Having begun to feel really smart ass at having solved my ToT
problems and basking in the glow of some of the over bright LEDs ( now
fitted with resistors despite only having a 3.3v supply) I made the
decision to expand to cover the entire system.

To do this I placed my order with RS-Components France and sat back to
await delivery today.   Instead I received an email announcing that my
order was cancelled as a government inspector had ordered that they
were to supply "trade" only.    As electronic components are not
readily available from retail outlets ( I did have a supplier in West
France but he is now 850 Kms distant) it does rather screw things up.

I still await a response from the UK Head Office.

To further make my day the Lausanne Police (Swiss) wrote to me
enclosing a fixed penalty notice from last July and all the usual dire
threats for non payment ( I was not aware that there are any 100Kms
per hour speed limits on their Autoroutes but one lives and learns).

Regards from sunny Frânche Comté

Sailor wrote:
> Having begun to feel really smart ass at having solved my ToT
> problems and basking in the glow of some of the over bright LEDs ( now
> fitted with resistors despite only having a 3.3v supply) I made the
> decision to expand to cover the entire system.
>
> To do this I placed my order with RS-Components France and sat back to
> await delivery today.   Instead I received an email announcing that my
> order was cancelled as a government inspector had ordered that they
> were to supply "trade" only.

I don't believe them. RS has a history of only supplying to the trade and my 
guess is this is just an excuse to ditch its smaller customers.

(kim)

In message 
          Sailor  wrote:

> Having begun to feel really smart ass at having solved my ToT
> problems and basking in the glow of some of the over bright LEDs ( now
> fitted with resistors despite only having a 3.3v supply) I made the
> decision to expand to cover the entire system.
> 
> To do this I placed my order with RS-Components France and sat back to
> await delivery today.   Instead I received an email announcing that my
> order was cancelled as a government inspector had ordered that they
> were to supply "trade" only.    As electronic components are not
> readily available from retail outlets ( I did have a supplier in West
> France but he is now 850 Kms distant) it does rather screw things up.
> 
> I still await a response from the UK Head Office.

I don't believe the inspector bit, but RS have traditionaly had a 
rigoursly enforced trade-only policy - even when you can provide 
a VAT and Co. number (they look up your trading category(s) on the
Companies House web site). 

If you can find the relevant Farnell numbers I may be able to help,
but it may be worth checking with Maplin as they can often be cheaper
on smaller batches.

>

<snip bummer>
 
> Regards from sunny Frânche Comté

Ditto from the Peak District!

Cheers
Richard

-- 
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk       sales@beamends-lrspares.co.uk
              I have become... comfortably numb

On Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:01:41 +0000, beamendsltd 
wrote:

>I don't believe the inspector bit, but RS have traditionaly had a 
>rigoursly enforced trade-only policy - even when you can provide 
>a VAT and Co. number (they look up your trading category(s) on the
>Companies House web site). 

Well I have an account with RS at    http://uk.rs-online.com/web/
and never had any problem, apart from the fact that my orders are so small,
carriage often makes it a relatively expensive business but convenience always
wins.

Andy

On Jul 1, 4:01 pm, beamendsltd  wrote:
>  RS have traditionaly had a
> rigoursly enforced trade-only policy - even when you can provide
> a VAT and Co. number (they look up your trading category(s) on the
> Companies House web site).

Not for some time, though.

MBQ

On Jul 1, 1:55 pm, Sailor  wrote:
> Having begun to feel really smart ass at having solved my ToT
> problems and basking in the glow of some of the over bright LEDs ( now
> fitted with resistors despite only having a 3.3v supply) I made the
> decision to expand to cover the entire system.
>
> To do this I placed my order with RS-Components France and sat back to
> await delivery today.   Instead I received an email announcing that my
> order was cancelled as a government inspector had ordered that they
> were to supply "trade" only.    As electronic components are not
> readily available from retail outlets ( I did have a supplier in West
> France but he is now 850 Kms distant) it does rather screw things up.
>
> I still await a response from the UK Head Office.
>
> To further make my day the Lausanne Police (Swiss) wrote to me
> enclosing a fixed penalty notice from last July and all the usual dire
> threats for non payment ( I was not aware that there are any 100Kms
> per hour speed limits on their Autoroutes but one lives and learns).
>
> Regards from sunny Frânche Comté

Well having taken a deep breath I phoned Mainly Trains at Watchet to
find that they no longer sell the wire I needed but Madame very kindly
put me in contact with Expotools of Lamphey in Pembrokeshire who very
quickly solved my problem in a very pleasant exchange.

Maplins ceased to sell instrument wire some time back (I bought the
last at Kingston whilst visiting my brother some 2 years back.)

So, a pleasant end to a poor start!

I can believe the Inspector story because it is very typical of French
protectionist methods and matches nicely with the ebay story.


Regards

On Jul 1, 7:04 pm, Sailor  wrote:
> On Jul 1, 1:55 pm, Sailor  wrote:
>
>
>
> > Having begun to feel really smart ass at having solved my ToT
> > problems and basking in the glow of some of the over bright LEDs ( now
> > fitted with resistors despite only having a 3.3v supply) I made the
> > decision to expand to cover the entire system.
>
> > To do this I placed my order with RS-Components France and sat back to
> > await delivery today.   Instead I received an email announcing that my
> > order was cancelled as a government inspector had ordered that they
> > were to supply "trade" only.    As electronic components are not
> > readily available from retail outlets ( I did have a supplier in West
> > France but he is now 850 Kms distant) it does rather screw things up.
>
> > I still await a response from the UK Head Office.
>
> > To further make my day the Lausanne Police (Swiss) wrote to me
> > enclosing a fixed penalty notice from last July and all the usual dire
> > threats for non payment ( I was not aware that there are any 100Kms
> > per hour speed limits on their Autoroutes but one lives and learns).
>
> > Regards from sunny Frânche Comté
>
> Well having taken a deep breath I phoned Mainly Trains at Watchet to
> find that they no longer sell the wire I needed but Madame very kindly
> put me in contact with Expotools of Lamphey in Pembrokeshire who very
> quickly solved my problem in a very pleasant exchange.
>
> Maplins ceased to sell instrument wire some time back (I bought the
> last at Kingston whilst visiting my brother some 2 years back.)
>
> So, a pleasant end to a poor start!
>
> I can believe the Inspector story because it is very typical of French
> protectionist methods and matches nicely with the ebay story.
>
> Regards

Well my goodness  --  RS Components (UK) have come back with an offer
to trade with me. This is a complete change of policy regarding their
franchisees and I am pleased to welcome it.


Regards

Sailor  wrote in news:f72a69e8-eebf-4761-935b-
da92b5fa4986@l64g2000hse.googlegroups.com:

> put me in contact with Expotools of Lamphey in Pembrokeshire who very

I use them a lot for all sorts of things, very quick to deliver and all 
round good service.

-- 
All the best,

Chris Wilson

email to cwilson at britwar dor co dot uk, reply address is spamtrapped.
http://www.the-dormouse.org The Dormouse Line model railway

Sailor wrote:
> On Jul 1, 1:55 pm, Sailor  wrote:
>
> Well having taken a deep breath I phoned Mainly Trains at Watchet to
> find that they no longer sell the wire I needed but Madame very kindly
> put me in contact with Expotools of Lamphey in Pembrokeshire who very
> quickly solved my problem in a very pleasant exchange.
>
> Maplins ceased to sell instrument wire some time back (I bought the
> last at Kingston whilst visiting my brother some 2 years back.)

The Scientific Wire Company might have stuff if really stumped. I bought 
very fine coated wire for winding some coils recently.



-- 
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

>Maplins ceased to sell instrument wire some time back (I bought the
>last at Kingston whilst visiting my brother some 2 years back.)



Maplins still list plenty of equipment wire on their website, ranging from 
1/06 and 10/0.1 to 50/0.25

Regards
Jeff

On Jul 2, 10:02 am, "Jeff"  wrote:
> >Maplins ceased to sell instrument wire some time back (I bought the
> >last at Kingston whilst visiting my brother some 2 years back.)
>
> Maplins still list plenty of equipment wire on their website, ranging from
> 1/06 and 10/0.1 to 50/0.25
>
> Regards
> Jeff

Hi Jeff, thanks for that - I should have been more explicit.  I buy 7
x 0.2 in 100M reels. It is this that Maplins discontinued two years
since. Their product at this size is in 10M lengths at 1.79 GBP  =
17.9 GBP per reel. The RS price is 4.75GBP but I have been happy to
get some at ~ 7GBP from Expotools.   10M would not go far on my
system!

Regards   Peter  A

Sailor said the following on 02/07/2008 10:05:

> Hi Jeff, thanks for that - I should have been more explicit.  I buy 7
> x 0.2 in 100M reels. It is this that Maplins discontinued two years
> since.

Frankly, I didn't believe you, but I've just had a look.  Bloody hell - 
you're right!

I know Maplin has become more of a toy shop over the last few years, but 
that's ridiculous.

You might be better off going to Farnell.  You can use your credit card 
as an individual, although there is a minimum order value (I think about 
£20)  http://uk.farnell.com/

-- 
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

On Jul 2, 10:51 am, Paul Boyd  wrote:
> Sailor said the following on 02/07/2008 10:05:
>
> > Hi Jeff, thanks for that - I should have been more explicit.  I buy 7
> > x 0.2 in 100M reels. It is this that Maplins discontinued two years
> > since.
>
> Frankly, I didn't believe you, but I've just had a look.  Bloody hell -
> you're right!
>
> I know Maplin has become more of a toy shop over the last few years, but
> that's ridiculous.
>
> You might be better off going to Farnell.  You can use your credit card
> as an individual, although there is a minimum order value (I think about
> £20)  http://uk.farnell.com/
>
> --
> Paul Boydhttp://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

I find Rapid Electronics are a useful alterntive for stuff I used to
buy from Maplin before they started specialising in bluetooth
calculator tie racks with blue LEDs or whatever ...

http://preview.tinyurl.com/4vre4z

Should be a link to 100m reels of 7/0.2 at 3.45 GBP each

On Jul 2, 11:51 am, Paul Boyd  wrote:
> Sailor said the following on 02/07/2008 10:05:
>
> > Hi Jeff, thanks for that - I should have been more explicit.  I buy 7
> > x 0.2 in 100M reels. It is this that Maplins discontinued two years
> > since.
>
> Frankly, I didn't believe you, but I've just had a look.  Bloody hell -
> you're right!
>
> I know Maplin has become more of a toy shop over the last few years, but
> that's ridiculous.
>
> You might be better off going to Farnell.  You can use your credit card
> as an individual, although there is a minimum order value (I think about
> £20)  http://uk.farnell.com/
>
> --
> Paul Boydhttp://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/



I did try them as like RS I had been a customer for about 40 years but
like RS they have a French franchise. The only problem was a smaller
range and like RS a minimum of 50€.      The same problems exist for
the more popular hobbies of racing cars and planes and it is easy to
buy kits but not raw materials.  I can honestly say that I have bought
in from all over the world.   Sarko is not helping   --   the way he
is heading, France will leave the EC and have to feed its Farmers and
Arab ex pats  instead of everyone else making the sacrifices.    The
other possibility of course is that there is a clandestine attempt to
remove materials from potential  terrorists!


Regards

On Wed, 2 Jul 2008 02:05:13 -0700 (PDT), Sailor  wrote:


>Hi Jeff, thanks for that - I should have been more explicit.  I buy 7
>x 0.2 in 100M reels. It is this that Maplins discontinued two years
>since. Their product at this size is in 10M lengths at 1.79 GBP  =
>17.9 GBP per reel. The RS price is 4.75GBP but I have been happy to
>get some at ~ 7GBP from Expotools.   10M would not go far on my
>system!
>
>Regards   Peter  A

Canford used to do 100m reels in a very limited range of colours, very cheap but
I think they have now upped the minimum quantities, still it might be worth an
ask.

Andy

"Sailor"  wrote in message 
news:7589311a-1125-48aa-bde0-6534fcfa4033@34g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
On Jul 2, 11:51 am, Paul Boyd  wrote:
> Sailor said the following on 02/07/2008 10:05:
>
> > Hi Jeff, thanks for that - I should have been more explicit.  I buy 7
> > x 0.2 in 100M reels. It is this that Maplins discontinued two years
> > since.
>

Try www.cpc.co.uk they are now part of Farnell, but do not have a min order 
quantity and do take credit cards, not sure about overseas delivery though.

They list  many varieties of 7/0.2 in 100m reels.

Regards
Jeff

On Jul 2, 1:12 pm, airsmoot...@hotmail.com wrote:

>
>
>
> I find Rapid Electronics are a useful alterntive for stuff I used to
> buy from Maplin before they started specialising in bluetooth
> calculator tie racks with blue LEDs or whatever ...
>
> http://preview.tinyurl.com/4vre4z
>
> Should be a link to 100m reels of 7/0.2 at 3.45 GBP each

Thanks airsmoot --  that is a real find. Besides the cable they have
connectors which have cost me dear from China and others which i have
not seen since leaving the UK 15 years since!

I am now logged in.

Regards

Peter A

On Jul 2, 10:51 am, Paul Boyd  wrote:
> Sailor said the following on 02/07/2008 10:05:
>
> > Hi Jeff, thanks for that - I should have been more explicit.  I buy 7
> > x 0.2 in 100M reels. It is this that Maplins discontinued two years
> > since.
>
> Frankly, I didn't believe you, but I've just had a look.  Bloody hell -
> you're right!
>
> I know Maplin has become more of a toy shop over the last few years, but
> that's ridiculous.
>
> You might be better off going to Farnell.  You can use your credit card
> as an individual, although there is a minimum order value (I think about
> £20)  http://uk.farnell.com/

You can place smaller orders but they will levy a handling charge, at
least that's been my experience in the not too distant past. They
don't publicise it much as I guess they really want the larger orders.

MBQ