Discontinued GPS
erco
Posts: 20,256
Two things I hate:
1) Finding my favorite CDs and DVDs in the clearance bin, and
2) Finding my favorite Parallax parts on the discontinued page
First, Servopal was discontinued. But I helped make enough of a stink that they actually brought it back.
Now the RXM-SG GPS unit is retired, after I bought one about 2 months ago : http://www.parallax.com/StoreSearchResults/tabid/768/txtSearch/gps/List/0/SortField/4/ProductID/703/Default.aspx
I have been doing some experiments with the module and am building it onto a tiny outdoor rover. The goal was to write an article for SERVO magazine showing how simply a RoboMagellan-style vehicle could be done, using & recommending this particular part from Parallax. Might have been good PR & business for Parallax, but now that it's retired and out of stock without notice , it's fairly academic. Possibly the part is still available elsewhere.
To be fair, it's partially my fault for not checking with Parallax first to check long-term availability. With twins at home I'm making much slower progress on projects than I used to, so time is ticking by faster. I purposely didn't mention it to Ken and Matt, who have been so generous to me lately, sending me boxes of free parts anytime I inquire about something (thanks guys!). To avoid more free parts, guilt, and overpromising an article on an indeterminate timeline, I opted to buy the module quietly on my own. It's still a great module at a fantastic price and I'll do my experiments anyway. It was on sale for $40 for a long time, maybe that should have been a clue.
Nonetheless, it would be helpful if the website clearly identified which items will soon be unavailable for whatever reason. The Spin Stamp, for example, clearly says "Last Time Buy" and lists the remaining quantity. http://www.parallax.com/Store/DiscontinuedProducts/tabid/795/CategoryID/69/List/0/catpageindex/2/Level/a/ProductID/448/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName%2cProductName
I'm sure Ken will chime in with numerous reasons why this isn't always possible, business, supply/demand, etc. Just my two cents. Parallax is a great company and I like to support them at every opportunity!
(NB: Ken and Matt, if you send me any packages containing different GPS units in stock, I will refuse delivery! Whatever you do, don't throw me in that briar patch! )
1) Finding my favorite CDs and DVDs in the clearance bin, and
2) Finding my favorite Parallax parts on the discontinued page
First, Servopal was discontinued. But I helped make enough of a stink that they actually brought it back.
Now the RXM-SG GPS unit is retired, after I bought one about 2 months ago : http://www.parallax.com/StoreSearchResults/tabid/768/txtSearch/gps/List/0/SortField/4/ProductID/703/Default.aspx
I have been doing some experiments with the module and am building it onto a tiny outdoor rover. The goal was to write an article for SERVO magazine showing how simply a RoboMagellan-style vehicle could be done, using & recommending this particular part from Parallax. Might have been good PR & business for Parallax, but now that it's retired and out of stock without notice , it's fairly academic. Possibly the part is still available elsewhere.
To be fair, it's partially my fault for not checking with Parallax first to check long-term availability. With twins at home I'm making much slower progress on projects than I used to, so time is ticking by faster. I purposely didn't mention it to Ken and Matt, who have been so generous to me lately, sending me boxes of free parts anytime I inquire about something (thanks guys!). To avoid more free parts, guilt, and overpromising an article on an indeterminate timeline, I opted to buy the module quietly on my own. It's still a great module at a fantastic price and I'll do my experiments anyway. It was on sale for $40 for a long time, maybe that should have been a clue.
Nonetheless, it would be helpful if the website clearly identified which items will soon be unavailable for whatever reason. The Spin Stamp, for example, clearly says "Last Time Buy" and lists the remaining quantity. http://www.parallax.com/Store/DiscontinuedProducts/tabid/795/CategoryID/69/List/0/catpageindex/2/Level/a/ProductID/448/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName%2cProductName
I'm sure Ken will chime in with numerous reasons why this isn't always possible, business, supply/demand, etc. Just my two cents. Parallax is a great company and I like to support them at every opportunity!
(NB: Ken and Matt, if you send me any packages containing different GPS units in stock, I will refuse delivery! Whatever you do, don't throw me in that briar patch!
)
Comments
There's only one person who hates this problem more than you, and that's me so you're in good company. Ask Lauren, Karen, Jen, Nick, Kevin, or anybody else in the office. They'll point to me as the "hater of EOL".
GPS sensors are commodities. They're part of a very fast, changing industry where prices quickly decrease and features often increase. The particular module you identified just sold too slowly, and was replaced by sensors about half its cost. Some features were missing, some were added, and through attrition this one unfortunately lost. American-made manufacturing likely doesn't help it compete.
Compare it to gyroscopes or accelerometers: many choices, lower cost all the time. EOL might actually mean obsolescence, too. I think we use one term to describe the end of all products.
These GPS sensors are from Taiwan and China, and unless you're doing a 100K unit run they're likely part of a manufacturing overrun or excess inventory. The primary uses are in automobile GPS units, a super competitive industry with more choices than ever.
You may notice that the PMB-648 and -688 have been available for many years. Even these sensors are proving difficult to buy. I've been to the supplier's offices in Taiwan at least twice to negotiate on your behalf, too. Even these sensors are at risk. And we've done everything we can to keep buying them, but when you have to place orders of 10K units it's just not a good idea (we're funding Propeller shuttle runs at the same time).
My suggestion to you is to take a generic approach to your projects in terms of sensor interface. Use a standard serial protocol and preferably the same output format. This isn't always possible, but could help make the project live for a long time.
It's very difficult to ensure that anything will be here next year, which is why we minimize the assortment of non-core products and focus on what we do best: microcontrollers and education! Plus - and I know you want to buy from us as much as possible and that we're thrilled to have you do that - the commodity business is a crowded one with a long list of suppliers.
If you want a promise from a supplier about long-term availability then you are asking them to lie to you. I can't guarantee that I'll be here next year, nor can I guarantee that you'll still own your same bicycle next year because some of these variables are beyond our control. You can thank us for telling you the truth, no matter how difficult it is to hear. I'm well beyond the thought of pushing the truth to get a sale, so you'll get the straight scoop from our team.
Two safe bets.
And with timely, well-written, eloquent replies as you just delivered, Ken, I'm sure I'll riding my same bike with you around Parallax ten years from now.
When EOL is a real threat for customers who've invested lots of money in a product, we're there to cover their interests. For example, when the SX went EOL we purchased over $1M worth of chips just to make sure nobody would be inconvenienced as part of a forced redesign. We reached out to every single customer we were aware of and let them know what was going on with the supply chain, step by step. That was six or seven years ago (?) and we still have about $150K worth of SX chips for those customers (and enough to build SX-based BASIC Stamps for many years) at low prices. Do you need any BTW?
Normally, a supplier holding an EOL situation with needed parts takes a tact to maximize profit and minimize inventory: have bare minimum on hand and charge high prices for each part. That's a short-term tradeoff for revenue in exchange for loyalty. We chose the latter. It's no wonder that parts brokers specialize in finding and selling old stuff to people who need it - you never have to deal with them twice!
Hoarding and gouging isn't even an option with GPS. Readily available replacements are usually better, and available at a lower price.
And to be clear I really enjoy replying to these questions in a boring, drab business manner when I see them. Yawn. Anybody still reading? :nerd:
Yes..reading..
We love that you , Chip, and the whole crew are there to answer our questions in a very timely manner.
Now, where's the BS2PX?
Kiddin' I can wait.
@erco,
Not sure if you know the SpinStamp went EOL without and announcement. Because that left a few companies high-and-dry, Parallax stepped up to the plate and did a run to satisfy their immediate needs.
The ServoPal in another example of the great customer service Parallax provides.
I just want then to bring back the M-Sorter.
You'll need to talk to PhiPi about this one. I agree, this project would be a lot more fun today with the Propeller and VGA!
And thank you for the note of appreciation.
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/lindsay-lohan-quitting-rehab-adderall-cut-off-report-article-1.1341368
LOHAN checking ot of REHAB?
Not this LOHAN I hope?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/01/25/rehab_vid/
More about LOHAN, REHAB, SPEARS and even PARIS here:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/Wrap/lohan/
1 PPS is a separate output. All GPS modules have Rx and Tx. Some products don't default to NMEA format, though. The Trimble Resolution T defaults to TSIP, a binary protocol. Motorola has a similar protocol.
@wass: Great lead!