More crap packing from farnell

[mikeselectricstuff]

Yet more scrunched tapes from Farnell today - Despite complaints they still seem to be employing monkeys in the packing dept.
This is why I buy from Mouser where possible...
These chips are GBP1.70 each Btw..!

[TopherTheME]

Weird. When I buy stuff from Newark here in the states I always complain about them OVERpacking my stuff. They must use $30 in those bubble paper envelope things just for every order I make. Plus when ever I order any kind of SMD uC they put each individual chip in its own huge plastic shipping container. Its completely stupid. They probably go through 3 rainforests a day just to manufacture all of the shipping materials that they use.

[migsantiago]

Weird. When I buy stuff from Newark here in the states I always complain about them OVERpacking my stuff. They must use $30 in those bubble paper envelope things just for every order I make. Plus when ever I order any kind of SMD uC they put each individual chip in its own huge plastic shipping container. Its completely stupid. They probably go through 3 rainforests a day just to manufacture all of the shipping materials that they use.

Same here. It seems as if someone complained about light packaging and they decided to overpack as you say.

It's worse with Newark Mexico. The bubble bags are opened in customs and then they're only resealed with a single staple (not the safest lock). When they open the bubble bags they do it with a "knife" and they sometimes cut the inner bags... making the SMD tiny stuff to get lost in the bubble bags... it's just annoying.

[Zero999]

Weird. When I buy stuff from Newark here in the states I always complain about them OVERpacking my stuff. They must use $30 in those bubble paper envelope things just for every order I make. Plus when ever I order any kind of SMD uC they put each individual chip in its own huge plastic shipping container. Its completely stupid. They probably go through 3 rainforests a day just to manufacture all of the shipping materials that they use.

I have the same problem with both RS and Farnel, fortunately, most of it is recyclable but some is not.

I'd rather pay less and get less packaging.

[mikeselectricstuff]

The problem is not the outer packing, it's them carelessly  stuffing tapes into bags that are too small.

[EEVblog]

Weird. When I buy stuff from Newark here in the states I always complain about them OVERpacking my stuff. They must use $30 in those bubble paper envelope things just for every order I make. Plus when ever I order any kind of SMD uC they put each individual chip in its own huge plastic shipping container. Its completely stupid. They probably go through 3 rainforests a day just to manufacture all of the shipping materials that they use.

Yes, I ranted about this several years back before the blog, and actually sent in a formal complaint about it.

Dave.

[mikeselectricstuff]

I got an email back with a "complaint number" and saying they will "talk to their warehouse manager about it tomorrow".... we'll see...

[GeoffS]

The IT industry has to be tops when it comes to over packing.
One example I've come across many times is for software licenses. These are often just  a single sheet of A4 paper with a license number or sometimes just a statement that the possession of said paper allows you to run the software.
The piece of A4 paper is usually sent , unfolded in a cardboard box. If you're installing a number of systems, it's not unusual to get a pallet load of boxes containing nothing but these licences plus of course the larger boxes needed to hold all the smaller boxes.
To top it off, there's usually some proud boast from the company to the fact that they're really green and care for the environment - except for the bit that contains (or used to contain) trees.

Here's a good example of overpacking from HP.

[Zero999]

The IT industry has to be tops when it comes to over packing.
One example I've come across many times is for software licenses. These are often just  a single sheet of A4 paper with a license number or sometimes just a statement that the possession of said paper allows you to run the software.
The piece of A4 paper is usually sent , unfolded in a cardboard box. If you're installing a number of systems, it's not unusual to get a pallet load of boxes containing nothing but these licences plus of course the larger boxes needed to hold all the smaller boxes.
To top it off, there's usually some proud boast from the company to the fact that they're really green and care for the environment - except for the bit that contains (or used to contain) trees.

Here's a good example of overpacking from HP.

Don't get me started on software licences.

When you buy a piece of software how many shops let you read the licence agreement beforehand? None that I know of.

There are lots of shops which will also refuse to accept refunds for software, especially if the box has been opened, in case people buy it, pirate it and return it. So what the hell is one supposed to do if they buy some software, open the box, read the licence agreement but decide they disagree with it?

This sort of business practise encourages piracy, for example: if a teenager buys a game which they play for five minutes and they discover it's crap, then they discover they can't get a refund, they'll be more inclined to just download it from a warez site in future, rather than buying it.

Then there's the fact that licence agreements are too bloody long and a layperson would require a lawyer to fully understand them and some contain clauses which are illegal in some jurisdictions so parts won't apply to everyone, everywhere.

Perhaps there should be a maximum number of words for a licence agreement aimed at home users, who should have the option of reading it, before they hand over any money?

There's a very funny cartoon on the Internet somewhere about a woman who buys a piece of software, reads the licence agreement which asks her to do all sorts of silly things such as flash her tits to the computer before she can legally use the software but I can't find it.

[GeoffS]

Getting a bit off topic here.

[Zero999]

All right.

Talking of bad packaging Sainsbury's have been taken to court by Lincolnshire county council for using excess packaging.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/sep/16/sainsburys-court-excessive-beef-packaging

[armandas]

Here's what I got from Farnell today. Three PICs shipped in a pair of trays. Can't really call this a crap packing, just wasteful. I guess this is how they get rid of leftover stuff 

[mikeselectricstuff]

I'd sooner have waffle trays than those stupid pill-packs Farnell have been using recently.

[JohnS_AZ]

Well, there just isn't a better way to package a fine-pitch gull wing ESD sensitive part. I'd actually give them credit for protecting the parts.

[armandas]

Well, there just isn't a better way to package a fine-pitch gull wing ESD sensitive part. I'd actually give them credit for protecting the parts.

Not too long ago, I bought some Xilinx CPLDs and they came in a small cardboard box cushioned with conductive foam on top and bottom. Much more convenient for storing a few chips.

[Mechatrommer]

Can't really call this a crap packing, just wasteful. I guess this is how they get rid of leftover stuff  

thats.... lazy. but i could use of that i think. if i got that, i'll keep it in my junkyard for a while.
ps: they should have put the chips in the middle so they will got extra protection in any direction in xy plane.

[mikeselectricstuff]

Well, there just isn't a better way to package a fine-pitch gull wing ESD sensitive part. I'd actually give them credit for protecting the parts.

Not too long ago, I bought some Xilinx CPLDs and they came in a small cardboard box cushioned with conductive foam on top and bottom. Much more convenient for storing a few chips.

But very likely to bend pins.

[Zad]

In the past when I have had parts direct from Philips (sorry, NXP) I have had three chips arrive like that. In single units in separate huge padded envelopes! Utterly ridiculous. Excellent protection, but there is no reason it cannot be trimmed back.

[Neilm]

Those waffle trays are a standard size for SMD pick and place machines. I prefer having a few chips arrive in one of those that the Farnell pill packs. I don't know how well they protect against ESD damage.

OK - I have to admit that if I am getting a few chips at work I would much prefer to put it on the SMD machine for a prototype board than to manually solder some of the finer pitch devices in.

Neil

[Zad]

Not crap packing this time but crap pricing. I am currently looking for a pair of AD9910bsvz DDS (Direct Digital Synthesis) chips. Here are some prices.

Newark (who, you will remember, are the US arm of Farnell) $55.33 each (58 in stock)
DigiKey $54:24 each (1327 available)
Avnet $53:97 each  (1382 available)
Element-14 (Who are, erm, Newark/Farnell) $49.80 each, plus flat rate $5 shipping (also 58 in stock of course)

Nice, so the exact same place is supplying them at both $55:33 and $49:80, but that is explainable because they are clearly trying to move people over to Element-14 by applying a discount. Fair enough. No problem there. But, as it is Farnell, and Farnell's world HQ is 7.1 miles away from me as the Google Earth flies, how about I try there?

Brace yourself Marlene...

Farnell UK: £75.41 (a mere $120:65) each plus £15:95 surcharge for bringing them over from the US. And yes, 58 in stock.

That's $266:83 for the pair! Versus $104:60 direct from the US. For the EXACT same chips picked from the same bin in the same warehouse. I have emailed my contact there to see if there is anything he can do. Should be interesting.

[metalphreak]

Here's what I got from Farnell today. Three PICs shipped in a pair of trays. Can't really call this a crap packing, just wasteful. I guess this is how they get rid of leftover stuff 

I ordered a pair of PICs (same chip package) from RS Components and they came sandwiched between 2 pieces of antistatic foam in a sealed antistatic bag for each one.

When my large order of 25 came from MicroChip Direct, I was shocked that they send them in a full ~160 chip capacity waffle tray. I guess they only have one size of the waffle trays.

Anyway, I've found RS Components provide suitable packaging protection without going overboard. MicroChip seem to be pretty frugal too. DIP package chips come in plastic tubes cut to size and then get stuck in a cardboard box.

[mikeselectricstuff]

Here's what I got from Farnell today. Three PICs shipped in a pair of trays. Can't really call this a crap packing, just wasteful. I guess this is how they get rid of leftover stuff 

I ordered a pair of PICs (same chip package) from RS Components and they came sandwiched between 2 pieces of antistatic foam in a sealed antistatic bag for each one.

When my large order of 25 came from MicroChip Direct, I was shocked that they send them in a full ~160 chip capacity waffle tray. I guess they only have one size of the waffle trays.

The trays are a standard size to load on P&P machines - Microchip obviously assume customers are using parts for produciton, which seems a sensible policy.

Anyway, I've found RS Components provide suitable packaging protection without going overboard. MicroChip seem to be pretty frugal too. DIP package chips come in plastic tubes cut to size and then get stuck in a cardboard box.

Problem with RS is they've always liked to individually pack stuff, so order 25 sot-23 devices & good chance you'll get 25 bags each conatining a sliver of tape with one device.

[Zad]

I haven't ordered anything directly from Microchip for 2 or 3 years, but when I ordered SMD stuff they used to come in a little black plastic box with a lid that clipped shut. The upper and lower halves have black antistatic foam which snugly sandwiched the components. It all fitted inside a letterbox-friendly corrugated cardboard package. I can understand the need for big orders being in waffles, as they are likely to be auto p-n-p'ed but small quantities aren't worth the setup and would most likely be hand placed. Maybe there is a market opportunity for mini waffles!