>>Have you contacted Microchip or a distributor (ie Arrow) to see about 
>>exchanging A3 parts for A4 or higher revision parts?
>
> I originally bought them off an eBay auction.
> Moreover, to save space they are packed in a quite artigianal way (some, 
> truly few, may have bent pins).
>
> Q: Should I still contact Microchip? :P
>
The worst they can do is say "no".  But since you didn't buy them through an 
authorized distributor, you might not get "satisfaction".

Rob Young
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