So, I received my most recent order from a reputable vendor now located in Massachusetts we all know and love. I won't name it here but IYKYK. Apparently the new ownership is now ok in mailing out $16 BBDs and $9CMOS chips in clear non-ESD baggies as my entire order, save a couple of LDRs and transistors?, was shipped like this. In total, it was $120-130 of my $180 order of NOS ICs shipped like this.
As far as the other transistors and such, I'm not stressed on that but the ICs really got me. It was the end of a long and frustrating week and I sent them way to long of an email, which isn't really like me but alas, I did anyway.
I hope this was poor oversight of a new employee that didn't know any better and not a common occurrence moving forward. I'm hesitant to even use some of these chips fearing their premature failure. Some of these are for(at costs) commissions for some friends and for gifts for family. Thankfully, I suppose, it's August and not November and the humidity is still on our side.
I'll update if and when I hear something back and if they offer any resolution. I'm not adding these to my inventory though. First, I'll need to find a couple dozen pink bags. I used my last extras on some Russian stuff from Alexer1 last week. Even then, I'll have to mark them somehow as SBmaybebad or something and only use them as last ditch or for bench testing. I have too much pride to hand if off to a friend to take on your for it to maybe one day randomly lose its ghost.
It appears their storefront is by appointment only now for the next month. Maybe there's some staffing issues or something. I feel like we've all been waiting for them to "get their s**t together for the last year but I can't help but feel that maybe they're just in over their heads, which sucks because gatherings up all these parts from various other places would have tacked up a huge shipping amount.
Also, I'll add that I'm very aware that the pink poly bags are by no means 100% protection. But I have a wrist strap and practice proper grounding when building as well as at work.
Anyway. What would you guys do?
Also, if you think ESD is some false boogieman, I'd recommend this for viewing. It's a little dated in the science but by and far the most amusing ESD education I've ever viewed.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Uk5F3rQNUkU&feature=share9
23-33 minutes, particularly at 28 minutes is required viewing for the class.
As far as the other transistors and such, I'm not stressed on that but the ICs really got me. It was the end of a long and frustrating week and I sent them way to long of an email, which isn't really like me but alas, I did anyway.
I hope this was poor oversight of a new employee that didn't know any better and not a common occurrence moving forward. I'm hesitant to even use some of these chips fearing their premature failure. Some of these are for(at costs) commissions for some friends and for gifts for family. Thankfully, I suppose, it's August and not November and the humidity is still on our side.
I'll update if and when I hear something back and if they offer any resolution. I'm not adding these to my inventory though. First, I'll need to find a couple dozen pink bags. I used my last extras on some Russian stuff from Alexer1 last week. Even then, I'll have to mark them somehow as SBmaybebad or something and only use them as last ditch or for bench testing. I have too much pride to hand if off to a friend to take on your for it to maybe one day randomly lose its ghost.
It appears their storefront is by appointment only now for the next month. Maybe there's some staffing issues or something. I feel like we've all been waiting for them to "get their s**t together for the last year but I can't help but feel that maybe they're just in over their heads, which sucks because gatherings up all these parts from various other places would have tacked up a huge shipping amount.
Also, I'll add that I'm very aware that the pink poly bags are by no means 100% protection. But I have a wrist strap and practice proper grounding when building as well as at work.
Anyway. What would you guys do?
Also, if you think ESD is some false boogieman, I'd recommend this for viewing. It's a little dated in the science but by and far the most amusing ESD education I've ever viewed.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Uk5F3rQNUkU&feature=share9
23-33 minutes, particularly at 28 minutes is required viewing for the class.