Yesterday I ordered a parcel of various small components for a work project (indicator lamps and relays for an alarm system) from RS or Radiospares as the older generations might remember it (when I was in high school we would order components from them, although back then you needed a trade account).
They were initially a bit slow to provide easy online purchases (although they did have a website even in the late 90s it wasn’t particularly easy to use) but recently updated it. (RS Components | Electronic and Electrical Components)
Their stock is a good mixture of “ultra modern” stuff and tried and tested items (or new developments such as small LED indicator lamps).
I was particularly impressed today when the parcel arrived in a sensibly sized box and other than the components that are traditionally packaged in sealed plastic (often a special kind that stops static electricity blowing up sensitive items) all the filler material used so they remain in one piece after going via Royal Mail or Parcelforce was plain recycled paper – a mixture of traditional brown and a somewhat “metrosexual” shade of magenta – wouldn’t be surprised if that is either something to do with encouraging “diversity in engineering” and/or suggested by Germany and Denmark (where a lot of the stuff are still made) :laugh_at:
Even the sales flyers are on recycled paper with the biodegradable soya ink and not excessive (another supplier I use sends me 5 copies of the same thing to every place I work at and my home address!)
Then again a lot of the engineers who use RS are “old skool” from 1980s or even before then and grew up in the days when you repaired stuff before replacing it or designed your own systems rather than expecting it all to be done by pre-built China hardware and a mobile phone app :laugh_at:
