Digikey the fastest service on earth?

[brad808]

So for the last couple years anytime I wanted any electronic components I would make the trip to Sayal in either Burlington or Cambridge. I live in Brantford so best case scenario in looking at a 1.5 hour round trip of driving. Spend an hour or so searching around the store for the parts I need and head home. Reality is it would take up a good chunk of a Saturday for me.

Last night I decided to order from Digikey. Spent maybe 10 minutes searching the site to build my order, they had everything I needed. I've always heard that they were quick so I figured maybe by the end of the week I would have my stuff in. I placed my order at 530pm last night and it's going to be at my house waiting for me by the time I get home tonight! Crazy! For $8 shipping charge it's not even worth my time to go to a retail store (and my time is worth very little ) let alone the cost in gas.

Sent from my Nexus 4

 

[mwong168]

Re: Digikey the fastest service on earth?

That's impressive and coming from the US too!

 

[spiroagnew]

Re: Digikey the fastest service on earth?

Wow...that is truly unbelievable...

Nobody dragged their feet on that order!

 

[brad808]

Re: Digikey the fastest service on earth?

I'm curious if other people have had a similar experience or if I just happened to get my order in a soon as they were loading the FedEx plane and mine just squeaked in before the deadline? Like I said I've always heard they were quick but less than 24 hours, on an order that was placed passed 5pm, from another country, for $8 is well past my expectations.

Sent from my Nexus 4

 

[mwong168]

Re: Digikey the fastest service on earth?

I'm curious if other people have had a similar experience or if I just happened to get my order in a soon as they were loading the FedEx plane and mine just squeaked in before the deadline? Like I said I've always heard they were quick but less than 24 hours, on an order that was placed passed 5pm, from another country, for $8 is well past my expectations.

Nope, I've heard they ship really fast every time from my other friends who have ordered from them in the past.

 

[luch]

Re: Digikey the fastest service on earth?

Now do they sell pinball parts ? hate that $30 shipping for 50 cent part

 

[Menace]

Re: Digikey the fastest service on earth?

I have worked in the Electronics industry for over 20 years, and this is digikey's specialty. They have always been very quick with shipping to anywhere in North America. The downside is you do pay a premium for this service as the components tend to be more expensive, but for hobbiests like us it's a small price to pay.

I usually use Newark over Digikey, but that's for personal reasons. Both companies are good at what they do, but I also try and support the little guys in the hobby like Ed at Great Plains Electronics and Bob Roberts as these guys stock a lot of specific and hard to find parts geared directly to us and the hobby we all enjoy.

D

 

[websherpa]

Re: Digikey the fastest service on earth?

I've used both DigiKey and Newark (I prefer Newark too, they tend to have better parts pricing and customer service has comp'd me a couple times). Both are FAST, they have some sort of expedited cross-border arrangement because of their presence on both sides of the border. It pays to pay for overnight.

I too have used Ed and Bob and even though you may have to wait a little longer, it saves having to take a risk on parts substitutions or having to "scour" the big boys parts catalogs which aren't always as logically organized as one would think (not to mention being in short stock on the very parts we need most).

 

[Grauwulf]

Re: Digikey the fastest service on earth?

I have had a similar experience with Digikey. When I had my own business I used them all the time and I've always had extremely fast shipping from them. Overnight was the norm, but sometimes it would take 2 days.

I also support Ed and Bob as well.