Where Do You Buy Your Parts (Cheapest UK Bulk) ?

[steveyraff]

I buy everything from Bitsbox. Great service, speedy postage, and all tested parts.

However - I have heard other people say they find them a bit on the pricey side.

I didn't worry about this much as I find it a quality one-stop-shop. However, I have become increasingly busy with pedal orders now, and have a growing waiting list, sometimes getting new orders each day. I find I am having to buy in bigger and bigger parts orders, buying a lot more parts in bulk. Now I am genuinely curious if elsewhere would make a saving?

For example - today I had to do a partial top-up order of parts running low:
32 x knobs
20 x potentiometers
8 x DPDT toggle switches
4 x NJM4580 ICs
=
£59.48Sub-Total:
£1.90 First Class Post (Delivery Typically 1-2 Days):
£10.22 UK VAT(inc):
Total:
£61.38

Well, just out of curiosity, I went to Mouser. I searched their huge selection of DPDT toggle switches. The very cheapest I could find was around £3.50 PER SWITCH! The Bitsbox toggles I use are only about 77 pence each!

I regularly put in weekly orders clocking up over £100. Although I am relatively happy, I'd be very interested if I could make a saving at the same time.

Thanks,
Steve.

[anotherjim]

For Bulk pricing, I'll usually go to Rapid Electronics. However, their range seems to be shrinking, new additions are few and sometimes shockingly expensive -  and a few times they've discontinued my preferred choices.
Bitsbox has a good range and improving all the time - always something interesting in the new additions, but yes, bulk pricing is not that cheap and not existent on some lines. Especially hardware - who wants to buy only x1 spade crimp? That said, if you are buying big enough, you can probably ask for bulk pricing.

A place I just found looking for a source for ISD1xxx voice recording chips is...
https://www.kitronik.co.uk/
They don't have a large or comprehensive component range, but they do have bulk packs of around 25 or 50 that look pretty cheap. I haven't bought from them yet.

[jcknowles89]

Im in the states so not sure how helpful this one will be but. I almost always use Tayda in Thailand for stuff. They dont have as much SMD stuff as I would like but for the essentials they cant be beat.

https://www.taydaelectronics.com/

[steveyraff]

Thanks for the replies so far guys, will look into them.

I've used Tayda before. I just went back there today and they didn't have the first 3 essential parts I tried searching for. So, already off to a not so good start there lol

[patrick398]

I use RS Components and CPC Farnell a fair bit. For certain things they can be nearly as cheap as tayda without the 3 week wait for delivery

[nickbungus]

Bitsbox i find really easy as their range isn't huge but they stock most stuff for us pedal builders.  Their prices are ok too.

For most obscure parts or bulk buying then I'd go to Farnells. Cheap and fast. I ordered some jfets the other night and they came the next morning. 

If I've got the luxury of time and want to keep costs down then I'll chance my arm at eBay usually from China.  I must admit I've had very few, if any problems.  Great savings on enclosures especially.  I needed some trimmers the other day and i ordered 5 from rs for the total of £5. At the same time,  i ordered 50 from China for the same price.

[Ice-9]

I have trade accounts at RS components, Rapid Electronics and CPC Farnell This gets me the majority of stuff I need with next day delivery. For knobs and pots I use Thonk UK and bitsbox is ok for the odd bit I can't get anywhere else. I have to say though that the delivery time from Bitsbox is as good as anywhere so hats off to them for that.

[Kipper4]

I like CPC for some bulk stuff too Stevie.
How are you buddy?

[steveyraff]

I like CPC for some bulk stuff too Stevie.
How are you buddy?

Doing good, Rich! Thank you. Hope you are well too! I will make sure to check out CPC. I've been on the website before, a long time ago. Forgot about them, so cheers for the reminder. 

[Kipper4]

I'm doing ok Stevey. Just getting my feet wet again after a break.

[moid]

Aside of Bitsbox (who are great), there's also JPR Electronics https://www.jprelec.co.uk/... they definitely sell stuff in bulk... but will still sell in small amounts I tend to get enclosures from them as they are the cheapest place I know in the UK for aluminum boxes. I don't know how fast or slow they are at posting; I live nearby so I just pick my orders up direct.