How do you talk to electronic suppliers?

Unknown

How should I communicate with manufacturers or suppliers?

I'll email them about their electronic new parts and I'm seeking information but they always reply, "What do you want to do with the part?"·

Is this their way of weeding out giving any information? ·I'm seeking datasheets or information and they stop communication.· How would you or how do you approach them?

·

Mike2545

I usually talk to them with my credit card...

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Mike2545

ElectricAye

It helps to be a "business" (or at least look like one). Another way to stimulate their saliva glands is to request a quote for quantities of 1, 10, 100, 1000, and 10000, plus ask for lead times on those parts (how long it takes to fulfill those orders). If they really want to know the details of your business, you can say you're an independent consultant working for a product developer (one that wishes to remain nameless at this stage).


my 0.0002 cents worth

Mike Green

My experience is that, for some manufacturers, you can do as well being honest with them, but not minimizing who you are. If you have a particular project, explain it to them. If you're a student, tell them where and your major. You are likely to be a future customer. Maybe you'll eventually write an article for a magazine that will generate some nice publicity. Keep in mind that their time is expensive and they do have paying customers to support. Most manufacturers have extensive websites now with all of their datasheets and application notes on them. Ask them via e-mail or telephone only if you can't find what you need on the website. Mention that you looked on their website.

I've been able to get a small number of samples from several chip manufacturers for art projects. Sometimes they want you to go through one of their distributors. They're not being judgmental, it's just how they do things. Some manufacturers won't send out samples to anyone other than established large customers, but they have websites where you can order small quantities inexpensively with a credit card. If you're a high school or junior high school student working on a project for school, get your teacher to write a note for you and fax it to the manufacturer's sales department with your request for a few samples and your description of the project and how you think you would use the part.

John R.

I'll second Mike's comments about being honest. In the long run, trying to be "sneaky" or outright lying eventually catches up with you.

Also, with respect to "new" parts, there may be limited resources available in terms of both materials to distribute, and people who know about the product. In ine with Mikes comments about "paying customers", they will work to direct those limited resources to places/inquiries that hold the promise for the most initial profit. Over time, things may get easier to deal with for them (and hence you).

Also, don't become a "sample (expletive)". Asking for samples every other week, and never placing an order is a short trip the "this guy is annoying" category. On the other hand, for a one time shot, sometimes its easier for a company to just slip one in an envelope than it is to process an order.

Lastly, there are places like Jameco and Digikey (probably others) that are in a better position to help the small order type person, be it a student, hobbist or small business person. On the other end, there is a great distributor around here that I've used at a past business, but they won't talk to me as a hobbyist or my "start up" company. They just aren't set up to deal with it. Message here is that there are some places you'll have better luck with than others. Find the good ones, and work from there.

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John R.
Click here to see my Nomad Build Log

Oldbitcollector (Jeff)

Honestly has always paid off here too..

OBC

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ElectricAye

John R. said...
....Message here is that there are some places you'll have better luck with than others. Find the good ones, and work from there.

Indeed, this is true. In the old days, salespeople would never deal with an individual or "start up" and places like Digikey had minimum orders that just kicked you in the gut when all you needed was one oddball resistor that cost 27 cents. (Thank heavens Digikey has changed its ways.) Nowadays things are much easier generally speaking, yet there are still some old holdouts from the "good ole days" when you needed letters of credit and all sorts of Smile just to get a gear or two. I could never understand it back then and in today's way of doing things, it makes no sense at all. If you're having trouble getting information about standard components, then you're talking to the wrong people. Also keep in mind that some businesses (especially older ones) do not monitor their email very well and hence don't answer it as often as they should: in such cases the telephone might be a better method.

In my previous response, I wasn't suggesting that you be dishonest in any way, but here in the US everyone is in business almost just by saying so (and by paying taxes, of course). And I've found that having a business seems to open doors that otherwise inexplicably remain impenetrable to common decency. Also, who is to say that what you're working on won't someday become the next Segway, etc. Besides, you might be surprised at how often you really can afford to buy 100 of something for just a little bit more than what it costs to buy 5.

On the other hand, if what you're looking for is normally used to make guided missiles or nuclear weapons, there might be good reasons why they don't want to talk to you.

Mikerocontroller

I told one manufacturer what I was building and what microcontroller I was using.· They were decent enough to talk me out of their product because it needed too many resources to operate with my microcontroller.· In this instance, giving trufthful information about the intended usage saved me from wasting my time on a dead end project.

mikediv

I'm sorry I have nothing to add but """"Mike2545 LMAO you just caught me off guard its funny but its so true

CannibalRobotics

My expirence is that it helps allot if you have done your homework and familiarized yourself with the web resources already available on the product. Having been at the other end of the phone line for parts of my life, it's frustrating when someone who calls and wants to 'have a chat' about a product and has not done any homework or know the most basic ideas behind the product. If you have good well rounded questions and demonstrate some intellectual investment in what your talking about your much more likely to engage the sales person.
From a sales perspective, when they ask you about the project, answer them honestly. The reason they are asking is that they may have a better suited product for your application.
Lots of suppliers will list products but they are selling from an empty cart. They don't actually 'have' anything but an agreement with a manufacturer so unless you want a shipping container full, they don't want to talk to you.
I am perpetually amazed though about how possesive they are about data sheets. DigiKey still seems to be the most reliable source.
Mike's right though - cash is the king.

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mctrivia

no mater who you plan to buy from check out digikeys web site first. If they sell it you can almost always find any information you want about it easily. If you don't like there price look other places.

For me I buy everything from digikey. It makes life easy. They have good prices on just about anything I have needed and they will bend over backwards to help. Also free shipping on all orders saves a fortune.

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