Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

So this price is so cheap, I've never seen anything like it. As in, about 1/10 the price of the competition.

It doesn't look like the owners have shown up here yet. If they do, here are some (hopefully helpful) suggestions from a target user who purchases proto pcbs all the time over the internet:

> Examples: 4cm by 2cm, red PCB: $12 for 10 copies - This should go on the front page. The price is so low that I thought it might be $12 per copy, but you have to order 10.

> Return customers - You like it dirty, you're back for more - Ok, for $12, I guess I can put up with this kind of stuff. But you're not helping yourself here.

> Is my design safe? - Your board will go to a cut-rate prototype PCB factory in China. In all likelihood they have too much volume to give a crap about what's on your PCB, but if this is a concern PLEASE FIND ANOTHER SUPPLIER. - Well, this one is actually funny, but in a sad, tearful sort of way. Why remind people of sad truths? All it can do is take away what could have been a potential customer.

> Shipping is by Hong Kong Post (or similar), which takes 4-30 days - This is great for a lot of people, but there are a whole class of other people (maybe 50% of your audience) who would gladly pay quite a bit more money to get something faster. 30 days is a long time. A different shipping option, even if it was $35 or so, would go a long way here.

PS Good job with the site! The cost is so shockingly low that it certainly gets your attention.




Thanks for the earnest comments, I made the site as a joke cause I live in China and you have no clue what the markup on your boards are... But I think you missed the joke...

A. Get your head outta the sand and take a look around, our prices copy existing services just without all the bull.

1. The top header has that info, not sure how you missed it...

2. Yeah, we like it dirty and we don't want your business. Don't put up with it, go somewhere else...

3. Finish the quote, don't select the random bit that proves your point. This is for open source hardware, we WANT to share and propagate. Take our stuff China, please!

4. We don't care. Pay a ton of handling fees or do the environment a favor and go local. We want to drop stuff off to xiao dou (Mr. Little Bean) at espeed in Huaqiangbei and be done with it. Can't be assed to do more at these prices...

Thanks for the compliments on the site. It's amazing what 12 hours of PHP/Javascript/MYSQL coding and a case of Tsing Tao can get you.

:P


> Examples: 4cm by 2cm, red PCB: $12 for 10 copies - This should go on the front page.

Funny. It would be a thing that would discourage me from using your site. Lack of graphic and flashy ads actually is very pleasant to the eye.


I just meant the text. When buying proto boards, you typically get asked to buy a minimum quantity, but they still show you individual prices - here it's a total cost, but that isn't 100% clear on the front page.


you have no clue what the markup on your boards are

We have a clue, we just don't usually have a choice.


http://oshpark.com is comparable.

$1 per square inch rounded to some fraction. You get three boards shipped anywhere in the world (see my other post for my thoughts). A 5x5 board is roughly 4 square inches, so would cost you $4 for three or $12 for 9. If it's smaller, you pay less.

Turn around time is around 10 days + shipping from the US so either a blessing or a curse.

Seeed used to be cheaper for massive orders, but now OSH has a medium run order it's about the same.


I've ordered from OSH Park, they are fantastic. Still, I question your definitions of "comparable" and "some fraction". :)

At OSH Park:

2 layer boards are $5 per square inch (with 3 copies of your board included in that price)

So a 5x5 cm board from OSH Park is $20 for three, with this service you pay $12 for ten. Way cheaper.


Oops, my inch->cm was off by a factor of 2 there, very true!


All it can do is take away what could have been a potential customer.

You don't want every customer you can get.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: