I get the paper catalog every 90 days, and frequently use that for part 
numbers, and then from the part web page, display the catalog page to 
refine the part number.

Usually my small (hobbiest) orders have an item that is only stock at 
one place, and the rest goes along for the ride. Have had no problems 
with Digikey (minimum order not good) , Mouser, or Jameco, but have used 
Arrow, Newark where there stock is available. For consumer issues like 
CATV, SATV, security, audio, etc. MCM Electronics in Southwest Ohio is a 
division of Newark is OK. They all have shipped promptly with next to 
none problems. I usually order on the web, but phone occasionally.

For shipping I have found US postal priority with tracking (only useful 
if package not delivered, and that hasn't happened yet) has been 
reliable 2 days from anywhere in the country and the price is in range 
of UPS ground). If I place the order Thursday before noon (or sometimes 
later), 90% of the time the postman (lady usually) has it in our box 
Saturday before noon. Also Fedex residential delivery runs Saturday but 
not Monday. Sometimes can play that game to get Saturday delivery. :)

Jim Korman wrote:
> Marcel Duchamp wrote:
>   
>> Mark Rages wrote:
>>   
>>     
>>> Can you elaborate on the search engine part?  I've always found
>>> Mouser's search engine almost useless when I didnt' have exact part
>>> numbers already.  Maybe I'm doing it wrong.  For example, how would I
>>> find the in-stock 5V rail-to-rail op-amp with the lowest quiescent
>>> current using Mouser's search engine?
>>>     
>>>       
>> Easy.  Use Digikeys search engine first.  Then use findchips.com to see 
>> who's got the parts.  Mousers poor search engine is one reason I tend to 
>> forget looking at them as a rule.  In addition to being primarily only 
>> useful for entering part numbers, it is often slooooowwwwwww.  Their IT 
>> department head just doesn't get it.
>>   
>>     
> Download the pdf catalog and search that.
> Much easier than web searches.
>
> Jim
>
>   
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