[sdiy] Mouser - be afraid, be very afraid

[Peter Grenader]

For all you mice out there, I have found a BIG problem with Mouser's Project
Manager that you all should be aware of.  Mouser knows about this and they
are 'looking into the problem'.

If you're not using them currently, Mouser has an option on their site where
you can store Projects.  It's called the Project Manager These can consists
of anything you wish, any number of parts you wish. I use them for entire
module  'bIlls of material' (BOMs) which I keep stored so that when I need
to order them I just call that project up by name and bingo, it loads on my
screen.   On the bottom of the screen once the project is loaded you'll
notice a PROJECT NAME x 'blank' window in which you can enter a multiple in
the blank, whereby your order will updated to reflect multiples of that
project.

Sounds easy enough.  You've got your widget stored in there, you want to
make 5 of them, you enter 5 as a multiple and you should then have an
updated order for 5 widgets.  That part works fine.

The big problem is it also permanently updates the project on record to
reflect the new part quantities based on the mult you just entered,  Going
on my last example, all the line item quantities on the project are now 5
times higher than they should be - and it updates the project without asking
you if you'd like to save that change. THAT sucks.

So instead of having a BOM for 1 widget, your project is now stored at for 5
of them.   If you're not careful to sus this out next time you use it,
you're going to get a lot more parts than you bargained.  The real problem
is if you don't happen to remember the mult you entered last time,  you're
going to have a dickens of a time remembering how many of each line item
SHOULD be the project if you care to fix it..

Another annoying thing I've noticed is they've changed the part descriptions
on most electronic components so that the first line reads NON ROHS
COMPLIANT, or ROHS COMPLIANT.  This is a good thing - but that's all you see
as the description in your order listing because it runs out of room in the
field they've allocated for those descriptions.  They put the ROHS
compliance before they identify the part itself, so instead of seeing for
instance 330K 1/4 watt axial resistor 5%, You see nothing but a line of
ROHS compliance messages all the way down each line item in your order.  Way
dumb.  I like to use the order listing to verify I've got the correct part -
one more check before I buy it, and now I have to click on each line item to
see it's detail order screen and even some of those don't leave room to see
what you're actually getting.

- P