I am in the process of building one of my electronic gizmos.
For this particular project, I need a transistor. But not just any old transistor… I’ve got plenty of those. No, for this I needed a ZXTP2012ASTZ.
Yes, a ZXTP2012ASTZ.
As I’m sure you have realised, this transistor is a little bit out of the ordinary and, as such, none of my normal suppliers stocked it.
I eventually found it on Mouser. They’re a major supplier of electronic components, but I’ve never used them before.
I added the transistor to My Basket and clicked Checkout.
Mouser presented me with a price for my purchase: 59p.
Fifty-nine pence. That’s alright. But then they added another £12.00 for postage!
How the hell can something of that size warrant 12 quid postage?
For those of you not sure how big a transistor is, that it should justify 12 quid postage, I have included a picture… with a 5p coin for scale.
Turns out, Mouser have a standard 12 quid P&P added to any order under 33 pounds.
No matter what it is.
Ridiculous!
Obviously, I didn’t buy it.
But then, I mentioned this to a chap I talk to regularly on the radio. Jim said that he often ordered stuff from Mouser and would be happy to add my transistor to his next order. What a top fellow!
I received an email from him yesterday, telling me it had arrived.
As he only lives ten miles from me, I took a drive over and we had a good ol’ chat over a cup of tea and a biscuit.
It was good to finally put a face to the voice I’ve spoken to, so many times over the past couple of years.
And he never even charged me for the transistor.
‘and it only cost you 14 quid in petrol to pick it up. Bargain.
When you got there did you say “Hello little Jim”
Oh yes, the irony of petrol money spent to pick it up, wasn’t lost on me.
However, it was a good excuse for a meet up.
Nah. It would have been lost on him, if he wasn’t a fan of the highly steamed Goon Show.
I have to say that P&P is a little bit steep!
A little bit?
It’s the north face of P&P charges!