SMD versions and 20X2 in the USA?

What is the reason(s) why none of the US distributors carry SMD versions of the PICAXE? I tried talking Eric Anderson into carrying them but I haven't seen them show up on his site. At least Eric carries the 20X2 as none of the others do. I went looking today for distributors and was happy to see a new one, Robot Mesh, but they carry an even smaller selection of chips than Sparkfun. I'd order from Techsupplies but I have a problem with spending over $20US on shipping and VAT for a few chips.

Maybe they dont want to ?

Have you asked them ?

I've asked both SF and Eric. I got a soft 'maybe' from Eric on SMD and a 'no plans to carry the SMD versions any time soon' and 'the 20X2 has been discontinued, the 20M2 is the replacement' from SF.

VAT? That would be a US tax then, as for exports outside the EU VAT would not normally be charged.

Perhaps you need advised by someone from RevEd.

I know that shipping from the US to the UK is also extortionate.

Hemi345 said:

What is the reason(s) why none of the US distributors carry SMD versions of the PICAXE? I tried talking Eric Anderson into carrying them but I haven't seen them show up on his site. At least Eric carries the 20X2 as none of the others do. I went looking today for distributors and was happy to see a new one, Robot Mesh, but they carry an even smaller selection of chips than Sparkfun. I'd order from Techsupplies but I have a problem with spending over $20US on shipping and VAT for a few chips.

Click to expand...

I order my SMD 20M2's direct from Techsupplies. When you check out, the VAT goes away if the shipment is going outside the "Eurozone".

Rip (in Connecticut)

rq3 said:

I order my SMD 20M2's direct from Techsupplies. When you check out, the VAT goes away if the shipment is going outside the "Eurozone".

Rip (in Connecticut)

Click to expand...

I've also ordered from Techsupplies while Anderson was getting back into business and airmail shipping cost to the US wasn't terrible.

Thanks for the info. What's the delivery time like from order placed till it's on your doorstep?

Small parcels UK to Australia by airmail take 1 to 2 weeks. So I'd suggest any additional delay would be with US customs or US Postal Service. What are they like?

Delivery time can be variable.

I have shipped small PCBs to the US Airmail, they take from 1-2 weeks.

Airmail shipping charges out of the UK are not too bad, its £3.50 for a packet up to 100g.

Its the signed for that bumps up the price. If customers were willing to take the risk that their packages may not arrive, and they dont then get replacements, then the £5.60 signed for charge could be dropped. Of course most customers would probably prefer not to pay the signed for charge, but still expect to have replacement goods when they claim they dont arrive. So suppliers levy the signed for charge.

I tried today with rev-ed and the shipping was 8.50 for (10) 8M parts and 2.50 for one ... not really affordable.

srnet said:

Delivery time can be variable.

I have shipped small PCBs to the US Airmail, they take from 1-2 weeks.

Airmail shipping charges out of the UK are not too bad, its £3.50 for a packet up to 100g.

Its the signed for that bumps up the price. If customers were willing to take the risk that their packages may not arrive, and they dont then get replacements, then the £5.60 signed for charge could be dropped. Of course most customers would probably prefer not to pay the signed for charge, but still expect to have replacement goods when they claim they dont arrive. So suppliers levy the signed for charge.

Click to expand...

How about the Canadian distributor?

https://solarbotics.com/search/08m2/

e

http://www.picaxe.com/Distributors

Thanks ... just checked the Canadian folks. Only $31.45 shipping (mail) for (10) 8M parts ... just how stupid is that! Priority mail only costs $5.50 for a pound ....

eclectic said:

How about the Canadian distributor?

https://solarbotics.com/search/08m2/

e

http://www.picaxe.com/Distributors

Click to expand...

Anderson is the way to go but no SMT parts available.

Looking at the Canadian price (c. £18)
makes the Rev-Ed option look better.

e

RexLan said:

Thanks ... just checked the Canadian folks. Only $31.45 shipping (mail) for (10) 8M parts ... just how stupid is that! Priority mail only costs $5.50 for a pound ....

Click to expand...

You have to remember that licking the Customs declaration sticker is quite labour intensive .

RexLan said:

Thanks ... just checked the Canadian folks. Only $31.45 shipping (mail) for (10) 8M parts ... just how stupid is that! Priority mail only costs $5.50 for a pound ....

Click to expand...

Having built one-off prototypes using parts and circuit boards from a half-dozen countries, I can say that you've been spoiled by the relatively inexpensive inside-the-US shipping options.

Priority Mail is a USPS service inside the US - you can't compare it to any cross-border shipping. You should check the Priority Mail equivalent prices for things going outside the US.

Any time you cross borders, there's a significant charge for the added handling, whether UK->US or Canada->US. It's not the vendor, just international policies. The only cheap international shipping seems to be China->everywhere and Thailand->everywhere.

Shipping charges on orders from RevEd aren't bad if you stay below the magic number (don't remember the amount). Once you hit that magic number, you're into guaranteed delivery shipping, so think FedEx prices instead of Parcel Post. Sometimes it's cheaper to made multiple small orders than to go over the magic number. I've had no problems with small order shipping from RevEd.

papaof2 said:

Having built one-off prototypes using parts and circuit boards from a half-dozen countries, I can say that you've been spoiled by the relatively inexpensive inside-the-US shipping options.

Click to expand...

Compared to Australia (similar sized country and similar standard of living), residents of USA have one major advantage over Australia - market size, governed by population. With a population nearing 20 times that of Oz there is often a large enough market to justify local manufature of many specialist or hobby-related products. With a local manufacturing base comes the benefit of local postage rates.

Practically all electronics-related materials that I buy come from everseas. A large proportion comes from the USA, even if I order on-line from Australian companies. Delivery is often 'free' but the Oz prices are considerably higher than I see advertised overseas. The benefit to me are the local consumer laws and relative ease of exercising them, should I ever need to.

papaof2 said:

Priority Mail is a USPS service inside the US - you can't compare it to any cross-border shipping. You should check the Priority Mail equivalent prices for things going outside the US.

Click to expand...

Mail services into countries like the USA or Australia pay a premium for security. That, of course, is our national reactions to historical events.