Electronics - FREE SAMPLES

Updated Dec 3, 2011

Ethics

The resources in this wiki page are suppliers that provide free electronics components samples. Please do not abuse the suppliers providing these valuable resources! The following are suggested ethics for requesting free samples.

• Only request samples you are interested in studying or prototyping with. Avoid requesting samples that will be discarded.
• Do Not Resell the samples on the eBay, Craigs List, or other Internet web services.
• When your project is visible to the public, acknowledge which manufacturers and suppliers provided the free samples used in the project.
• Reference the manufacturers and suppliers in project documentation and publications.
• If and When your project makes money, consider purchasing the components.
• Manufacturing companies and suppliers with ISO certifications actually Use feedback they receive from surveys and thank you letters for qualification for ISO certification. Free samples are worth answering a survey or writing a Thank You Letter.
• If you received free samples from a company representative, be sure to send a Thank You letter to that representative.
• If the project will be really visible in a trade show or competition, ask a company or supplier representative for marketing materials, etc.
• Obtaining samples almost always requires creating an on-line account. Use your real name, address, and only use one account.

Observations

• Manufacturers will rarely call you on the phone.
• I have never detected that my information was ever released to a third party from the companies in the initial list below.
• Using your real name, address, and honestly answering any other questions when ordering samples is valuable if you need to contact engineers for additional technical information.

Electronics Manufacturers with Free Samples On-Line Ordering

• Fairchild Semiconductor
• Microchip
• National Semiconductor