Farnell/Element 14 in Europe

[Architect_1077]

I stumbled onto something unexpected and disappointing when I tried to register online at the Portuguese/Spanish Farnell site a couple of days ago. Apparently, they don't sell to private individuals and require a valid company tax ID number to complete registration and to place orders. A quick email to them confirmed this. I find this very disappointing and quite ridiculous, compared to the U.S. or the U.K. where any private individual can buy stuff at Farnell/Element 14 (don't know about in other countries). I would have expected this to be the same in all countries since Farnell is an international company.

I did register at Farnell U.K. but they don't ship outside the U.K. so again back to the drawing board. I'm wondering if other Europeans here have had trouble ordering from Farnell? How do you guys do it? Am I overlooking something?

[johnnyfp]

No such restrictions here in NZ and AUS.

Best bet is to buy from Digi Key or Mouser instead. Yes it takes a little longer to arrive, but at least they want your business, compared to Farnell/Element 14 that don't.

In either case Element14 is usually more expensive anyway.

[Bored@Work]

I'm wondering if other Europeans here have had trouble ordering from Farnell? How do you guys do it? Am I overlooking something?

You are not overlooking something. Farnell are a bunch of tossers. Some time ago I gathered a list of countries where they don't sell to individuals. At least Austria, Sweden, Germany, India, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands. I have no idea if the list is still current, and I don't plan to check with the tossers.

This blew up in Farnell's face when they made the deal with the Raspberry Pi foundation. They promised to sell to everyone, and then it turned out their subsidiaries didn't sell to individuals. Farnell HQ acted surprised, as if they really had no fucking clue what was happening in their own company.

[Psi]

This blew up in Farnell's face when they made the deal with the Raspberry Pi foundation. They promised to sell to everyone, and then it turned out their subsidiaries didn't sell to individuals. Farnell HQ acted surprised, as if they really had no fucking clue what was happening in their own company.

lol, classic.

There isn't any element 14 trade counter in NZ so i use RS instead (when i'm not spending enough to get free digikey shipping).

RS have a trade counter 15min drive from here and sell to the public with zero issues.
I often find it easier to just drive there and buy stuff rather than ordering online, but they do free next day shipping in NZ on any value order which is useful.

[SeanB]

RS used to have a trade counter 20 min drive from me, but they closed ( not enough volume) and now all is courier, so not much change except for the few lines they kept at the TC. Nice staff they had there, now doing work for other companies.

[M. András]

they sell for hungary too, i got a call from a local office or dunno but the lady in the phone was speaking hungarian right from the start. and she offered help to use the site etc. which i didnt need. but i was suprised. but she sounded shocked when i said i wont order hundreds of every stuffs just what i need for my private hobby usage

[Architect_1077]

Well, I can order from RS, already have done so and no problems. I have to ask about Digi-key though... that probably causes serious problems at customs doesn't it? Or are there trade agreements I'm not aware of??

[Psi]

Well, I can order from RS, already have done so and no problems. I have to ask about Digi-key though... that probably causes serious problems at customs doesn't it? Or are there trade agreements I'm not aware of??

The problem isn't digikey, it's the customs rules in some countries.

[Simon]

it is probably due to local laws in different countries. In italy I used to buy parts under the counter from a TV repair man who was only allowed to sell his repair services not actual goods. In actual fact I don't think he ever charged me any profit and did it out of kindness.

[Bored@Work]

it is probably due to local laws in different countries.

Consumer laws have been harmonized in the EU in 1997.

And after Farnell got some kicks in the butt for that Raspberry Pi screwup they now sell the Pi to private individuals in these countries, too. There are apparently no local laws prevent them from doing so. And really, all those countries have other distributors who have no problems selling to individuals. It is just the Farnell tossers who don't want to, using all kinds of excuses.

By the way, they only sell the Pi. Want something else as an individual? They still give you the finger, still sticking to their old policy. Tossers.

[SeanB]

Yes, they still want the 90/10 rule to apply to them, and only want the 10% part.

[david77]

Who cares? Farnell doesn't want the individuals business, that's their problem. There are enough other sources out there who lick their fingers for your business.

I've been talking to a Farnell rep some time ago and asked him why they don't sell to individuals. What he sayed makes some sense: They don't want to be inundated with helpline calls from people who want to know trivial things like how to connect a LED and resistor to 12V.
I can understand that, professional customers are ususally much easier to deal with. At least they don't ask the kind of dumb ass questions that somebody totally clueless asks.

If that's how they want to run their business, fine by me. I don't need that particular outfit to get my stuff.

[Bored@Work]

Who cares? Farnell doesn't want the individuals business, that's their problem. There are enough other sources out there who lick their fingers for your business.

The fun starts when they show up at work and want some business. At night they don't want to have my money. At day they are bending over to get my employer's money. I try to prevent the later at my job because of the former.

I've been talking to a Farnell rep some time ago and asked him why they don't sell to individuals. What he sayed makes some sense: They don't want to be inundated with helpline calls from people who want to know trivial things like how to connect a LED and resistor to 12V.

Another lie from Farnell. If that would be their real reason they would not sell to individuals in any country. But they do in many countries. They would not have done the Raspberry deal. But they did. They wouldn't stock Arduinos. But they do. And they wouldn't make a big fuss with Element 14, where they try to attract  "engineers and electronics enthusiasts", but they do.

Sure, they can run their business any way they like. But they better stop their lies, when they don't want my money they shouldn't expect me to help them to get my employer's money.

[T4P]

'till i say that it is for sure that those people who don't know trivial things mentioned hasn't heard of farnell or even know what the f*** is that

[paul23]

I´m in Spain and have an account with Farnell in Spain, and I don´t think it is a business account.  So unless its changed recently (within the last 6 months), you can have an account with them.

 

[david77]

'till i say that it is for sure that those people who don't know trivial things mentioned hasn't heard of farnell or even know what the f*** is that

Even the clueless know how to use google these days and chances are Farnell will show up there sooner or later.

[Architect_1077]

I´m in Spain and have an account with Farnell in Spain, and I don´t think it is a business account.  So unless its changed recently (within the last 6 months), you can have an account with them.

Paul, when I try to register it keeps asking me to provide a valid company tax ID number...

[paul23]

Paul, when I try to register it keeps asking me to provide a valid company tax ID number...

Do you mean where it asks for a CIF number?  I just put my NIE number in there and that worked.