Are the free samples really free?

[purplepeople]

For a while now, I've been really curious to find out if the big semiconductor manufacturers know that we are all asking for free samples to make our gear.

That's not to say that we are not experimenting with the samples, which is supposed to be the intention. There are plenty of dis-integrated circuits strewn about to prove that. (Yes...pun intended)

I'm also guessing that some of you work at the big fabs and was wondering what your *personal* opinions are on this and if there is a more strict company line about the situation.

ensen.

 

[russbryant]

Yes (nt)

=

 

[fr0st]

Half of them sell our personal details to pay for the samples so I don't feel to guilty

 

[peranders]

I can get samples rather easy through my work but I find it very easy just to order directly from TI, NS, AD etc.

Some companies are not so keen on spreading samples around but with time you learn which ones are

Yes, they are totally for free!

 

[Matttcattt]

could someone post a list of companies that will send free samples to england, that i will not have to pay VAT/postage for? i have ordered free samples from TI, but im not sure if other companies will ship to england free/at all.

 

[audioPT]

Well, here is my contribution:

From DHL, TNT and UPS I've received a total of about 100 units of samples coming from TI/Burr Brown, Microchip, ON Semi, Analog Devices and Motorola.

By mail, from Maxim/Dallas and also Microchip.

Wednesday, I've got a surprise in my P.O. Box: one box, about the size of a double CD box full of new products from Maxim/Dallas.

Want to know how much I've been paying for this?

0€ (zero euros)

No VAT, neither Taxes!

There is only one company that don't send me the asked samples, Philips

Hope I helped with something...

BTW, I've here some TO3 OPA's...
High power...
Maybe I'll put in chip amps something with those


Regards

Pedro Martins

 

[Peter Daniel]

LM3875 is no longer free if you ask for samples using personal e-mail (like yahoo, aol, rogers or sympatico). You have to pay shipping of about $12 for 5 pcs.

 

[jleaman]

i got my lm-3875's for free. They only give you 5 of them though.

 

[Peter Daniel]

I guess your e-mail address is better than mine

phdaniel#sympatico..ca

 

[till]

national doesn´t send me any samples - i signed up with university adress and email. everyone else does.

 

[jleaman]

if you have gotten lots of samples from them then of course your not going to get any. mine is jleaman#citytel...n.e.t

 

[till]

they NEVER sent me any.TI offered me if i have problems ordering as many as i need online i shoud order at epic, also arrow offered me TI samples....

 

[Oscar]

national doesn´t send me any samples - i signed up with university adress and email. everyone else does.

It seems they don't want to send to me either. Just like you, I'm a university student and signed up with that email address. Is anyone able to get samples that they *don't* get via work?

LM3875 is no longer free if you ask for samples using personal e-mail (like yahoo, aol, rogers or sympatico). You have to pay shipping of about $12 for 5 pcs.

Are you complaining? Spoiled!! I wouldn't mind spending $12 on shipping, that's what two chips would cost me, without shipping...

 

[ir]

i've receivec a few samples here in NZ, plenty from National, a few from Microchip (who no longer ship to NZ now - not that that will affect any of you), Analog Devices

especially national. just got a stereo 50W IC yesterday in fact

 

[Peter Daniel]

Are you complaining? Spoiled!! I wouldn't mind spending $12 on shipping, that's what two chips would cost me, without shipping...

I'm buying them in much bigger quantities, so nothing to complain. I'm just passing the info to anybody looking for samples.

 

[jleaman]

Speaking of parts Peter.. AHEm.. ; O )

MMm i need to order some stuff for gain clone's and then finnish aleph 2's

 

[w00t]

I used my hotmail account with National and have so far got over 120 samples from them.

 

[till]

can you tell me whats the trick?

 

[Holger Barske]

No trick, even for us in Germany.
Just use a "serious" email address and National works perfectly well.

 

[till]

HBarske, a University account of a Technikal University, one with partnertship programms to US, should be serios, no? And i used even Universitys real world adress, not only email account. National behaves quite opposite like TI, who invited me to seminars and gave me samples and docs, even without asking for...