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Can't order samples from TI eStore


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I get a 

"Your account does not have access to samples. Please remove the highlighted devices, or, purchase these parts in order to checkout. To learn more click here."

 

Also, following the link:

TI provides sample ICs to design engineers to support new product designs. Due to the high cost of a sample program like TI's, we require complete contact information using a corporate (.com) email domain as well as full shipping information. To order samples, please login to myTI and click on the Login & password link to update your myTI Profile to a corporate issued email address.

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Crazy.  

 

I do not get any error message like that @@bluehash and I am using my randomelectrons.com email address.  

 

But!

 

I just used my work email address and that seems to have better results. I've got no red error messages now and I can order some samples.

 

Interesting...  I've learned something new today.  

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What?!!  That's not possible.

 

It could be true but it doesn't make sense.

Nevermind it's just what bluehash's message said, they're restricting it.  My email domain ends with .net so that must flag TI's order system from allowing me to sample for free.  I remember this change occurred when the TI store started selling individual chips and the free shipping disappeared...

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I could use my .co.uk work address to order samples for a while but they eventually looked into the company (life insurance). They cancelled my last request as the company didn't produce any electronics.

 

Fair enough I suppose. They do seem to be gradually tightening things up.

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I have used sample programs in the past as a Hobbyist back in high school. I don't believe that it was strictly against their T&C back then. But given the growth of electronics over the past 5 years I can see a samples program getting out of hand. Pretty sure all the big companies require .com corporate emails.

 

Personally I don't understand samples. Surely the couple of dollars worth of chips is almost a drip compared to the NRE costs of a typical commercial project?

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Personally I don't understand samples. Surely the couple of dollars worth of chips is almost a drip compared to the NRE costs of a typical commercial project?

 

Having lived in the world of semi sales in my past life, it is not about the sample cost so much as it is about marketing, competition and customer convenience.  You are competing against other semiconductor manufacturers for the design win and the resulting production revenue. Samples are just one part of the sales process.   

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Pretty sure all the big companies require .com corporate emails.

 

No. There was nice topic on ti e2e (that I can't find right now) where guy was pissed off by TI free sample policy (rejected order), regarding the free sample experience with other companies.

 

Last contact that I have regarding free samples with another big company, suggest me to send them free sample request by e-mail directly, and if they have parts on stock, they will ship it immediately. No questions about quantity / my job / company / telephone number / sex orientation / horoscope / weather forecast.

 

AFAIK, all big players that are killing free sample program, telling that this is because people ordering huge amount of IC's and later selling them on e-bay. I am on e-bay almost every day, and can't find any MSP430F5xx there.

 

Why they use firkin expensive fedex, and not ship directly from China (or from other countries where IC's are produced) with 1$ shipping cost?

 

Personally I don't understand samples. Surely the couple of dollars worth of chips is almost a drip compared to the NRE costs of a typical commercial project?

 

I am completing (MSP-GANG like) flasher for MSP430 SBW devices that is up to 4 times faster than MSP-GANG. It will be commercial product. That will never happen without TI sample program. I will never use MSP430 at all.

 

If I look (maybe) 20 years in past (when I was student), if I was lucky to find some rare IC in local shop it was priced 5 times more than in US shop. But I was still lucky. Because later I meet hobbyist guy from Maroco, that was able to see big IC factories, but was not able to buy this produced IC's there. He had (most powerful) credit card (there), but again, he was not able to order from US (or other countries), because card was invalid for them. Free sample program, at that time, was only chance for me to get something new, rare, expensive.

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