then maybe I would feel different and not sleep well.

[Srbel]

This is the most supplied component distributor in Serbia. They actually have a decent choice, but far far from Farnell.

http://store.comet.rs/Catalogue/

[bookaboo]

There is at least one UK based ebay seller who seems to buy from Farnel on a "when needed" basis and resells with a markup. He obviously doesn't stock any of the ~190k items he sells. In other words, it's highly unlikely that you'll find such a seller.

I bought from a seller, probably the same one. It seems they do repack rather than drop ship so well worth a try.

[Srbel]

I've been told that that these two are reliable sellers.

http://www.ebay.com/usr/jk_parts?_trksid=p2047675.l2559
http://www.ebay.com/usr/cole-0520?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

[wraper]

I've been told that that these two are reliable sellers.

http://www.ebay.com/usr/jk_parts?_trksid=p2047675.l2559
http://www.ebay.com/usr/cole-0520?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

Bot have some negative feedback about counterfeits and both sell fake amtech flux.

[Srbel]

Damn. Guy told me that they have a few negative feedback concerning late shipping and such, so I haven't checked it myself (I check feedback before I actually buy, of course).

[coppice]

Serbel,

Dont worry ... I can not purchase some of the components from DigiKey or Mouser unless I sign my soul off to the devil... they want to know what project this is for and who the end beneficiary is..


Paranoia rules

For an Aussie address? I would have thought you guys would be just like here, just check a box saying you aren't planning to export the part. I'm sure checking a box is really going to prevent a real terriost from exporting. I wonder which bureaucrat thought that up and how much we are paying him to bring his formidable intellect to bare on security of the homeland. God I sleep like a baby knowing all these half-wits are watching out for us.

If you lie on that declaration you can go to jail, and quite a few people have done. The legal systems in developed countries take a very dim view of people not complying with technology export controls.

If you are in a large component company the importance of compliance will be drummed into you regularly. When an engineer is trying to help a customer design something in it can be so tempting to break the rules and just get things done. You can easily get kicked out of your job if you do that, as the potential consequences for the company are quite major.

[Srbel]

So, what about Aliexpress, then?

[dino]

Zdravo narode

As you noticed, your choices are rather limited. You can go to small shops which stock near obsolete parts, e.g: Kelco, MG Electronic, Proelectronic, MikroPrinc, or order from major distributors through: Sprint Elektronika, Tagor, Technodis, Mikrodis, Comet.

At work we order via Sprint and Tagor. Lead time is usually 2-4 weeks.

You can always order by yourself from Farnell, but expect that the customs office will ask you "Ooooh you ordered 100 transistors,what do you need them for, you need import permissions", and such bullshit. Sprint and Tagor take care of that for you.

Regarding aliexpress, feel free to buy simple stuff like bjt's or 555 timers, but please don't order power transistors or fpgas

[JoeN]

I was refering to terrorist not legitimate companies. A terrorist operating in a developed country would not be detered by the checkbox because they are a criminal, by defintion a criminal is an individual who breaks the law. Considering killing mass amounts of people is likely to get you the death penality in some countries and this still doesn't deter them I doubt the threat of incarceration over lying will deter them.

Terrorists?  Export controls are for Russians, Chinese, NORKs, and Iranians, not terrorists.  Nobody cares with a terrorist does with a 16bit 1Gsps ADC or RAD hard processors because they can't do anything useful with it.  We care what Russians do with it.  For terrorists, it would be more useful to stop them from getting AVRs, transistors, and relays, because they can actually use those.

[MT]

It is more important to stop terrorists getting access to high'er grade ammonium nitrate then a 8bit AVR!
Surprisingly it's way easier to buy this then a AVR8 in some countries!

[JoeN]

It is more important to stop terrorists getting access to high'er grade ammonium nitrate then a 8bit AVR!
Surprisingly it's way easier to buy this then a AVR8 in some countries!

Well, sure, but there are no export controls on AN because it is manufactured more or less everywhere.  I was just saying that high technology export controls have no affect on terrorists because they can't use those components to create the types of weapons they use.  They aren't going to be putting them in the fire-control radar of a supersonic jet fighter anytime soon.

[JoeN]

According to this guy, at least, the Russians just got their first 90nm fab and it was made specifically so it couldn't do RAD-hardened chips.  I think it is a fallacy to say everyone is on the same playing field as when it comes to fabrication (or "silicone" as you call it)

http://zeptobars.ru/en/read/Mikron-1663RU1-16Mibit-SRAM-russia-zelenograd

Another thing to keep in mind is where the fabs are for the actual sensitive parts rather than just mass manufacturing of memory and stuff like that.  When we talk about high speed converters, for example, we are mostly talking about TI, Analog Devices, Maxim, Intersil.  The following page shows you where some of those fabs are:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_semiconductor_fabrication_plants

AD isn't listed.  Analog Devices has two manufacturing sites; a 150mm wafer fab in Wilmington, Massachusetts and a 200mm wafer fab in Limerick, Ireland.  Intersil is Palm Bay, Florida. 

I don't know how it all works, but it seems like a lot of these companies ship wafers overseas for packaging.  In any case, though, the hard and hard to duplicate part is done here.  The Chinese aren't handing that technology.

Maybe someone else knows in more detail.

And just because a foreign power can divert some parts to get their hands on a few copies of a part they are restricted from having doesn't mean they can design around it.  They would be rather foolish to do that because they probably would never be able to source enough copies to make it work out in the end.

[IconicPCB]

When USSR collapsed and vultures from the west swooped onto the carcase they discovered a technology which was developing in a slightly different direction. Much slower clock rates but hugely more parallel processors.

They also discovered very successful radiation hardened electronics relying in intrinsically hardened cold cathode valve technology.
This takes me back to the days when AMD kept chasing Intel untill they acquired know how when data general went tits up and they implemented some of the know how obtained through new employees. Intel used to boast Pentium being clocked at 3 GHz and AMD used to boast clocking their processors at an equivalent to 3 GHz.
Intel was dissipating tons of heat, AMD was just running more efficiently.

So it is with the claim that Russian sole foundry is operating 90 nm process and lucky to do so.

There is very little wrong with Russian know how. It might appear agricultural but it works.