TI Samples

[echen1024]

Well, from about a year months back, I have been ordering samples around every other month, and quite honestly putting "Individual" for the company and "Hobby" for use. I would order a few one-off chips that I thought would be fun to play with. I tried ordering again yesterday, a single TL431 in an SOIC package, and simply requested Ground shipping. Within 10 minutes, I was notified that my request was rejected. Fair enough, I thought, and just let it go. I can buy them from Digi-Key, no problems. This morning, however, I was enjoying my coffee, and the door bell rang. It seems that they have sent me 2 TL431s with FedEx priority overnight. Anyone else have the same "problem?"

[rdl]

TI is nuts sometimes. A few years back they were selling their TTL Logic Data Book (the one that's over a thousand pages) for only 10 cents with free shipping. I ordered one. They charged my credit card 10 cents.  I ordered on Friday afternoon, they shipped on Monday, and it was delivered before 10:30 am on Tuesday by FedEx.

[c4757p]

It's subsidized by calculator sales from the educational division

[echen1024]

It's subsidized by calculator sales from the educational division

AH yes. The overpriced Nspire that our school district REQUIRES!

[codeboy2k]

Yeah, I'm a little bit confused by TI sometimes too.   I am happy to choose ground shipping and wait a few days *AND* save TI some money in the process in order to do my part to keep the sample program alive... however,  I always get it overnight.. and I am in Canada...

I'm not as big a user of the sample program as echen said he was.  I think it's been over 6 months since I last ordered a sample from TI, so I never seem to get rejected... but I just don't really need things overnight either

[Dongulus]

AH yes. The overpriced Nspire that our school district REQUIRES!

Never heard of this, I just looked it up.

Sheesh, and I thought the TI-89 was overly complicated. I'll stick with my TI-83 any day.

[echen1024]

Yeah, I'm a little bit confused by TI sometimes too.   I am happy to choose ground shipping and wait a few days *AND* save TI some money in the process in order to do my part to keep the sample program alive... however,  I always get it overnight.. and I am in Canada...

I'm not as big a user of the sample program as echen said he was.  I think it's been over 6 months since I last ordered a sample from TI, so I never seem to get rejected... but I just don't really need things overnight either

I've been using TI less and less as there is a quite zealous Linear salesperson in my area. He seems to not mind giving out products to students, and will notify me of any new products. ADI is also quite good. On average, I order samples every other month to every 3 months.I remember a post a while back about someone who seemed to order every day and got cut off.

[fcb]

TI's (excellent) sample service is run by Digikey.

[echen1024]

TI's (excellent) sample service is run by Digikey.

Yes. It ships from thief river falls, the boxes are the same, as are the packing slips.

[baljemmett]

TI is nuts sometimes. A few years back they were selling their TTL Logic Data Book (the one that's over a thousand pages) for only 10 cents with free shipping. I ordered one. They charged my credit card 10 cents.  I ordered on Friday afternoon, they shipped on Monday, and it was delivered before 10:30 am on Tuesday by FedEx.

I'm still seriously miffed that I didn't hear about that when it was current.  *mutters darkly*

[Bored@Work]

TI is nuts sometimes. A few years back they were selling their TTL Logic Data Book (the one that's over a thousand pages) for only 10 cents with free shipping. I ordered one. They charged my credit card 10 cents.  I ordered on Friday afternoon, they shipped on Monday, and it was delivered before 10:30 am on Tuesday by FedEx.

I'm still seriously miffed that I didn't hear about that when it was current.  *mutters darkly*

A partly substitute http://www.ti.com/lit/sl/scyd013b/scyd013b.pdf

[Gribo]

They ship the samples overnight even to other countries. I don't know about individuals, but as a company, we get samples within 3-4 days.

[TMM]

They ship Fedex overnight to my private address in Australia. Usually arrives in under a week. I try not to abuse their system (i.e. won't order 5 ICs @ $20 list price each)

I put my University as the business, with my @student.xxx.edu email and they never deny anything. There's no option for hobby/education in their drop down list of applications so i just put whatever is most suitable (usually 'Industrial/Test Equipment' or similar).