Jlcpcb and tariffs

[vigilante398]

I got another batch of quotes from one of the domestic PCB assembly shops I talked to last week at the convention. I gave everyone three designs and asked for quotes for 100 pieces of each so I can get an idea how they will land for the rest of my lineup. Then I compare their quotes with what I have historically been paying at JLC to see how they stack up. So far the best pricing I've gotten from a domestic shop has been Odyssey Electronics, who apparently builds the boards for the modern production Rat distortion.

Design 1 - 180% higher than JLC
Design 2 - 390% higher than JLC
Design 3 - 624% higher than JLC

Design 1 starts to make sense if we're still talking about 170% tariffs as the money I would then save on shipping would actually beat JLC overall, but they're still quoting a 7-week lead time for the build, where JLC is typically 6-7 days for PCBs and assembly.

 

[Harry Klippton]

https://www.record-courier.com/story/business/2025/05/18/tariffs-could-bankrupt-akron-based-earthquaker-devices-ceo-julie-robbins-us-senate-testimony/83647692007/?fbclid=iwq0xdswkyzbblehrua2flbqixmqabhoiqvltbwhrnr24lbxo3u1sa5p3wxzsi0vlum8fu_n7aj-hqdymwzrqldmqt_aem_gqbi2jlnf4o0yi8yhapfow

 

[szukalski]

Interesting read. There are some misleading numbers at face value. Ie. it looks like it costs 2c to build a pedal, when they are talking about the extra tariff cost per pedal.
Bit of a rough time to be anyone in state side..

 

[Harry Klippton]

Automatically applied duties have been lowered at JLCPCB.

View attachment 95495

Does this show just in the cart or only during actual checkout?

Anybody tried a small order in the past few days? I've got a couple things I'm feeling itchy to get done.

Even if oshpark is more expensive, at least it's not going directly to the fucking Treasury department for no good reason

 

[vigilante398]

Does this show just in the cart or only during actual checkout?

Anybody tried a small order in the past few days? I've got a couple things I'm feeling itchy to get done.

Even if oshpark is more expensive, at least it's not going directly to the fucking Treasury department for no good reason

I placed an order May 14th, customs duties were charged at checkout. $191.67 of goods and a $107.18 customs charge.

 

[almondcity]

i hate this timeline

 

[Locrian99]

Interesting read. There are some misleading numbers at face value. Ie. it looks like it costs 2c to build a pedal, when they are talking about the extra tariff cost per pedal.
Bit of a rough time to be anyone in state side..

Yea.

 

[Robert]

So instead of splitting my orders to keep everything below $800, I guess now I'm grouping them together to try to keep them above $800? Weird but okay, works for me.

It just keeps getting better...

 

[drgonzo1969]

Wtf

 

[Guardians of the analog]

 

[jessenator]

So is that 50 designs, or 50 individual PCBs? Because the latter is stupidly worse.

 

[Robert]

So is that 50 designs, or 50 individual PCBs? Because the latter is stupidly worse.

That's 50 individual designs.

The JLCPCB cart has always had an issue with large orders, it glitches and crashes and sometimes requires contacting customer support to recover... I suppose the solution was to just cap it.

Not a huge issue and probably wont affect most folks, but something to be aware of.

Now I have to go decide what to pull out of the order....

 

[y-u-no-f800b]

Now I have to go decide what to pull out of the order....

YATS gets the ax! YATS gets the ax! Everybody together now!

 

[Robert]

YATS gets the ax! YATS gets the ax! Everybody together now!

Excellent plan, that worked.

 

[jessenator]

I completely forgot to send them anything for an estimate, but has anyone tried ninja PCB or whatever their name is?

Or gotten a bid back from any fabs in India?

 

[jimilee]

Just a heads up to those who were worried about this from a personal/DIY standpoint:

1.) Here is a full order I placed yesterday:

View attachment 96104

Problem was I forgot some wah boards.

2.) Here is the small order for 5 boards I placed today with the Global Line/Direct Long Boat shipping:

View attachment 96105

No import fees on that although I did not use the same shipping option so i wonder if a lot of this is being driven by companies like UPS, FEDEX, DHL, etc.

Hope this helps...

That’s very cool.

 

[Locrian99]

Just a heads up to those who were worried about this from a personal/DIY standpoint:

1.) Here is a full order I placed yesterday:

View attachment 96104

Problem was I forgot some wah boards.

2.) Here is the small order for 5 boards I placed today with the Global Line/Direct Long Boat shipping:

View attachment 96105

No import fees on that although I did not use the same shipping option so i wonder if a lot of this is being driven by companies like UPS, FEDEX, DHL, etc.

Hope this helps...

Ooooh i pretty much always use the slow boat anyways. I’ll have to put together an order later. Before all this though i could order 5 boards slowboat and it was like 4.50$ shipped, paid a .50 cent paypal fee for the transaction. My state has no sales tax.

 

[Harry Klippton]

Ooooh i pretty much always use the slow boat anyways. I’ll have to put together an order later. Before all this though i could order 5 boards slowboat and it was like 4.50$ shipped, paid a .50 cent paypal fee for the transaction. My state has no sales tax.

Eagerly awaiting your experience

 

[Nostradoomus]

I've found that the slow boat option still shows up within 2 weeks anyway (I'm west coast of Canada though), I never use other services

 

[Vicious C]

I've found that the slow boat option still shows up within 2 weeks anyway (I'm west coast of Canada though), I never use other services

First and only time I did slow boat was early March. Package still in customs. I’m sure it’s a fluke but I will have to use FedEx next time and bite the bullet