Dave Moll wrote:Yes, there has been
much discussion about this here in the UK. There just aren't enough of us tinkerers about these days for the electronics businesses to be viable.
That is so true, very few actually build things these days preferring the instant gratification of purchasing.
Companies like RS/Farnell(Element 14) will deal with small purchasers like us but you need to be well prepared with all the data they need. They mainly are business-to-business companies so you too need to be business-minded when dealing with them. On-line ordering is the best option as you're prompted for all the info they need and have your credit-card info to hand or set up an account with them.
I occasionally deal with Farnell in Singapore - a thousand km away - no hassle and the goods are here in Thailand the next day by Fed-Ex/UPS and the like. How it gets through Thai customs so quick I have no idea! If my usual suppliers here in Bangkok don't have what I need then I have to use them. RS also have a Singapore base but I've never used them.
Steve A.