[sdiy] Need advice some diy advice as a beginner

[David G. Dixon]

Benjamin,

I know that Small Bear is probably only paying about $0.25 for those pots,
and marking them up by a significant margin.  That's how they make their
money, and they have to buy about 500 at a time to get such a great deal
from the manufacturer, and then pay considerable shipping charges from
Taiwan on top of that.  There may also be significant US duties to pay (I'm
not really sure), and I typically have to pay duty on it when I get it oin
Canada (luckily for me, he declares his cost, and not the resale price, as
the value for customs, and half the time the customs guys just pass it
through anyway).

However, even with a 35% markup for the EU wankers in Belgium or wherever,
$3.85 per pot is still a HUGE ripoff.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: mailing gigaspeeds [mailto:mailing at gigaspeeds.be]
> Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 12:48 PM
> To: David G. Dixon
> Cc: 'synthdiy DIY'
> Subject: Re: [sdiy] Need advice some diy advice as a beginner
> 
> 
> thx for the advice, but keep in mind we have to add 35% of import taxes,
> that's also the way they do it in europe ;-)
> So we're ripped of anyway :p
> Banzaieffects is the cheapest i've come across so far for europe...
> (where you don't have to order huge quantities to be able to get decent
> prices that is).
> 
> Ben
> 
> David G. Dixon wrote:
> > WHOA THERE, BENJAMIN!!!!!!!
> >
> > Banzai is charging E2.75 for 24mm Alpha pots????  That's nearly $4
> US!!!!
> >
> > Small Bear Electronics in Brooklyn, NY, sells the same exact pots for
> $1.25,
> > or $0.85 if you buy 100 or more (and you can mix the resistance values
> to
> > make up the quantity).
> >
> > BANZAI IS RIPPING YOU OFF !!!  (Maybe that's just the European way?)  It
> > would cost you an absolute fortune to build a modular at those prices.
> > You'd be better off buying a vintage Moog System 55!
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: synth-diy-bounces at dropmix.xs4all.nl [mailto:synth-diy-
> >> bounces at dropmix.xs4all.nl] On Behalf Of benjamin
> >> Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 9:16 AM
> >> To: synthdiy DIY
> >> Subject: Re: [sdiy] Need advice some diy advice as a beginner
> >>
> >>
> >> thx all for the advice so far.
> >>
> >> Banzaieffects.com rules
> >>
> >> 1- they are cheap
> >> 2- have a user friendly site with a wishlist (something those big sites
> >> don't have, you can start all over each time you're not 100% sure yet
> :p )
> >> 3- I spoke to the manager Olaf, he was very helpfull as well.
> >> 4- If there's not a part on the site they can fix it for you
> >>
> >> Concerning mono 3.5mm jacks for pcb ... As I'm going for eurorack
> format
> >> and 3.5mm I will need lots of them...
> >> Can someone have a look at :
> >> http://www.banzaieffects.com/Jack-3-5mm-Mono-pr-26381.html
> >> and tell me if they're ok quality wise to use for modulars ?
> >>
> >> Or what type can you advise me ?
> >>
> >> thx a bunch !
> >> Benjamin
> >>
> >> Florian Anwander wrote:
> >>
> >>> Hello Benjamin,
> >>>
> >>> I buy from www.buerklin.com, www.reichelt.de, Conrad.
> >>> Conrad i use only because their shop is close to my day job.
> >>> Reichelt is ok.
> >>> Buerklin is not cheap, but the best shop I ever came across. They sell
> >>> only to professionals but I did my first order with a letter paper
> >>> which looked like a Real Business Paper and so I never had any
> trouble.
> >>>
> >>> Regarding potentiometers I use ALPS or Alpha. ALPS are mechanically
> >>> more stable. Alpha use a rivet for mounting the housing, which can
> >>> break if there is a too high mechanical load on the pcb.
> >>>
> >>> Florian
> >>>
> >>> Benjamin schrieb:
> >>>
> >>>> Hi all,
> >>>>
> >>>> I  recently started out with stuff from analogue systems UK... I got
> >>>> so fascinated by those modular synths I ventured into the world of
> >>>> diy synths.
> >>>>
> >>>> Then I stumbled on lists of parts & searching of those parts... man,
> >>>> are they one hell of a time consumer... :p
> >>>> So I would like to have some advice from the guru's here :-D
> >>>>
> >>>> - Do you have a couple of websites you can advise me to order special
> >>>> stuff for Europe like : thermistors or special types of ic's for
> >>>> instance ?
> >>>>
> >>>> Most of the general stuff I seem find on  : mouser.com and conrad
> >>>> Are those good sites or are there less expensive ones...
> >>>> Any other good sites you can advise me to order parts in small
> >>>> quantities ?
> >>>>
> >>>> - I've also started creating a stock list in an openoffice spread
> >>>> sheet so I can do a quick lookup of what parts I already have.
> >>>> How do you guys keep an inventory list of electronic parts ?
> >>>>
> >>>> - I need some Mylar capacitors, is there an alternate name for them,
> >>>> can't seem to find mylar cap's in stores.
> >>>>
> >>>> - I'm a bit lost concerning potmeters...
> >>>> You always need em with diy synths of course, but there are soooo
> >>>> much of 'em... What are the types/brands you guys advice me to buy
> >>>> (Europe).
> >>>>  I found out they are one of the most expensive parts in diy synths,
> >>>> so I'm not willing to order lots of em to find out I ordered crappy
> >>>> ones once I start using 'em...
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> thx a bunch !
> >>>>
> >>>> Benjamin
> >>>> the junior diy'er :-D
> >>>>
> >>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>>> Synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> >>>> http://dropmix.xs4all.nl/mailman/listinfo/synth-diy
> >>>>
> >>>>
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