They don't have a clue.............

Ordering for a distributor (with minimum order), generating paperwork, 
paying and accounting on both ends DEFEATS the purpose of a sample.

It's supposed to be....yep, we got em. I'll pop a few in a padded envelope 
without hassle and you'll have them soon. Thanks from XX vendor. for 
choosing our product and so on......

I just used Taos Optical over a large brand name vendor for a particular 
light receiver for the exact reasons you suggested below.

When they give you more red tape and slow down delivery of samples, they 
would be better off just to say NO in the first place.

By the way, I have found TI, Maxim and Burr-Brown to be exceptional with 
regard to samples. I'm partial to Linear Technology for supplying an 
outstanding free Spice software package that comes equipped with their 
entire line of analog op amps and switching power supply chips already 
included!!!!!  I hope their sample policy is as good as their Spice 
simulator is, I'll know soon as I'm working on a project with their parts now.

When I submit a design for a customer, I ALWAYS specify the part I used and 
suggest strongly that they don't substitute when they build it. That's 
where the non sample friendly vendor loses out...and, clearly they don't 
have a clue:>:

GL to all.

Art

PS:I used to work for National in the Fab Area (plasma etching and 
deposition in Equipment Engineering) and live right down the road from 
them. Even after I left, I never had a problem getting samples although I 
was working with mostly digital parts at the time. Try putting in a sample 
request with a US address, they might be more liberal. Do you have a friend 
or family member that will  let you use a US address and forward them to 
you? I'd send a nicely worded written (hard copy) letter to the head office 
(in the US) and ask them why the hassle.
.



At 12:39 PM 5/17/2005, you wrote:
>I placed a samples order last week with National Semiconductor for some
>relatively cheap parts (LM331 and LM2917). I filled out all the forms, was
>honest with what I wanted and didn't go overboard on what I requested.
>
>The application for these has already sold many units in advance but I
>needed to check it would all work ok with a couple of prototypes - I didn't
>want to go out and place the minimum orders for components with my
>distributors until I'd got a couple of working units.
>
>A few days later I got an email back for each of the three parts I'd
>requested :
>
>                 Dear Dominic Stratten,
>
>                 Thank you for the sample request from National
>Semiconductor.
>
>                 We regret that we are unable to fulfill the sample request
>as follows:
>
>                         Part Number : LM331N for 5 pieces.
>                         Company Name: Picbits.
>                         Application : Automotive.
>
>                 Please contact your local distributor to obtain samples:
>                 http://www.national.com/contacts/
>
>                 Regards,
>
>                 Regional Administrator
>
>
>Undeterred I soldiered on and found an alternative from a company in the
>States called Exar. The IC was pin compatible and although a couple of
>tweaks may be needed could quite easily be integrated into my project. As an
>added bonus it was a third of the price as well :-)
>
>I sent Exar a request for more details and enquired if any samples were
>available.
>
>Less than 24 hours later I had a rep from a UK distributor (DT Electronics)
>on the phone - he'd pop round for a cup of coffee and a chat and would post
>out 5 free samples.
>
>Now - if I'd have got the samples from National Semiconductor I'd have
>probably designed the whole project around their offerings and purchased
>only NSC components - I'm now going to go elsewhere for my alternatives and
>save a few pennies. I'm going to make it my mission now on this project to
>avoid any other items by NSC - a disgruntled customer here.
>
>On the other hand - Maxim and Microchip seem to be two of the best
>manufacturers I've found for sending out samples - the service is so good I
>even feel guilty about requesting samples (for legitimate projects) - I make
>a point not to abuse their service.
>
>Anyway - rant over - time to go and cook the dinner
>
>--
>No virus found in this outgoing message.
>Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
>Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.11 - Release Date: 16/05/2005
>
>
>
>--
>http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
>View/change your membership options at
>http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist


-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist