CustomPCB and PCBEx
2005-11-19 by Alan King
From PCBEx: " Thanks for your inquiry. We reviewed your picture of PCB design and found there are multiple projects/or multiple parts on one board, which is also called "step & repeat" or "panelization". Usually we do not accept panelization for our standard online order, but we could do the panelization for you according to your design with an extra charge. Please find the following two options: If you order 5-9 pieces, there will be an extra charge of $40 for panelization. For 2 layer, 80 sq. inchs, the price comes as: Unit price: $25 each Extra charge for customer panelization: $40 Plus Shipping " Apparently went right over the CSR's head that 'step & repeat' has other uses within Gerber and boards than only any one definition, even though mentioned as the reason for asking. Also, charge or not, I didn't mention a thing about letting them repanelize in any fashion, I don't want anyone touching my already made and checked gerbers or remaking them, charge or not. What I or any other customer does within a board outline really should be our business, and only our business. I'll be voting with dollars for CustomPCB, who simply do their job, rather than one that's looking over you shoulder, sees more than one smaller board, and figures 'hey, there's more things, you must be selling more parts and making more money, so we need more of your money for no legitimate reason'. Especially when the smaller board projects tend to have lots of sales and handling with lower margins, or a multi-part whole with lower margins, than an equal size and complexity single board. Cost is cost and profit is profit, if my board is the same size and needs no extra handling, it should have the same price. Someone doing small boards on a panel shouldn't be paying more to subsidize someone else's cheaper price for the same panel with single layout, regardless of how they say to justify it. Mine are actually cheaper to produce than many, with my own tendency for SMT and less holes. End cost for 10 boards will be around the same, maybe even slightly lower to PCBex after the 'special' mentioned later on in the message, and also with the mask that isn't in CustomPCB base price. Still, money goes to CustomPCB for now, for having sustainable base pricing and a no-nonsense business model. Not that I wouldn't use PCBEx in the future if I had something more in line with their basic pricing, but I'm strongly disinclined to pay a penny extra for something of equal work, especially when the reasoning is because of 'features' that aren't needed or wanted. CustomPCB has a very strong alternative. While there can be good reason for quantity discounts, so a large orderer isn't paying too high a percentage of the overhead costs, if you order one size board and I order one same size board, it's very very hard to come up with a legitimate reason for any price difference short of a lot more holes etc. The pattern on the board simply isn't relevant. The real reasonings? They think since you're getting more smaller boards, you'll order less often or are making more profit, so we need more of your profit. No cost based reasoning at all, simply 'we think we should soak you for more while the soaking is good.' That $40 is for a few minutes work, pure gravy in any reasonably running shop. Not only that, if they don't keep my exact same layout, then the REAL reason they want to repanelize is likely just to spread them around on multiple panels, to increase efficiency of materials for someone else's 8x10 or whatever orders. Instead of doing my 8x10 as done, they likely want to split it up to save themselves material, and they would also like to make an extra $40 on their few minutes taken to do it. Completely against the customer's best interest if they don't actually need someone to panelize it for them. When I've got already prepared Gerbers, they shouldn't be doing the slightest thing beyond making my board from the Gerbers unless I ask for it. Alan