Why Japanese manufacturers don't give free samples, even if they promise?
CuriousOne
Posts: 931
I understand, if a company has a form on website for requesting for free samples, it should be used for requesting free samples, right? This works OK for texas, analog and most U.S. Companies. However, not with Japanese ones.
Here's the small list with names of japanese companies which have free sample request, and how they "responded"
http://www.t-yuden.com/# - requested capacitors via online form, no response at all.
http://www.toshiba-components.com/ - got confirmation mail, got nothing at hands.
http://www.murata-ps.com/ - got confirmation mail, that samples will be sent by distributor. Distributor sent quotation instead, saying that they can't provide free samples ($0.34 cost product was requested)
http://www.songchuanusa.com - promised to send, 6 months passed since.
http://www.tamuracorp.com/ - instead of samples, they provided a list of distributors where I can buy parts.
Below is the list of other, non-japanese manufacturers, which also has sample request form, but never delivered any, I think it will be helpful for others, to not waste time with them:
http://www.hendonsemiconductors.com
http://www.altechcorp.com
http://www.e-switch.com/
http://www.mec.dk
http://www.delevan.com/web/
http://www.johansondielectrics.com/
http://www.irctt.com
http://www.ohmite.com/
http://www.kamaya.com/
http://www.aavid.com/
http://www.bergquistcompany.com
http://www.tglobaltechnology.com/
Just to clarify, all requests were made from corporate email address, with proper sounding website and phone number.
Here's the small list with names of japanese companies which have free sample request, and how they "responded"
http://www.t-yuden.com/# - requested capacitors via online form, no response at all.
http://www.toshiba-components.com/ - got confirmation mail, got nothing at hands.
http://www.murata-ps.com/ - got confirmation mail, that samples will be sent by distributor. Distributor sent quotation instead, saying that they can't provide free samples ($0.34 cost product was requested)
http://www.songchuanusa.com - promised to send, 6 months passed since.
http://www.tamuracorp.com/ - instead of samples, they provided a list of distributors where I can buy parts.
Below is the list of other, non-japanese manufacturers, which also has sample request form, but never delivered any, I think it will be helpful for others, to not waste time with them:
http://www.hendonsemiconductors.com
http://www.altechcorp.com
http://www.e-switch.com/
http://www.mec.dk
http://www.delevan.com/web/
http://www.johansondielectrics.com/
http://www.irctt.com
http://www.ohmite.com/
http://www.kamaya.com/
http://www.aavid.com/
http://www.bergquistcompany.com
http://www.tglobaltechnology.com/
Just to clarify, all requests were made from corporate email address, with proper sounding website and phone number.
Comments
Samtec is very good and sending an email upon a sample request that states their process, timeline, approval details, and then the shipment details. ( I do work for a Contract Manufacturer that spends quite a bit with a lot of distributors, so sample requests from me are typically seen as business prospects for manufacturers).
Parallax works the same way with their Quickstart board. If you have a valid design concept, call up an FAE from Parallax Semiconductor and they will happily send you a Quickstart because the success of your design turns into revenue for them down the road.
First, free samples are a sales cost that is managed differently by every company. Japanese companies may not be willing to ship overseas due to Japan Law and the added costs. Or, they refer all listings to the sale people to further qualify.
Second, for a lot of IC companies in the USA, the free sample policy offered a way to book excess inventory as a sales cost rather than present a write off as junk. So they were willing to send out a lot of excess inventory to what might be otherwise considered dubious future buyers. There was a time when Maxim and Microchip were quite generous with what they sent out, I suspect it was a way of dumping obsolete inventory.
In sum, there is no free lunch. Getting chips for free might be a windfall for hobbyist, but it will come and go as company policies change as they manage their sales and sales costs.
In many cases, if you want free samples sent to you overseas, you still have to pay the shipping and handling costs to you. That is what happens to me in Taiwan. And those costs can be excessively large. Getting a credit card charge of $75 USD for a free chip with a value of $5 USD, is possible and has been mentioned here on this forum in the past.
Electronics is an industry that provides jobs. Business can only meet payroll through sales in excesses of expenses. Think about where you fit into the big picture.
But having been in business, there is a huge hazard in the 'potential customer' A lot of people will go to great lengths to chat you up and negotiate price, but never follow through with a purchase. Others will pay half-down, take the merchanise and never pay the balance. Some will just be picking your brain with idea that they can start a similar business based on your insight ( This has happened to me more than once.)
I have had projects where I hired 12 guys to relandscape a client's home and then he decides that he wants to pay 50% of my billing for no reason. Under law, I have to meet the payroll and payroll taxes and insurance... or go to Federal jail. Penalties for late payments are 100%. Do I consider the guy an 'unsatisfied customer' and let him have his way? Or do I filed a lien on his home and threaten to sell his home out from under him if he doesn't pay up? My feeling is that he never was a customer, never could be satisfied, and needs to honor his contract unless there is a good reason for renegotiating terms.
The Japanese economy has been struggling for decades, so they apparently are not giving free samples or don't give them to overseas inquiry over the internet. No big deal.
In the same light, I am a customer of Parallax products, and I don't ask for free samples. I don't even want them. I did take a Christmas gift one year and felt that I was expected to say nothing negative about Parallax in exchange. That was awkward. I don't like being a phony, and feel my opinion both positive and negative should be genuine. If I want to be the customer and I want to demand better, I should be willing to pay for what I get.
In other words, the 'free samples' can cause all sorts of problems. If you really are a businessman that can produce something for resale, you should respect your supplier's generousity. After all, every business has employees and it is the leadership of the business that keeps people working. If the executives give away all the merchandise 'no questions asked' and are decieved by pretenders that claim to be 'potential customers', the economy is affected. Even if the you are lying to yourself, the world remains a 'pay as you go' place.
As a satified customer of Parallax products, I remain loyal to Parallax. But I also speak my mind as I choose. I do attempt to be constructive and straight-forward. And at times I can be wrong, but I am paying for what I get.
So its not just "Japanese companies", its "Companies" in general. Consider adjusting the title, it puts things in better perspective.
Rich people get rich by getting money and keeping it. Business people do business. These sets may overlap.
The tittle is correct, because the list of "other" companies that do give samples is at least 5x times bigger than the listed one. Just I keep that part for myself.
So say, 80% of U.S. companies give samples, and no Japanese company does.
Anyway, this is what has worked for me.
-Phil
I've gotten a few free parts from some companies and I've been completely above board with them ... that I've got a specific personal project ... and explained what it is and why I want to use their product in it. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't.
Yes. In fact, my list of free sample suppliers has about 100 entries, most of them not listed on ladyada free sample suppliers list and so on.
None of components requested were "just for fun", nor device is being build for fun and time wasting. We're building a prototype for commercial product, after completion of which, the project on kickstarter will be posted, and device will enter into commercial manufacturing stage. We definetly not doing the "hobbyst" task and where asked, we provided as much details as possible.
From the "big guys", microchip was the most helpfull one, ON semiconductor also provided nice technical support via email (we had trouble with certain IC, and they hooked us with guy at ON, who actually designed that IC). Analog also provided great help. In terms of commercial cost of parts provided, Fairchild and Linear were most helpful ones, total cost of parts provided by each, maybe be up to $400!
Initial idea was, to build complete prototype using ONLY free samples available. We almost succeed in the task, the only problematic part was high voltage, high capacity electrolytic capacitors, but one chinese company agreed to provide 5 pieces of 450v, 470uf capacitors for free.
Long story short, when finished, there will be more details published, but japanese companies really dissapointed us.
Phil's notion of building relationships is spot-on. Just getting a couple of freebie parts to try out is, in my mind, only half the battle. Having developed inside tracks I've sometimes gotten pre-release info about new parts and products that has put me ahead of the competition. In my business, new is king.
1. Create parts list needed.
2. Check for companies who make it (make a list)
3. Sort the list into 2 categories - companies that provide free samples (have apropriate request form) and ones that does not.
4. Try to get parts from companies that do offer free samples.
5. If unsuccessfull, try to find more companies with apropriate product and free samples.
The purpose of free samples is to let designers try out the product with the goal of selling product.
It sounds like your goal is to publish a project that people can build from mostly free samples, that doesn't really fit with the goal of these companies.
C.W.
Why not finance this venture yourself?
How big a deal can it be otherwise?
Why not spend your own money?
When finished, manufacturing will be handled to professional company.
Phil-san, you write the truth.
My day job is product manager for a Japanese company (to remain anonymous). I also happen to be interim business unit manager for our custom solutions built here in the USA. I treat all customers as though they want to find the optimal solution for their specific conditions, requirements, schedule, usage, etc. If they engage in an adult conversation, then I will do what is reasonable to help them accompish their business goals.
Our website has a link to request samples. Always feel free to ask, but it is not reasonable to pre-suppose that my answer is "yes". Something that looks like a fishing expedition will be referred to our sales team to try to find or build a business case to give away the fruit of our labor.
Nice suggestion. I opened the newpaper last Sunday or so to "San Francisco Threatened by Wildfire" and the story was about the Yosemite fire.. hundreds of miles away.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
On another note, a lot of websites seem to fall behind on keeping up with what the company policy really is. There are lots of sites that ask you to fill out forms and request that never lead to anything.
At one time, they may have actually provided free samples, but the policy changed and somebody forgot to request the web page be removed. Or they just down-sized the department that the request that were referred to zero and there was no one mention the overlooked detail.
If you free want free samples, try consumable items - junk food, tobacco, cosmetics, alcohol, patent medicines, weekends in Las Vega. Or become an extreme coupon collector. There are enterprises that do give away quite a bit to keep their name in the public's minds.
That's why I got into the Propeller:)
This is not an off-the-shelf item at any of my local distributors so I called the manufacturer to ask where I could simply purchase a couple of these devices. The sales guy became curious about my application and when I told him, he became quite excited and offered to send me some units FOC.
I wish to heck that he would've just sold me the darn things because now he keeps bugging me about the progress of my development.
Mickster.