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[Circuitbenders]

To avoid endless repititions of the 'anyone know where to get components online' question heres a list of recommendations. Feel free to post additions and i'll edit the thread down to one post if it becomes to big.

UK
Rapid Electronics - www.rapidonline.com (probably the most popular site in the UK)
cpc - www.cpc.co.uk (sometimes cheaper than Rapid for bulk orders)
Maplins - www.maplin.co.uk (very expensive but have local shops)
Greenweld - www.greenweld.co.uk/
JPR - www.jprelec.co.uk/ (not much stock but they always seem to have what you want)
Nikko - www.dalbani.co.uk (has lot of rare obselete stuff if you happen to building an x0xb0x or something)
Cricklewood - www.cricklewoodelectronics.com (hard to find components - sometimes lists alternatives)
Mark 5 - http://www.mark5.co.uk (brilliant for old and obselete transisters and IC's etc)

Europe
Conrad - www.conrad.de  ( pretty pricy but good selection of quality parts)
Reichelt - www.reichelt.de (cheap and moderate quality parts, good for standard stuff)
Pollin - www.pollin.de (opportunities for getting leftover parts in big amounts for real cheap)

US
Futurlec - www.futurlec.com (also has cheap international shipping)
Small Bear - www.smallbearelec.com
Kelvin - www.kelvin.com/
Jameco - www.jameco.com
Alltronics - www.Alltronics.com

WORLDWIDE
Mouser - www.mouser.com (mainly US but also have country specific sites)
Farnell - www.farnell.com (also have country specific sites)
RS - www.rs-components.com/index.html (who actually buys from RS? They are ridiculously expensive)
Digikey - www.digikey.com (also have country specific sites, but the catalogue is difficult to use)
Partspipe - http://stores.ebay.co.uk/PARTSPIPE (ebay shop from japan with a lot of cheap quality components)

[Griffin]

US - Alltronics.com - they have dual 150k pots for the cheapest I found(3.95 US0, unlike this bastard who is a bit overpriced($55 US)
also
US - Bent-Tronics.com

[Circuitbenders]

JPR electronics in the UK don't have a very wide range but they seem to be cheaper than rapid for a lot of stuff and the best thing about them is that they actually have decent quality push to break push buttons at decent prices 
http://www.jprelec.co.uk/docs/order_code.asp?pCode=%5F0G60N8SOR&PGID=%5F0G60MX1YB&LEVEL=1&SearchType2=3&MODE=&PARTNO=&KEYWORD=&PG=Switches+%26+Sensors&RELATED=0&rtype=A&OC=NONE&TEMP=NONE

They reside at:

http://www.jprelec.co.uk/

[kick52]

Please add http://www.bitsbox.co.uk/ for the UK.
I think the prices are good and the delivery is only £1.50 (unlike Rapid which had £5!)

[kick52]

DON'T BUY RAPID'S PUSH TO BREAK PUSHBUTTONS!

I just tried mine and I am insanely pissed off/disappointed. It's a hit-and-miss chance that the button which actually break the circuit, the button press isn't that nice (the push-to-make pushbutton isn't nice either though at least it fucking works.), and if you can really easily melt the plastic if you heat up the contacts for more than 2 secs.

I'm sticking with toggle switches.

[Circuitbenders]

and the thread strips off the shaft the second you uncrew the nut. They do say 'not recommended for industrial use' but i agree, they re shit.

Which is why i get them from JPR.

[computer at sea]

For parts in the US, I've had good experiences with Jameco.  They have a pretty wide selection of good quality pots for around 80 or 90 cents per unit. 

Steer clear of their rotary switches, as they smell poisonous.  I've only bought rotary switches from a few places, but nowhere esle have I run across such a toxic smell.

[Circuitbenders]

Please add http://www.bitsbox.co.uk/ for the UK.
I think the prices are good and the delivery is only £1.50 (unlike Rapid which had £5!)

I am reliably informed that bitsbox just buy in bulk from Rapid and then add a third or double the price on a lot of items. What you are saving in postage you are losing in price. They certainly have the same appalling push buttons mentioned previously at 25p each where as they are 14p at rapid. 

But i suppose if you only want a few things the £1.50 shipping makes it a good deal.

Anyone ever buy anythiing from RS?

[kick52]

Please add http://www.bitsbox.co.uk/ for the UK.
I think the prices are good and the delivery is only £1.50 (unlike Rapid which had £5!)

I am reliably informed that bitsbox just buy in bulk from Rapid and then add a third or double the price on a lot of items. What you are saving in postage you are losing in price. They certainly have the same appalling push buttons mentioned previously at 25p each where as they are 14p at rapid. 

But i suppose if you only want a few things the £1.50 shipping makes it a good deal.

Anyone ever buy anythiing from RS?

Hmmm. That sucks.
They do have a few things which Rapid doesn't have though, for example stranded wire 8p/metre.

[kick52]

JPR electronics in the UK don't have a very wide range but they seem to be cheaper than rapid for a lot of stuff and the best thing about them is that they actually have decent quality push to break push buttons at decent prices 
http://www.jprelec.co.uk/docs/order_code.asp?pCode=%5F0G60N8SOR&PGID=%5F0G60MX1YB&LEVEL=1&SearchType2=3&MODE=&PARTNO=&KEYWORD=&PG=Switches+%26+Sensors&RELATED=0&rtype=A&OC=NONE&TEMP=NONE

They reside at:

http://www.jprelec.co.uk/

Have you tested those buttons?
Because they look exactly like the shit ones.

[Circuitbenders]

Note the way the shaft of the button coming up the the black tip is actually metal all the way up to the tip on those ones and the black tip presses down around the metal shaft, where as on the cheap ones there is no metal shaft and the button tip is flapping around loose.

I bought 100 of those JPR ones as i was scared i might never find them again  and they are far better quality that the cheap rapid shit. Not as good as the maplins ones but then the maplins ones have mysteriously shot up to £1.62 each in my local store!

[kick52]

What are the standard shipping rates for JPR?

[Circuitbenders]

I'm not sure, you'd have to check out the site. I do know that the minimum order if you are paying with a credit card is £30 and you get free shipping on that much.

[goldenbaby]

I ordered a bunch of start-up supplies with varying values and the such through Parts Express (www.parts-express.com).  Has anyone else bought from them, and how does the quality tend to be?  It was a little more than some places, but we've rented a US mailbox and only drive an hour to the border to access it.  My first order was $50, so I got free shipping.  Now I just hope that what I bought doesn't totally suck.

[Matt the Modulator]

Anyone know were i can get a Dual pp3 battery holder from?