how to get a catalogue from RS

[carbon dude oxide]

hello, i was just wondering how you would get a catalogue from RS without having a credit account. as i prefer to look through pages of a book then search engines (mainly to see what they have and get some project ideas ect)

i was having a look earlier and the only place that i could find is when you sign up for a credit account. is there any alternatives apart from the pdf version (as pdf versions really annoy me :/  )

[tom66]

They have plenty of trade counters across the country; they'd probably give you one if you popped in.

[mikeselectricstuff]

They have plenty of trade counters across the country; they'd probably give you one if you popped in.

yes  - they're usually happy to hand them out. Handy as their website search is so crappy.

[Hypernova]

I'm in TW and I only got a normal account with VISA and I got sent the catalogs.

Heck, last year they called asking if I want one, I said no because it's too bulky, lady said no no we got them in USB form now so I said ok.

So after a few days, a 2GB thumb drive arrives with the digital catalog on it

along with the usual door stopper... and the currency is not even in TWD, it's in HongKong dollars!!!

And this year they sent another door stopper, a least this time the currency is correct.

[SeanB]

I got asked if I want it, got the CD instead. The website is a pain, and I will ask for the PDF version this year, as it will just live on a few desktops as a quick reference. Funny enough I keep the old catalogues around, as the common parts are not changed much, and they do keep things in stock for a long time.

[G7PSK]

I had to ask RS to stop sending me catalogues, it's not one book but about 12  in a set and they kept sending a complete set every six months or so, they all appeared much the same and as I hardly ever buy from them ( they are very expensive for most of the stuff I buy) I told them to cease and desist in spamming me with ten kilos of waste paper on a regular basis. Majority of what they sell is no longer electronic only one of the books is for that the rest is things like brooms and soap or drills at twice the price that my local engineering supplies company sells.

[Hypernova]

Brooms and soap?! I know each country's RS tend to be a bit different but that's crazy.

[tom66]

I know our workplace gets a quarterly delivery of Farnell catalogues (I think there's four parts, four separate books.) Straight into the recycling bin... 

[KJDS]

Al it would take is for RS and Farnell to sort out their search engines.

EG searching for a 1206 2A fuse should provide a list of 1206 2A fuses.

Instead, and oh so helpfullly, I get a list of everything that's 1206 sized, resistors, capacitors, inductors et al. Also in the mix is every fuse they sell and everything with 2A in the part number. Absolutely useless.

[SLJ]

Slightly off topic but here are their vintage catalogs posted so you can brows them on line if anyone is interested:

http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/catalog_directory.html

[David_AVD]

RS Components and Radio Shack are not related as far as I know.

[David_AVD]

As for the OP's question, you can get a customer account without getting a credit account.  Same for Element14 (Farnell).

[Zad]

Farnell don't send us mere mortal customers paper catalogues though, even if you ask really nicely. Not sure about RS Components.

As said above though, drop in in person.

[carbon dude oxide]

The closest rs store is about 26 miles away and me being without a car i am unable to pop in store. If only they could open a store here.

[David_AVD]

Have you tried ringing their sales line?  Just be honest and say you don't want a credit account, but would like a catalogue.  The worst that can happen is they say no.

[SLJ]

RS Components and Radio Shack are not related as far as I know.

Never heard of RS besides refering to Radio Shask.  Looked them up.  Here in the US it's Allied not RS.  Couldn't figure out why anyone would want a Radio Shack catalog now... 

[G7PSK]

Brooms and soap?! I know each country's RS tend to be a bit different but that's crazy.

On line as well.http://uk.rs-online.com/web/c/facilities-cleaning-maintenance/washroom-equipment-supplies/hand-cleaners-soaps/

RS have become general industrial suppliers and no longer specialise in just electronic parts as they originally did back in the days everything was in brown cardboard packaging with yellow labels and red writing.

[carbon dude oxide]

yes i was given some componant draws with some componants in (all dis continued) which were in small clear bags with a yellow card and red writing on them