Ordering prototype PCBs in the EU: pcbgo.cc - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: L1L1
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2018, 08:35:00 am
content: Hi all,To start the year, I'd like to point out to a PCB manufacturing service that might be interesting to some European readers:http://www.pcbgo.cc/For 10 euros, they offer the typical 10 PCB pack, max 100mm x 100mm, HASL with lead. But their real selling point is that they ship from within the EU, so there are NO CUSTOMS CLEARANCE fees.The boards are made in China: PCBGO is based in Spain and acts as a reseller. In reality, a 10 euro order will take you to a total of 40 euros, broken down as follows: 10 euros for the boards, about 22 euros for fast shipping, about 6 euros VAT, and a mandatory 2 euros for "Payment Card Fees."I've placed four orders so far, and they took between 6 to 9 days from ordering to delivery to my door (some orders included a stencil). This service is pretty fast overall, and the quality of the boards are quite satisfactory, similar to what you expect from the usual Chinese PCB services such as Seeed, Elecrow, PCBWay, etc. (Here's an example pic:https://twitter.com/OmzloOne/status/922826878137896962)I have a few minor criticisms:- The import of GERBER files in ZIP format seems to broken, and you need to use RAR instead (at least on my Mac).- Stencils are expensive (40 euros), with only two size options.- I don't like the way they add a 2 euro "hidden" fee for payment.Overall, despite those minor issues, I'm thrilled to get boards in less than 10 days without hassle. For people like me living in EU countries with painful import procedures, this can be an interesting option to consider.

author: soubitos
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2018, 10:42:39 pm
content: As we live in the same part of the globe and i feel the "painful import procedures"you mentioned i dont really understand why you should pay 40+ euro for the same thing you could get for 1/2 or 1/4 of the price unless you really need your order in a week or two... i am more than sure that a 10$ order shipped from China to Greece via registered airmail would not cost you anything more than that .... if the supplier can do EMS instead of DHL, again, your customs clearance cost and possible taxes (there should not be any but hey, its Greek customs)... should not be more than 15 euro plus 24% VAT which unless they think the pcbs you ordered are worth 100 euro (still a possibility LOL) should not be more than a few euros.. basically, if you can prove to them you paid 10$ for the order, it should be delivered to you free of charge (and there IS a procedure to go there if this is the case... the first time i ordered pcbs, (from easyeda) they were shipped together with parts in a rather big and heavy box via EMS (to cover for delay to settle on a specific pcb and its pricing).... i paid a total of 92 euros including fees etc for my order and customs charged me 15 euro for clearance fee, nothing to do to avoid that, then 24% VAT over a price they gave to the package of 128 euros, so 30.72 euro more... total 45.72 euros.. it is almost 50% of the value of my order but still well worth it... ordering the same boards and parts from EU sources would cost me at least 50-100 euros more.....To be honest, i dont know if there are any pcb manufacturers in Greece doing small qty at low cost.. there used to be quite a few in the past, i see them in ads from Elector magazine some 20 years ago!!!!even the prices were in Drachmas!~

author: TomS_
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2018, 03:17:06 am
content: Quote from: soubitos on January 02, 2018, 10:42:39 pmGeez man, reformat your text to use a consistent font size... I had to zoom right in to read that.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2018, 04:03:12 am
content: With 22 euro shipping it doesn't seem to make sense at all.

author: Yellofriend
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2018, 05:51:05 am
content: Quote from: L1L1 on January 02, 2018, 08:35:00 amThat doesn't really the match the EU heading, does it?

author: Fire Doger
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2018, 05:53:13 am
content: Allpcb 20$ with free DHL shipping to GR, its under 22 euro so no import duties or import fees.

author: soubitos
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2018, 07:11:15 am
content: Quote from: TomS_ onTodayat 05:17:06 AM

author: Yellofriend
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2018, 07:19:47 am
content: Quote from: soubitos on January 02, 2018, 10:42:39 pmI agree, that is really too small!

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2018, 07:47:06 am
content: Quote from: soubitos on January 03, 2018, 07:11:15 amGo to your profile settings and uncheck WYSIWYG editing... It's glitchy and causes these problems for me too (random small fonts, problems quoting etc) Maybe that will help..Regards,Sinisa

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 03, 2018, 10:58:58 am
content: Quote from: Fire Doger on January 03, 2018, 05:53:13 amOnly if you order <10x10cm PCBs.

author: soubitos
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2018, 12:13:44 pm
content: from what is know until now, by 2019-2020 ALL incoming mail from outside the EU will be inspected and taxed ...an economy worth 18 trillion euros is in desperate need for the estimated 6 billion euros of tax free products entering the EU. This way, the EU consumer will benefit (they say) as EU companies will start competing with each other and with Chinese on a global level even.....welcome to the soviet union of European bureaucrats and corporations

author: Fire Doger
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2018, 12:49:31 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on January 03, 2018, 10:58:58 amYes, L1L1 also mentions 100x100 HASL with lead etc (common cheap pcbs).

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2018, 01:03:55 pm
content: So you get the same China manufactured PCBs, and instead of paying a customs charge on large orders, you pay it on every order, plus an oversized delivery charge, and VAT, and a fee for the privilege of paying.Sounds like a great deal!

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 03, 2018, 01:15:19 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on January 03, 2018, 01:03:55 pmIf you make EUR 100 order, delivery is free. If you make such order with delivery from China, usually you'll pay almost as much on shipping and customs broker fee alone.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2018, 01:16:38 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on January 03, 2018, 01:15:19 pmSo it makes sense for larger orders, and is a violent ripoff for small ones. Nothing new there.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 03, 2018, 01:19:26 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on January 03, 2018, 01:16:38 pmI don't recall PCB services with almost Chinese prices but with delivery from EU.

author: IconicPCB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2018, 07:43:01 pm
content: QuoteTryhttp://eipcb.rs/.Not quite the Chinese hobbyist prices but then again only the Vietnamese can do that.A professional outfit.Great service and prices at almost Chinese PCB shop level.Have used them when China makes the rest of the world go on Chinese holidays.

author: L1L1
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2018, 07:55:45 am
content: Quote from: Monkeh on January 03, 2018, 01:16:38 pm@Monkeh, I see you are based in the UK, and perhaps in your country importing things from out of the EU is easy. Where I live, as soon as your order hits an amount (including shipping!) that goes over approx 22 euros, they will hit you with VAT, plus a 60 euro brokerage fee (at least). So the pcbgo.cc option, even if imperfect, is a nice option for me because it is fast. I thinks other readers in similar situations might find it useful as well. It is not a "ripoff" since there are no cheaper alternatives for me with such a delivery time (except perhaps the recent ALLPCB deal described in another thread, but that might not last).

author: soubitos
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2018, 10:58:49 am
content: allpcb deal is off i think...DHL is a big NO NO for purchases outside the EU for me at least....I will let you know how my orders for pcb+parts from jlcpcb/lcsc go.. one is shipped via registered airmail as i told them... the second they sent via EMS again!! I hope i dont need to sell an arm and a leg to get them out of customs but they are smaller orders, i might get lucky (i usually dont but it doesnt hurt to be optimistic)