I have used JLC PCB twice, Global Standard Direct Line delivery to the UK, very cheap, both times delivered as advertised.
You might look at Silver Circuits PCB. They are based {started} in the US {sorry}, however, they actually manufacture and ship direct from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia so you would get a different set of tarifs than from China. Might be better or worse depending if the path goes though the US.
I know, that is all just just a slight of hand game, but maybe eventually you will find the right combination to work with delivery to Canada. Best of luck.
I just received my first order from JCLPCB for 5 65mm X 90mm 2-layer boards. Fab costs was 3.29 USD(4.00-2.00 discount+1.29 lead free). I used UPS and cost was 22.99 USD, BUT NO customs brokerage fee and no duty/GST (probably due to low cost). I ordered on Thursday and received following Tuesday. I have been ‘burnt’ in the past with customs brokerage fees. Sometimes what appears to be the cheapest shipping isn’t when there are other separate charges. I always enquire what charges are included in the ‘shipping fee’. I’m in Canada.
Yes freight costs are an issue to take note of.especially if you live in a regional area of Australia.
I received my first ever PCBs from JLCPCB on 5th May, ordered 24th April sent by Global Standard Direct. HAppy with that.
Manufacture cost $16.95US - freight $7.79.
Initially I was going to have them sent by DHL as I wanted the boards quickly. Price quoted was about $20 US, but when I entered the shipping address the freight charge was $90 US because I live in a regional area.
I was a little concerned about Global Standard Direct as I have had issues with Aliexpress freight. Once the Aliexpress items arrive in Australia they are moved on to iMile couriers. I have a 50% delivery success rate. Most reason given is “Wrong address”. I live 6km off a highway which is a fairly major route, all up about 125km from Melbourne they don’t even try. In spite of numerous emails reaffirming my address the replies are marked “Undeliverable, returned to sender”. Thankfully Aliexpress have always refunded me. I still don’t have my stuff though.
Global Standard Direct on the other hand pass the freight on to Australia Post, no problems they find where I live.
Further to that, I have had items sent freight free from Element 14 in the UK and Mouser in the US with DHL, all delivered to my door within 4 days.
Go figure!
In Sydney and proabably other metro areas GSD uses Aramex couriers. Probably GSD has to use Auspost for regional areas which is why it was $7.79 for you instead of $1.50.
More probably PCB size (or packaging size if assembled). I’m 140ish km from Melbourne, and 7km out of town, and I pay US$ 1.50 for 5 boards under 10cm sq.
First my piece of advice (that I don’t see so far in the thread), then I’ll join and enhance your ranting…
If your order total stays under $14, it will come straight to you without paying any customs / import fees (you won’t even pay HST for it!). With JLC, that means definitely no ENIG, no 2-oz or < 0.3mm holes or any other special specs. You can do 4-layers, lead-free HASL, but only if you’re not ordering a stencil. 4-layers (with standard HASL) + a stencil takes you exactly to $14, which I think is still/exactly under the threshold and you won’t pay any customs-related fees. You’ll still pay the exorbitant shipping cost (well, or as suggested in the thread, the seemingly-exorbitant only because the cost of the order is so absurdly low — I keep joking with my colleagues, that JLC and the like have to be doing money laundering or something like that, each time I try new specs and see how beyond-absurdly-low their prices are!)
My additional ranting:
As it’s been already pointed out, good luck finding a Canadian shop that will make a two-layer PCB for the cost of a 4-layer PCB from JLC or PCBWay or SeeedStudio + shipping + the absurd $20 fee that the carriers charge you to broker the deal of paying the sales tax to the government (yes! the typical DHL invoice was something like $21.78, broken down as: HST $1.78 + $20 processing fee charged by DHL — I don’t know at the present time, but up until last time that we did the DHL payment ourselves, these PCB orders never incurred any customs / import fee / tariffs — it was just the 13% sales tax + $20 charged by DHL as processing fee — that part is always infuriating!)
I dunno whether having a UPS or FedEx or DHL account saves you — my understanding is that they will not charge you that processing fee; however, I’m not sure whether there is a monthly cost for that account. You could check with those carriers to find out for certain.
Ah, I think you mean 4 ancient inches sq or 10 cm sq. Were they delivered by Aramex or some other courier?
No, delivered by the Post Office.
and I fixed the size typo.
I think I have solved my problem. I placed my second JLCPCB order (about CDN$10) using Global Standard Direct Line. From order placement to delivery was 10 days (about 8 in shipping). I was able to see tracking for the shipment on the JLCPCB site.
What follows applies to Canada… it seems that low-value items (<$15) do not go through customs, and since the shipping charge is only $1.50, it’s probably best to size shipments to stay under that threshold and simply wait the extra few days for the budget delivery option.
So GSD which you dubbed “sketchy” turns out to be more suitable for your needs. Maybe you could mark your post as the solution?
Yup, not so sketchy after all.