Hello friends from around the globe, 

Component time limits seem to be a sore spot these days. This brings to mind 
a related topic. 

You see, I have a friend with a problem... 

(I know what you might be thinking but the answer is:  No, it really is not 
me  ;-)  

At any rate, he received a quantity of ceramic chip carrier package shells 
with gold plated leads over a year ago and upon removing them from storage found 
many of them to be discolored near the copper/gold brazed welds (apparently 
due to moisture from micro pores in the welds) The welds with the micro pores 
were over plated with nickel and gold, with the final gold plated to an average 
of greater than 1.5µm (60 millionths of an inch). 

The vendor told him to bake them but it is hard to see how this will remove 
and discoloration. They are also refusing to replace or repair the parts nor 
will they say if the packages will be reliable in the field or take any 
responsibility for them. 

I realize that times are hard but the response seemed rather uncaring and not 
very service oriented.

So the questions are:

1) What is the consensus expectation for storage life of gold plated parts on 
a shelf in a benign environment with the plating series above?

2) What is the concessus on how folks here feel that the vendor should 
respond? 

A) Replace the parts? B) Repair them? or C) Tell the customer to eat them? 

There are no right or wrong answers here. I am just looking for the valued 
opinions of the many here who spend every day in the trenches on this particular 
matter.   

Thanks in advance to all who respond. 

Kindest regards to all, 
Joe 

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