Where to Buy Affordable Electronic Components in Australia

• 

  geek001 on 16/02/2018 - 11:58

  +3

  Everything comes from China these days, it would make sense things are cheaper at the source.

  That being said, you can try https://au.rs-online.com/web/

  or http://au.element14.com/

  I have tried looking for electronics components, but always ended up getting them off ebay from China. Takes a month to arrive, but I am in no hurry since I am a procrastinator. Lol.

  • 

    D C on 16/02/2018 - 13:48

    +1

    RS & E14 are very expensive for small quantities.

    E14 like to pretend they're hobbyist friendly, but that doesn't show up in the pricing. Their customer service leaves a lot to be desired as well.

    I get most of my stuff from AliExpress, when it's not the Xmas/New Year period I find most things arrive in about 2 weeks.

• 

  trustnoone on 16/02/2018 - 12:01

  +1

  I use littlebird electronics (in sydney I think), an element 14 I hear is good?, but unfortunately if you want good pricing you're definitely having to put up with eBay long wait time sellers. JayCar as far as I know has some controversy to it as well.

• 

  ChrisLevo on 16/02/2018 - 12:11

  I only buy from Jaycar if I can't wait 3 or 4 days.

  There are plenty of people based in Australia who can supply things that you mentioned at a better price with quick delivery.

  For example, I just purchased a 5 pack of CR1632 batteries for $7.95 delivered from Melbourne, versus going to Jaycar and paying $2.95 each.

  • 

    D C on 16/02/2018 - 13:50

    And most of that $7.95 would have been postage.

• 

  pegaxs on 16/02/2018 - 12:16

  RS components?

  It’s been a while since I bought stuff off them, it they had a huge range of electronics stuff. I know where I work buys stuff from them, but it’s not related to what OP is asking, but in the past we have bought stuff related to to that…

  And I only use Jaycar if I have won the lottery that week and have plenty of disposable income left over…

• 

  knk on 16/02/2018 - 12:40

  I spent about $30 on aliexpress for various switches, relays etc the other day just to have on hand after getting fed up with going out and buying this stuff for a premium.

  The tipping point was paying like $14 for an inline fuse holder when installing my towbar.. I ordered 5 for $5 lol

• 

  Ryanek on 16/02/2018 - 13:15

  +1

  Avoid JayCar at all costs. I may be stingy but I also have my principles.

  • 

    picklewizard on 16/02/2018 - 13:46

    +1

    Not only are their practices unconscionable and prices grossly inflated, they now sell the same cheap shit as AliExpress.

    There was a time when you'd go in for something like a simple voltage reg and you'd get an ST or National Semiconductor branded item - now they're generic shit (not to say they don't work, but it no longer justifies the premium price.)

• 

  D C on 16/02/2018 - 14:03

  +1

  For those wondering about the Jaycar hate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW8K9D9u5aI. The TL;DW; people can skip to https://youtu.be/SW8K9D9u5aI?t=7m09s

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 16/02/2018 - 18:38

    Oh wow, definitely wont be buying from JayCar. Thats disgusting what they did.

• 

  Draxxx on 16/02/2018 - 14:18

  +1

  AS mentioned, my go to's are;
  RS components for components, and also
  Core for bits & Pi Stuff (not the cheapest, but wide range and quick delivery)
  Also worth a mention;
  ModMyPi (Wide range, but expensive)
  If you can plan ahead, AliExpress is by far the cheapest, but the wait is long.
  Good for over-priced items.

• 

  pjetson on 16/02/2018 - 14:39

  Buying ones and twos isn't economic for the buyer or seller.

  For everyday passive components, diodes, transistors, leds, and switches, just buy bulk packs of different types and values from eBay merchants. It'll cost you very little to build up your own stock.

• 

  fantombloo on 16/02/2018 - 14:46

  Digikey and Mouser will do free delivery from the States for orders over AU$60. Massive range and usually great stock. Order by Friday late night and the stuff arrives on Monday or Tuesday. Their websites, particularly Digikey's, are superb.

  Locally you can try X-On Electronics (Perth) - $15 delivery fee if < $200 order - but their website will drive you to despair. They do advertise on ebay but are expensive there.

  E14 has become a joke with no local stock - everything is a week delivery from Singapore or UK. RS is better these days.

  Jaycar I don't touch unless it's super urgent - IMO just a junk shop.

• 

  [Deactivated] on 16/02/2018 - 16:32

  I find Altronics better than Jaycar.

• 

  ubc9000xlt on 28/02/2020 - 09:31

  The coronavirus is affecting shipments to and from China, according to Australia Post.

  I just created an account with AliExpress, but when I went to add a shipping address,
  it insisted I enter a mobile number as a mandatory field.

  As I am not comfortable with this, I deleted the account (without entering a shipping address).

  Banggood are just as cheap, I've been with them for years.

• 

  salbayeng on 02/03/2021 - 09:02

  Some points:
  Australian minimum wages are ~$20/hr add on annual leave workers comp etc its $30/hr, so if you order 4 LED's from Jaycar, it will take an employee 6 minutes = 0.1hrs = $3 of labour to find your 4 leds worth $3.30 total , (ignoring rent electricity etc for the shopfront). So while it might seem expensive, you are putting food on the table of an Australian.

  If you want cheap electronic components then try to find a local electronics manufacturer, there are quite a few hiding away, (for example there are maybe a dozen on the newcastle 23xx area ) We usually have excess stock, that we take to Wyong field day once/year or just dump. You could even get casual work there, and learn useful skills.

  Locally Altronics is better than Jaycar (that's my opinion).

  Aus mail order: , Core electronics (Here in Newcastle!) is pretty good , you also have little bird.
  Intl online, you have Pololu , Adafruit.Seeed…….

  You are better off buying kits than small items, there is an "electronics parts library" you can get from Seeed, and to buy leds, better to get 50 off of 5 different colors in one kit, ditto resistors.