cr0sh:
Yes - they certainly can be, which is why whatever you do, you should shop around. I would also only consider surplus for hobby use, not production. I tried to make that clear in my previous post.
I figured out after buying some "lucky bags" in a local shop.
It is not always the case but these parts really looked a bit manky and it's not much fun to show off such prototypes. Moreover, I even had the impression it would hinder developement to use these parts.
cr0sh:
This works well for surplus, too (provided the vendor has enough); when I buy components surplus, I always buy way, way more than I'll probably use in my lifetime (as a hobbyist).
Actually sometimes I resell components, as kind of a hobby. I don't intend to make much profit only 30% to 50%. Strictly speaking yes sometimes I buy lots of old components but only regular parts, not these kind of "lucky bags" with unmarked parts/unusual parts, or stuff that isn't around anywhere else.
cr0sh:
Components from devices are only realistic for hobbyist purposes, and if you are "desperate"; I consider such sources mainly only for mechanical or similar "larger" components, if they can't be sourced from somewhere else.
This again can be problematic, if the options/possibilities of your project become defined by an old applicance/gadget, that you recycle for parts.
It's maybe worth considering to browse your inventory, and throw out some ugly stuff, some odd single pieces, some half-broken parts etc., and buy some new sortiments. Old screws are totally bad I think. I have done this recently, have really thrown out some parts that weren't nice to look at or weren't useful for a particular purpose.
I am more concerned for variable resistors here, didn't have any assortments until recently.
takao21106:
One really cheap surplus vendor I saw is Pollin Electronics, I never tried them myself but they have sortiments for good prices. I'd say this is hobby stuff and won't be used for professional circuits or circuits that are sold, but that's opinion.
cr0sh:
I'll have to look them up (unless you have a link handy?); where are they "local" to?
Found them via a web search. They have some component bags for good prices.
Don't know if they ship internationally, haven't yet developed a need for such sortiment bags.
They even sell raw PCBs to use the components on them (few internet vendors actually do this).
There isn't an option for other languages as well.
As I say, on eBay, you also can buy assortments, and these are new parts, usually. I mean, new parts from running production. These component bags sometimes are leftovers from a production run, however you can end up with too many parts that you never will have any use for.
I'd say, if you can't resell it having a 30% profit, don't buy it.