At 05:02 PM 7/15/2003 -0700, you wrote:


>Our beloved Microchip sends samples via FedEx/DHL from halfway around
>the world.  No charge.   Their HQ isn't that far away and they have
>numerous Reps in my town that could hand deliver samples.  Actually
>the Reps seem to know less than Microchip's own website or our
>beloved PICListers (of course).

So does National. It's probably cheaper for them to maintain their
warehouse in Singapore or whatever (tax free) and ship as required.
That's close to where the chips are packaged and close to where many
of them are consumed. Labor is expensive by Asian standards, but
high quality and probably half US costs.

I suspect FedEx has made some very favorable deals with these companies
to get their exclusive business on samples. FedEx is now using the huge
Subic Bay former US Naval base in the Philippines as an Asian hub- also
tax free and with very attractive concessions.

Best regards,

Spehro Pefhany --"it's the network..."            "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com             Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog  Info for designers:  http://www.speff.com

--
http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList
mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu