Odd JLCPCB pricing

[Microdoser]

that's an 84% increase in shipping costs

I believe that there's a special "small package" shipping rate from China, and the 5-board 100mm deal is carefully designed to skirt in under that weight.
The same thing happens (or did happen) with domestic shipping, at least in the US.  You could mail small enough packages up to 8oz or so at the first class postage rate ($0.66/oz), and then it jumps to the 1lb rate ($7.xxx) (or "flat rate" boxes @$8.55)


It might be nice if they would divide up your "big order into smaller packages if that makes things cheaper, but  that's asking a lot, IMO.

That makes sense. It would be a very trivial task to alter the purchase code to send them out individually by making each order a separate order, though. I'll just remember to order one, then the next, then the next in future.

[Chris56000]

I sent the Gerber Files for a Lightning Detector System to JLC and they analyzed it as four separate designs even though it had been "panelized", and they asked for an £18 "multi–design" supplement!

It worked out a lot cheaper to pay the £18 supplement than try to re–work the design file into four separate boards and pay four lots of postage, import tax and VAT, etc., etc!

Chris Williams

[nigelwright7557]

The last thing I would complain about is JLCPCB pricing.
I have done around 500 different designs with them and they are the cheapest I have found.
If I bought in from the UK they would be many times the price.

[Microdoser]

I'm not complaining, I'm saying it's odd.

[asmi]

I'm not complaining, I'm saying it's odd.

Their business - their rules. Don't like 'em - take your business elsewhere. I for one is eternally thankful to JLCPCB for giving me access to technologies which I could only dream of before - like making five 15x12 cm 10 layer impedance controlled PCBs with via in a pad for just over $200. Before them such tech would be way beyond my price range. And in general for constantly pushing the envelope of what's accessible to hobbyists at great prices.

[Microdoser]

Again, I'm not saying I don't like their prices, I'm not complaining, I'm saying they are odd.

Why do people want to turn this into some sort of argument?

[vk4ffab]

I'm not complaining, I'm saying it's odd.

Not a great deal odd about it, its all about weight when it comes to air freight and the relationship to price is not linear. There are heavy discounts out of China on less than 500 grams, but over that you pay the regular rate. If all you are doing are 100mm boards, then individual orders works out way cheaper, but if you are doing larger boards, bigger orders are much cheaper. My last order 5 different designs, largest board was 260x160mm those 5 boards are 800g and $37 shipping, 20 boards $67 for 3Kg.

[Smokey]

I noticed that because my stencil didn't fit in the same box as the boards, the shipping almost doubled because they shipped it in two boxes.

[fourfathom]

I noticed that because my stencil didn't fit in the same box as the boards, the shipping almost doubled because they shipped it in two boxes.

To reduce the shipping charges you can request a smaller stencil (if that works for you.)  There is an option for this.