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Nothing is more draining than opening the email with your custom tape quote, only to stare at it, thinking, "What am I looking at?"
All the different values can be confusing, and it’s our job to provide you with the information you need to decide whether you want to move forward with us. By reading this list, you’ll be fully prepared to read and understand your custom tape quote.
What’s Included in My Quote?
You finally have the custom tape quote in your hands, but your eyes glaze over as you try to piece it together.
Looking at quotes quickly becomes frustrating when they’re challenging to read. If you watch for these four elements, you’ll have a much easier time understanding the components of your quote.
1. LEAD TIME
If the first question is “How much will my die cuts cost?”, then the following question is “When will you have them ready?” The project lead time, shown at the top of your quote, refers to how long it'll be before you receive your product.
Your overall lead time is made up of tooling, material, and press availability. Die cut tooling and materials are subject to lead times, which may be longer depending on part complexity. We must also review all our active machines, operators, and projects before scheduling your part.
Ordering in advance and providing ample design information can shorten the time it takes to prepare a quote and reduce your project lead time.
2. QUANTITY
The quantity listed on your custom tape quote is the total number of units your converter builds. The unit M on your quote refers to numbers in the thousands. Therefore, the amount listed in the image below as 100 M means 100,000 parts.
Your unit price decreases significantly as the volume increases. Multiple quantities are often provided to demonstrate how costs change when you scale up your order, which can reduce the price per part.
Naturally, if there is a specific quantity you would like quoted, please let us know, and we will be happy to accommodate.
3. UNIT PRICE
In the example above, the unit is M, the unit price is $1,000, and the quantity is 100 M. You can divide these to find your price per part:
- 100M = 100,000 parts
- 100,000 parts/a unit price of $1,000
- = Price per part of $100
The unit price refers to the cost of the listed quantity of individual parts, bags, or kits, depending on the product. Note: if your unit is in eaches, the unit price is not the Price Per Part (PPP).
4. TOTAL PRICE
Your total price is the estimated cost for the listed quantity. To read more about the factors that impact the total price, see the cost of a die cut.
Multiplying the unit price by the quantity will also give you your total cost.
How Can I Compare My Custom Tape Quote to Others?
Like desperate carnival barkers trying to sell tickets, many different converters will try to lure you in for sales. So, how do you find a manufacturer that stands out amidst the noise?
Here are a couple of factors to consider when choosing adhesive companies:
a. COMPARE THEIR MATERIALS
If one quote lists the material at $1.00 and the other at $0.01, there is undoubtedly a reason one costs significantly more.
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MATERIAL DISCREPANCIES ON CONVERTING QUOTES |
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Are they using the same material? |
If there’s a price difference on the same material, consider why that is:
If the difference seems significant, it’s worth asking your converter why. |
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Does the cheaper material have worse quality? |
Poor quality materials often lead to increased part defects and waste. Both of these factors drain time and money, so you might be better off without their support than with them. |
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Does the material fit ALL your requirements? |
If you need incredibly precise die cut tolerances, you’ll want your converter to know about it. Likewise, if your tolerances don’t matter as much, you could save money on a less-stringent process that still does the job. |
b. CONSIDER THEIR QUALITY SYSTEM
Nobody wants faulty parts; to avoid them, you must ensure that your converter has set preventative processes.
- What types of quality control inspections does this converter perform?
- Do they have a quality-checking team, or should you check each piece personally?
- Can they tighten the requirements upon request?
- Does your converter have certifiable sterile processing Cleanroom capabilities?
An excess number of defective or particle-contaminated parts will cost thousands in wasted press time and materials. Don’t fall for a lower initial price without checking to ensure you aren’t signing up for a myriad of future problems.
c. THINK ABOUT APPLICATION
Building a successful product goes beyond matching your technical drawing—it’s also essential to adapt the converting processes and format to create a functional part that’s easy to use.
Before you choose a converter, you’ll want to decide whether your product will be in roll or sheeted form and whether your adhesive will peel for application. Generally speaking, parts on a roll will be slightly less expensive, but the format may not suit your needs.
- Is the total price higher on one quote because-
- One converter offered to add a tab to the design for accessibility?
- Because they offered to deliver your products in sheet form?
A higher price could be the cost of ensuring that your end product functions quickly and effectively.
Choose the Quote That Suits Your Purpose
Each converter has strengths and weaknesses, so you should choose the one that best suits your product's purpose. As previously mentioned, this includes your material, quality, and application requirements.
If you’re interested in a company that offers advice, listens to your feedback, and builds your product as effectively as possible, contact Strouse.
Strouse’s more than 40 years of experience contribute to a highly successful, complex design-and-manufacturing strategy and process. Your quote will be fully customized to the unique needs of your adhesive solution.
If you have any questions, feel free to call us or review the resources located in our Learning Center.
Originally published: January 16, 2023
