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Talbit Senior Member Joined: 07/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 210
Posted: 08:46pm 25 Apr 2014
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Does anyone have problems buying from Futurlec?
They sell some great stuff but it seems to take forever before the goods arrive in the post.
TalbitTalbit
Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9488
Posted: 08:59pm 25 Apr 2014
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Others have commented along those lines.
I use their PCB service, and find that it is OK, but does take about three weeks to get to me, but then, the price is so good, that I don't really mind the wait.
If you want speed, then it is probably a good idea to look at somewhere like Element-14.Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!
Talbit Senior Member Joined: 07/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 210
Posted: 09:08pm 25 Apr 2014
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I normally buy from Element14 or RS but they didn't have the chips I wanted - MAX4451ESA dual video opamps. Only Futurlec had them in one off quantities. Maxim chips are hard to get in OZ unless you by millions of 'em!
TalbitTalbit
Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9488
Posted: 09:16pm 25 Apr 2014
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Okey dokey. You might just have to wait for them then...
Like I say - I have no problem with their quality, but they do take a while. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!
palcal Guru Joined: 12/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1965
Posted: 09:33pm 25 Apr 2014
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Which site did you use, they also have a site in OZ. I have bought from the OZ site
and the products have been sent from Broadmeadow (Newcastle). When you Google you will see one site with the .au. When you enter the sites from memory one is blue and one is green.
Paul."It is better to be ignorant and ask a stupid question than to be plain Stupid and not ask at all"
Lou Senior Member Joined: 01/02/2014 Location: United StatesPosts: 229
Posted: 10:28am 26 Apr 2014
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Talbit,
I ordered from Futurlec last year, they took the money out of my account immediately. It took four months for the parts to arrive and they charged me another $80 shipping when they finally did ship. I emailed them several times after about 40 days and they kept telling me the order had been shipped and should be here any day. When the they finally arrived the parts were very good quality and the prices were good.
Almost a year later I thought maybe this was just a fluke so I placed 3 small orders just under $99 to see if I got something in the 2 to 3 week delivery they advertise. That was one month ago and I have heard nothing from them yet since they took the money out of my account almost a month ago.
Does anyone know how to get parts from them on a timely basis ??
I guess fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me !!
Lou
Microcontrollers - the other white meat
palcal Guru Joined: 12/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1965
Posted: 02:43pm 26 Apr 2014
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I have used them quite often and get my parts in the 2-3 week time frame, but you must make sure when you order that the parts are in stock. They advertise a lot of products but a lot are not in stock an then they take forever.
Paul."It is better to be ignorant and ask a stupid question than to be plain Stupid and not ask at all"
Lou Senior Member Joined: 01/02/2014 Location: United StatesPosts: 229
Posted: 04:07pm 26 Apr 2014
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Paul,
I make sure everything I order is in stock so I don't think that's it. Do you ever get an email when your parts ship, and do you ship normal post or use a fast service ?? I have always used their normal least expensive shipping and have never got an email so far.
I really like the quality of the parts I have received so far, I would like to use them in the future if I can figure out the combination of actually getting parts in a timely manner.
Lou
Microcontrollers - the other white meat
Talbit Senior Member Joined: 07/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 210
Posted: 04:08pm 26 Apr 2014
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Thanks for your replies.
I'm definitely on the au site when I order.
The parts are advertised as in stock and when I look at my account it says they have been shipped.
The last time I ordered some items, it appeared as though they sat in Singapore for most of the time. It might have been stuck in Singapore customs. So I recon the problem is the delays in the post more than anything.
TalbitEdited by Talbit 2014-04-28Talbit
Lou Senior Member Joined: 01/02/2014 Location: United StatesPosts: 229
Posted: 04:44pm 26 Apr 2014
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Talbit,
When did you order ??
I ordered March 27 and my order status still says 'Order Entered'.
Thanks,
LouMicrocontrollers - the other white meat
palcal Guru Joined: 12/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1965
Posted: 05:39pm 26 Apr 2014
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The memory is not what it used to be but it all comes back to me now. I did once have trouble and I had not received my order after about 6 weeks. I contacted Futurelec by email and was told the product was out of stock. When I replied that their web site said it was in stock they told me the stock availability status had not been updated.
So TALBIT send an email and make some enquiries.
Paul."It is better to be ignorant and ask a stupid question than to be plain Stupid and not ask at all"
paceman Guru Joined: 07/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1329
Posted: 10:51pm 26 Apr 2014
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I've ordered from them a number of times in the past (on the .au site) and typically they take three to four weeks here to Melbourne, and as others have said, quality has been pretty good and the price is low. I haven't used them for nine months or so though so can't comment on recent performance.
As Paul says though, there's no e-mail confirmation of order shipping and if they're out-of-stock they typically don't tell you delivery will be delayed. E-mails have always been answered quickly for me (overnight), and they'll post a part order or cancel out-of-stocks parts if you ask them.
Shipping costs are minimised too - a couple of years ago I ordered two books along with the other bits and received a very polite request to adjust the shipping cost up because the weight went over their postal limit. It wasn't much so I obliged.
In general, because of the above points and because the stuff they hold seems to cover a lot of useful bits, I tend to use them for stocking up 'common' parts but go somewhere else for things needed in a reasonable time frame.
Greg
Lou Senior Member Joined: 01/02/2014 Location: United StatesPosts: 229
Posted: 11:20am 27 Apr 2014
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Hi Greg,
In general, because of the above points and because the stuff they hold seems to cover a lot of useful bits.
I tend to use them for stocking up 'common' parts but go somewhere else for things needed in a reasonable time frame
I think that's probably good advice for dealing with Futurlec.
Thanks, LouMicrocontrollers - the other white meat
Talbit Senior Member Joined: 07/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 210
Posted: 02:19pm 27 Apr 2014
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Gents,
Once again thanks all for replying.
I ordered on 29 March and as it turns out my order status is "Order Entered". So you might be right. Maybe they are out of stock but don't bother to update their web site.
I might email them to give them a push along. But again I tried that once before and they just said "hang in there".
TalbitTalbit
palcal Guru Joined: 12/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1965
Posted: 04:39pm 27 Apr 2014
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I sent them an email this morning with a link to this thread, maybe after reading it they may realize they are a bit slack.
Paul."It is better to be ignorant and ask a stupid question than to be plain Stupid and not ask at all"
BobD Guru Joined: 07/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 935
Posted: 05:40pm 27 Apr 2014
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Since we are letting them have it then I may as well put my bit in. They are slow and uncommunicative. So much so that I won't be going back after my only order. The product was OK but they are not as cheap as HK and China on eBay and just as slow so why not go to eBay.
paceman Guru Joined: 07/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1329
Posted: 10:01pm 27 Apr 2014
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They communicated well with me Bob, but only after I e-mailed them first. Price-wise, well I guess it depends who you get it from on eBay and when. With Futurlec you do know all the time what the prices will be and they're usually pretty low - not that far from eBay I'd say. One fairly major reason to buy from them versus eBay is that they have a big range of generally useful stuff which is all in one place and so doing a stock-up "shopping trip" is pretty painless Vs eBay.
I use eBay plenty as well though and the zero postage from China is a big benefit for small orders.
Greg
Lou Senior Member Joined: 01/02/2014 Location: United StatesPosts: 229
Posted: 02:36am 28 Apr 2014
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I sent them an email this morning with a link to this thread, maybe after reading it they may realize they are a bit slack.
Paul.
Thanks Paul maybe it will help, hope so.
LouMicrocontrollers - the other white meat
Talbit Senior Member Joined: 07/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 210
Posted: 12:56am 09 May 2014
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Well I think I've figured it out - and I seem to recall exactly the same thing happening the last time I ordered from them. Firstly they seem to just ignore the order - even thought the web says Order Entered. I sent two emails to sales@futurlec.com.au and received no reply. Then a few days ago I got an email from creditcard@futurlec.com - note the missing au. They said that my VISA card details were not up to date. I fixed that and received a confirmation again from creditcard@futerlec.com and now the order looks like it is on the way. So it took well over a month to get this far. I don't know where all the emails come from - here or overseas. Anyway I recon it will still take a while for delivery because it will get stuck in Singapore. Anyway palcal, I hope your email will prompt them to lift their game. They must be losing tons of business.
TalbitTalbit
palcal Guru Joined: 12/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1965
Posted: 11:51am 09 May 2014
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I sent it on 28/4 and got no reply so don't hold your breath.
Paul"It is better to be ignorant and ask a stupid question than to be plain Stupid and not ask at all"
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Notice. New forum software under development. It's going to miss a few functions and look a bit ugly for a while, but I'm working on it full time now as the old forum was too unstable. Couple days, all good. If you notice any issues, please contact me.
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