Question about dealing with electronics sales reps.

Snip..

1. Always have a second and possibly third source if the part is mundane.
2. Always ask for the full name, phone extension and email address. That enforces accountability.
3. Casually mention competitors names.

Did you tell muRata that their product couldn't be used? I'm surprised muRata wern't chasing the RF manufacturer for you to find out why and to agree on an alternative. Perhaps nobody is using that RF IC in very large volume?

It sounds to me like you might be relying on the distributor a bit too much. Some distrubutors know and support their product range very well but others cover too wide a range for them to stand any chance. Other just don't have the right quality of staff.

In my 20+ years in the electronics industry I've met two types of people...

There are those that are made of the "right stuff", who get a real kick out of working as a team to achieve objectives and deliver projects on time. They think ahead and consider what impact their part of the project will have on others. They frequently work unpaid overtime because they enjoy the challange. They are never heard to say "it's not my job to think about xyz..."

.... and then there are those for who everything in life seems just too much work. It never occurs to them that their actions will have an effect on others. They never bother themselves with the wider picture and wouldn't think twice about sending out urgent samples by regular post just before Christmas.

All you can do is hope the boss knows which type you are when it comes to the annual pay review, oh and make sure you hire the right type when you you get his job.

Unfortunately 1500 resonators isn't going to get your average supplier very excited unless you can hint at much larger volumes to come? They cost so little there is no profit in it for them.

It's been my personal experience (and training) that causes me to say that if you've put yourself in in a position requiring such a decision, you've done something wrong already.

I hate to say this, but honestly you're coming across as still another one of those hot shots who low balls his bid, understates his delivery committment, then expects all of his suppliers to cut corners and expecite his stuff just in order to save his ass.

Sorry guy, but business doesn't work that way, even if you were Donald Trump. Well...maybe a name like Donald Trump would buy you a bit of slack, but otherwise...

If you wish to stay in the business for any significant amount of time, broaden your design margins so your production product will meet its specs using components available from at least 6 different sources. Also, find out which of these suppliers maintains an in depth stock locally. This variety of supply sources allow you bargain on price, plus reduce your standing inventory to the minimal amount (normally a 2-week supply).

Unfortunately, if you based your product on the use of a particular component offered by only one supplier and didn't stockpile these components, then don't blame your supplier, since you screwed yourself!

Harry C.

It's been my personal experience (and training) that causes me to say that if you've put yourself in in a position requiring such a decision, you've done something wrong already.

I hate to say this, but honestly you're coming across as still another one of those hot shots who low balls his bid, understates his delivery committment, then expects all of his suppliers to cut corners and expecite his stuff just in order to save his ass.

Sorry guy, but business doesn't work that way, even if you were Donald Trump. Well...maybe a name like Donald Trump would buy you a bit of slack, but otherwise...

If you wish to stay in the business for any significant amount of time, broaden your design margins so your production product will meet its specs using components available from at least 6 different sources. Also, find out which of these suppliers maintains an in depth stock locally. This variety of supply sources allow you bargain on price, plus reduce your standing inventory to the minimal amount (normally a 2-week supply).

Unfortunately, if you based your product on the use of a particular component offered by only one supplier and didn't stockpile these components, then don't blame your supplier, since you screwed yourself!

Harry C.

It's been my personal experience (and training) that causes me to say that if you've put yourself in in a position requiring such a decision, you've done something wrong already.

I hate to say this, but honestly you're coming across as still another one of those hot shots who low balls his bid, understates his delivery committment, then expects all of his suppliers to cut corners and expecite his stuff just in order to save his ass.

Sorry guy, but business doesn't work that way, even if you were Donald Trump. Well...maybe a name like Donald Trump would buy you a bit of slack, but otherwise...

If you wish to stay in the business for any significant amount of time, broaden your design margins so your production product will meet its specs using components available from at least 6 different sources. Also, find out which of these suppliers maintains an in depth stock locally. This variety of supply sources allow you bargain on price, plus reduce your standing inventory to the minimal amount (normally a 2-week supply).

Unfortunately, if you based your product on the use of a particular component offered by only one supplier and didn't stockpile these components, then don't blame your supplier, since you screwed yourself!

Harry C.

I wouldn't assume that at all. If you need parts, you need to make sure that they know how many and when you need them. That's your responsibility, not theirs. Assuming they know what you need is a sure path to delaying builds.

I'd be kind of unhappy with the rep firm, since they seem to be hard to deal with. Perhaps it's time to find some other manufacturer. The other responses on making sure you have multiple vendor's is excellent.

Dave

Take names. Then ask for the names of their manager(s). Contact managers, explaining your situation and including copies of relevant correspondence, and cc: the "grunts" who gave you no joy. Demand action (of the managers) as well as their follow-up, making clear that you are ready to "walk".

All that, only if you want to continue to put up with that company. Otherwise, just walk and don't look back.

What's the old saying? "Jerk me around once, shame on you; jerk me around twice, shame on me."

What did the manufacturer say when you called up the office of the company President and said, "I'm tired of this $#!~. Give me the name of a distributer in a different region."?

I didn't assume that. I told them I'd need the resonators once we finally figured out that they rep'd a mfg that made the parts. That was settled on the 18th of Dec. I let them have their holiday slack time and just like the eval boards were forgotten due to Thanksgiving, everything prior to Christmas was forgotten. It's really hard to drag emails from the inbox to a WIP folder and those post-it notes are such a pain.

Yes, it was, and I did check whether this was some part that was going to be history soon. muRata MArketing may have had no way of knowing that their 2 terminal resonators were recommended as "tested and evaluated" in the spec sheet even though IIRC, it's muRata that offers free evals to companies making RF ICs. Maybe muRata didn't do an eval for those IC's. Maybe the IC mfg did it an gave them a stamp of approval so to speak.

I started dealing with these people since they were referred to me by the mfg., and I plan to send my customer a list of alternate sources in case they have trouble with this rep. It's the least I can do.

-- Thanks, Mike

Thanks. If I can get the resonators out of them, that'll finish the prototype and I can warn my customer that they might want to talk to a few different reps before production.

That's basically what I've been thinking. I'm trying to strike a balance, I guess. I suppose the best indicator of when to get pissed-off is being pissed-off. Compared to other reps I've dealt with, I'd say this has been the worst experience, so far.

I was raised to expect good sevice in restaurants, etc., and although I see people taking it up the butt and coming back for more, I just can't do it myself. Mom told me if they don't get the message when you leave a penny for a tip, they weren't worth the penny.

Maybe my question should have been, "How many times do you say please?" :) Maybe saying please and thank you is a sign of weakness.

Reminds me of the time that the head of engineering told us to use the Mostek IC instead of the Seiko chip--BUY AMERICAN!

Before the design was finished, Mostek was sold to SGS and the availibility of the IC was in question.

What's that they say? "No good deed goes unpunished".