Ten things worth asking first.
Short, plain answers on how we quote, what a date code means, how obsolete parts are handled and where a cross-reference stops. The long versions are on the sourcing desk.
01Is there a minimum order quantity?
We quote the quantity you ask for. The reel size listed against a line is the factory pack, not a minimum. Below that count the part has to be cut and repacked, which is entirely possible — the quote simply reflects it. There is no minimum order.
02How do I request a quotation?
Send a part number or a full bill of materials. Use the enquiry form — where you have the number to hand, the form opens with it already filled in. Enquiries are answered in business hours.
03What does “On request” mean on a line?
It means we confirm availability for that line before quoting, rather than the figure being a fixed stock count. Send the number and we reply with what is actually on the shelf that week.
04How do you handle date codes?
Two parts with identical markings can sit twelve years apart on a shelf. Electrically both may pass a bench test; only one is safe to put into a production run. We quote date codes line by line rather than offering a general stock assurance.
05Can you source obsolete or end-of-life parts?
A part marked EOL is not automatically unavailable. Factory stock moves between distributors for years after production stops. We mark what is genuinely available and say plainly what is not.
06Why does packaging change the price?
Cut tape, full reel, tray or tube — the same device costs differently depending on how it arrives. A full reel carries no handling cost; cut tape means someone counts, cuts and repacks, and that labour shows up in the quote.
07How do you check for re-marked or counterfeit parts?
A microscope and a solvent wipe will catch most re-marked parts. What no visual inspection catches is a different die inside a genuine package — that is why provenance matters more than appearance.
08What is moisture sensitivity and does it matter?
An MSL rating is a handling instruction. Parts above MSL 1 absorb moisture from the air; without a proper bake it can turn to steam and split the package in reflow, often after the board has shipped. Sealed bags with a humidity indicator are part of the specification.
09Can you suggest a cross-reference or second source?
A cross-reference is a starting point for verification, not a substitute for it. Two parts can share a footprint and differ in timing, temperature grade or drive strength. We flag candidates and leave the decision with your engineer.
10Why don’t you list prices?
A catalogue price would be wrong more often than it was right. The number depends on quantity, date code, packaging and what is actually on the shelf that week. A line-by-line quote is the only version that holds when the order is placed.
Still have a question, or a part number? Send it and we reply with availability, packaging and pricing.
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