Check it: http://www.smallbearelec.com/servlet/StoreFront
I wouldn't call it ideal, but it certainly is an improvement. I hope they make some of the categories (like ICs) a bit more descriptive than "group 1", "group 2", etc...
Now if only we could get PPP to change the way you buy powder coated enclosures. Love their enclosures, but that site...
Tempted to deem this the "Mammoth effect."
Hey looking much better.
Now he just needs to get those 3PDT prices lower. Still $4.95 ???
It looks like the same ecommerce package that Tayda uses. I think it's ProStores.
Good for Steve. :)
Quote from: pryde on February 10, 2013, 04:06:00 PM
Now he just needs to get those 3PDT prices lower. Still $4.95 ???
Shit, for years they were $10. :o
The one thing I wish he could do beyond this is put links to datasheets for some of the stuff he carries. A big task, but it would be extremely convenient.
I wish he'd copy Mammoth's design and let you add multiple resistor/capacitor values to your cart at the same time. That move is such an obvious improvement, I can't understand why Mammoth is the only site set up to do it.
Quote from: pickdropper on February 10, 2013, 02:58:14 PM
I wouldn't call it ideal, but it certainly is an improvement. I hope they make some of the categories (like ICs) a bit more descriptive than "group 1", "group 2", etc...
Now if only we could get PPP to change the way you buy powder coated enclosures. Love their enclosures, but that site...
Agreed 100% on this.
It looks marginally better... I guess that's something. :) Being mostly a one-man operation, it's still pretty impressive.
Tayda has the best store ever. I am amazed at how well thought through is the whole shopping experience, and order tracking, everything is one click away. One of the best stores ever.
Small Bear - thumbs up for this improvement!
Quote from: Grigori on February 13, 2013, 03:11:32 AM
It looks marginally better... I guess that's something. :) Being mostly a one-man operation, it's still pretty impressive.
lol, behind every one-man operation is a wife cracking the whip !
He has employees.
It does look a lot better, now if the PT 2399s were no longer 3.95... still best selection of knobs and out if production FETs, ICs etc
... Agreed about PPP as well, love their enclosures, but the paint charges are a bit of a mess
Quote from: Cortexturizer on February 13, 2013, 09:47:33 AM
Tayda has the best store ever. I am amazed at how well thought through is the whole shopping experience, and order tracking, everything is one click away. One of the best stores ever.
Small Bear - thumbs up for this improvement!
Absolutely. I cringe when I think of the time and extra money I've wasted on other online stores. Ordering at Tayda is a snap (Small Bear starts asking you to type in a verification number if your order passes a certain limit). Plus, their prices are -- in some cases -- one-tenth what they are at other retailers. I can't believe I was spending almost $4 for a PT2399 when they're .59 -- yes, 59
cents -- at Tayda.
As much as I love the enclosure at PPP, ordering them is ridiculous. First, you have to order the enclosure. Then you have to order the paint job. Then you have to order the colour. And if you have multiple sizes and colours, you have to add a note so they know which colour goes with which enclosure. It's incredibly inefficient.
I don't complain much about any of the sites, we are lucky to have a good selection compared to a few years ago!
Josh
we got off to a bumpy start a few years ago, but small bear is by far my favorite. Mammoth is 2nd, PPP is great for enclosures, but I agree the ordering experience/storefront is crap. Mammoth has a good platform.
I haven't tried Tayda. I used to order from effectsconnection.com but I forgot about them for a while.
Mammoth definitely has the best platform and a lot of their prices are better than SmallBear. One other thing I haven't liked about SmallBear was the payment method. Either you can write a check/money order (honestly who even does that?) or by PayPal. I. Hate. PayPal. I would order from SmallBear 10x as much if they changed their payment options. I don't necessarily support business undercutting other businesses marginally like the way mammoth has most of their stuff 5 or 10 cents cheaper than SmallBear. So I would rather give SmallBear my business, especially since they have been around much longer
Tayda can be great but stay away from anything hardware related, because guess what?? Cheap hardware is ... cheap!! Out of the 40 or so DC jacks I ordered I would be surprised if more than half of them had nuts that actually fit properly, and their 3PDT are absolutely TERRIBLE. Again the nuts dont fit properly and strip out at the slightest pressure. But for passives and ICs and whatnot their prices are pretty much unbeatable.
I avoid Taydas electrolytics as well, but I am admittedly a bit paranoid about no name electros. Their film caps are fine.
Call me lazy but I really like getting my passives from mouser, because of all the well labeled packages.... Shiny too
Quote from: aballen on February 16, 2013, 12:25:51 AM
Call me lazy but I really like getting my passives from mouser, because of all the well labeled packages.... Shiny too
i second this. I go with mouser when its a better buy than Smallbear in quantity.
Quote from: pedalman on February 13, 2013, 04:47:20 PM
Quote from: Grigori on February 13, 2013, 03:11:32 AM
It looks marginally better... I guess that's something. :) Being mostly a one-man operation, it's still pretty impressive.
lol, behind every one-man operation is a wife cracking the whip !
VERY true! :D
Quote from: aballen on February 16, 2013, 12:25:51 AM
Call me lazy but I really like getting my passives from mouser, because of all the well labeled packages.... Shiny too
I buy everything I can from Tayda, especially because every value is individually ziplock bagged and labelled. Plus they have the best bloody shipping prices out of any of the electronic sites I shop at.
My first Mouser order ever is on the way... but at $39 shipping, they're far worse than Smallbear has been to me for shipping! Plus ordering a few dozen resistor values on their site is a task of pain and agony.
Steve @ Small bear has the only reasonable stock on NOS transistors and Diodes I have found on certain things.
Has anyone noticed the sound difference between LM308AH korean metal can op amps and the Motorola branded Metal cans? Night and day to me.
Glad to see the Small Bear improvement.
One of the ladies at PedalPartsPlus told me they were in the process of redesigning their site to make it really easy to order enclosures but their programmer/designer passed away near the end of the process so that set them back... but she told me there would be a huge improvement soon. That was a month ago.
Quote from: alanp on February 16, 2013, 01:24:03 AM
Quote from: aballen on February 16, 2013, 12:25:51 AM
Call me lazy but I really like getting my passives from mouser, because of all the well labeled packages.... Shiny too
My first Mouser order ever is on the way... but at $39 shipping, they're far worse than Smallbear has been to me for shipping! Plus ordering a few dozen resistor values on their site is a task of pain and agony.
Could you get the same stuff from Digikey, even to Canada shipping is a flat $8 for orders under $200, free for those over. That said, I need to place an order with Mouser, only place i can find certain things, but the shipping to Canada can be worrisome to say the least, no idea what to expect.
dave