> From my experience RS prices (in the UK) are not too bad
> (especially for the service, never let me down on a next day
> even when ordered after 6pm sometimes), seems things are
> very different over there though...

It would appear so. If your results are typical then what we now
have in NZ from Mouser et al is what you have been enjoying
from RS

In fairness, because of the smaller customer base than the EU,
companies like RS do not hold stocks of everything and parts
have to be fetched from off-shore. Most usually Australia, UK,
US or SE Asia (eg Thailand, Singapore), and that would have
to be reflected in the eventual cost

That is also been the case with trade companies like Arrow or
Avnet. Won't be on the shelf and you'll have to get an MOQ in
the hundreds/thousands of parts/dollars

When prototyping I don't generally baulk at the cost, especially
if I can recoup it later or re-use the parts. When it comes to
quantity for any sort of production of course you need to shop
around. Better in my pocket than someone else's ;-))

Joe
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