So im really hacked off right now.
Why is buying components in the U.K so difficult? i order from farnell and rapid mostly and sometimes from bitsbox but there are some projects ive been planing recently that need reverse/anti log pots and some fairly common IC's TL072P for example. And i cant get them anywhere  also not in the exact values i need anyway for example there are 470k pots but no 500k pots. grrr!

Does anyone else have the same irritations and what are your solutions?

Thanks

Banzai in Germany stock TL072P and 500k rev log. 500k is close enough to 470k that it'll be fine. I have the same problem, Rapid cover most of my needs, but I still use Banzai for some stuff Rapid don't stock.

I havnt used banzai before whats the delivery costs like? thanks again

I just paid £8 shipping on a £40 order.

Small Bear is good for UK and delivery time/shipping is not to bad considering its from the US. If you plan ahead and add a few items to each order to keep stock levels as well. They always seem to have nearly everthing I need.

The thing I always get is 16mm Alpha pots, can't seem to find them in UK cheaper!!

yeah, I've had this problem before, as well as not having a credit card to order from farnell. I get some stuff from smallbear but it's apying the shipping that's a pain. It'd be nice to be able to get the same stuff from the UK. I also use maplin from time to time but there stock is pretty limited I reckon, and they're not that cheap.

Here in Spain I always end up buying components to Banzai or Musikding. And only in urgent cases I go to a physical electronics store (the difference in prices is really huge... I will never understand how they can charge me so much for capacitors...)

hi man...maplins do the tl072...and bitsbox....look under semiconductors....

im a uk builder too...yes some things are a pain to get...........i use..farnell/maplins/bitsbox/and a little compant called cricklewood electronics..

pricey on their postage tho.....hope this helps...

I use the same places you mention, also most areas in the UK have a maplin or RS components although i little more expensive but if you only need say a TL072 you can go and buy 1 only (no postage). I'm suprised that you can't get a TL072 as it's a pretty bog standard opamp available everywhere, As for pots i get mine from ebay 16mm alphas at about 38p and you can get 500k audio tapers etc. I think the guy i buy them from users name is bendables. Hope this helps.

Banzai have pretty much everything I've needed.

I went through a phase of supping around (GO COMPAAAARE! GO COMPAAAAARE!), but I realised that the few pounds I saved on every order didn't cover the time I spent snooping around. Now I just go straight to Banzai - it's a chuff more expensive but totally hassle free. Maybe takes a day or two more to show up, but that's not often a deal breaker.

OT: if I ever need to go on a price comparison website, I know which one I'm definitely NOT going to.

I have used with no problems mouser and digikey:

http://gb.mouser.com/
http://uk.digikey.com/

i have bought stuff with no hassle from uraltone...
http://www.uraltone.com/kauppa/index.php?language=en
and hotrox for switches...
http://www.hotroxuk.com/switches-2927-0.html

Thanks everyone, im glad that im not the only one who has suffered. I guessed shopping around was going to be key but paying multiple postage charges is soul destroying lol.

Just ordered £80 of stuff all from banzai, i can wait if it takes longer thats not a problem. Its nice to be able to buy from one store and i dont see the £8 postage charge as being unreasonable seeing as they come from the continent.

Btw their 3pdt switches are fairly priced and have you seen the pre sprayed boxes they do, just got a brown one and im hoping its going to be decent quality.

To sumise (incase anyone stumbles over this thread in the future) im getting the feeling the following is generally agreed for U.K component shopping.

1. Banzai is a one stop shop
2. Shopping around between the bigger names (R.S, CPC, Farnell, Rapid etc) is advised
3. Only shop at maplin if you want something NOW and its a common item (at twice the price)
4. Its worth sourcing smaller local firms
5. That guy from the GO COMPARE add is a gimp 

any others to add?

thanks