Home / Pricing
How we make money
Stated up front because engineers ask, and because the traditional answer — an undisclosed markup — is the reason this trade has the reputation it has.
Sourcing fee
8% of order value
You see the factory’s invoice. We add a stated percentage on top and nothing else. Minimum fee USD 400 per order, which is roughly what the work costs us to do properly.
- Supplier invoices disclosed
- Drops to 5% above USD 100k
- Freight and duty billed at cost
Landed price
One number per line
If your finance team would rather have a single delivered price per part than an itemised fee, we quote it that way. Same work, same scope, less paperwork on your side.
- Delivered to your door
- Fixed for 30 days
- Margin not itemised
Sourcing report
USD 900 flat, one category
For teams who intend to buy direct and just want the map. Five to eight verified suppliers for one component category, with quotes, MOQs, lead times and our notes on who to avoid. No obligation to order through us.
- Delivered in 10 business days
- Credited against your first order
- Yours to keep and use direct
A worked example
Twelve joint actuators and a set of machined housings for a prototype arm. Illustrative figures, not a quote.
| Line | Qty | Factory unit price | Factory total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joint actuator, 48V 20Nm | 12 | USD 420 | USD 5,040 |
| CNC housing, 7075, anodised | 24 | USD 38 | USD 912 |
| Wiring harness set | 12 | USD 22 | USD 264 |
| Factory subtotal | USD 6,216 | ||
| Sourcing fee at 8% | USD 497 | ||
| Freight and duty | at cost |
You receive the factory invoices for all three lines. Nothing is added to the unit prices.
Payment terms
Samples
Paid in full up front. Factories will not start a sample run otherwise, and we do not carry sample cost for new customers.
Production orders
Typically 30 percent on order, 70 percent against inspection photos before shipment. On larger orders we can look at a three-stage schedule.
Credit
We do not offer open credit. Any sourcing agent offering net terms to a brand new customer is funding your order with another customer’s deposit, and that arrangement fails eventually.
Currency and method
USD or EUR by bank transfer. Card payment available on the sourcing report only.
Send one line and see what comes back.
You do not need a finished BOM to start. Send the single part that is currently blocking you and we will quote it. It costs you an email and tells you more about us than this page can.