If the price per spring is more than double for quantity of 1000 versus 2000, then it is ridiculous to buy 1000 and pay actually more for fewer springs. For instance, if the price is $0.175/ea for 2000pcs but it is $0.50/ea for 1000pcs, the real total cost is $350 for 2000pcs but it is $500 for 1000pcs! There is no sense paying more for the privilege of receiving less! I’m not saying this is the actual cost per 1000. I’m just saying that if the difference is double or more, it doesn’t make sense at all to do it. From that, you can calculate the highest “premium” that would make any sense to buy, being $0.345/ea for 1000, or just under double price. Then again, you’d still have to be silly to pay such a difference, IMHO. But, if we use that number, the total cost for 2000 lg + 1000 sm springs can’t be more than $350 + $345 (+ $100 for samples) = $795 TOTAL! That makes the average price of a spring just a bit over $0.26/ea plus shipping from Bluesword to each of the group buy participants. The more you buy as an individual, the lower your per-spring cost will be!
Not picking on you. I know there are valid reasons for buying just a few rather than a lot more. But, according to my calculations above, based on what BlueSwordM has said about pricing so far, your shipping will be almost double what you’re paying for the springs themselves for such a small quantity.
Since they are two different sizes, and neither is a stock item, I would suspect the 2000-part price break is per each size, meaning you don’t get the price break on the small ones just because you’re buying so many of the large ones. Still, it shouldn’t be too bad, according to my calculations.
@DavidEF, the reason I was asking lower than 0,50$US per spring was to cover shipping costs. I was initially going to to a price of 0,45$US per spring for less than 50pcs, and 0,40$US per spring between 50pcs+. In relation to 1000 springs costing the same, I will point you to this message:
Hello BlueSwordM,
I have applied and asked materials engineer:
In order to have a good start of cooperation and keep that long- term.
Within 2000pcs, we will still charge as samples fee for USD308. But the shipping fee by DHL will be different as below:
1000pcs:USD32
1500pcs:USD36
2000pcs:USD40
Thanks for your cooperation. The reason for 1000pcs and 2000pcs same cost is because of MOQ of Beryllium Copper C17530 38% IACS at materials supplier.
So order 2000 pcs, price will be the same for both of us. If order combine 2000 big springs and 2000 small springs, price will be lower per spring than only 2000pcs springs, because bulk and less shipping orders.
Price sample of 20pcs has been agreed by engineer, so USD100 for 20pcs.
Pls kindly let me know if any questions.
From what I have understood and what you read, the price is literally the same within an order of 2000 springs because of the minimum order quantity of the beryllium copper needed to make the springs. Above that, the price will follow a decreasing inverse exponential manner as in all bulk purchases. So, I am officially hyped right now :)) Edit: Is it normal that I can't put the text in italic or bold? Strange.
I do not know about Canada but when I shipped my springs a few years ago it was just about 3 dollar worldwide including bubble mailer (up to about 20 springs). You just do not want to get into tracking and such but the value is low enough to accept some risk.
The weight of 20 phosphor bronze springs + bag is 13,6g. Adding a little weight because of beryllium copper just being a little heavier would put it at 15g.
So, for 110 springs and below, that would be about 85g. So even with the big bubble envelope and everything else and shipping internationally, it should be under 100g. So, shipping internationally, it would cost a max of 5$US.
TLDR: For under 110 springs, the max shipping cost internationally should be a max of 5$US. So if you live in the US or Canada, it is going to be much cheaper to ship.
Over 110 springs though? I don’t really know, but that is a special case. It should not cost much more though.
I think the formatting issue (can’t get italics or bold) is caused by the double spaces in that text. You can italicize or embolden each line individually (which would take a bit more time), or perhaps use the Advanced Post Editor to do it the “right” way.
Anyway, I think this is great news! But, it does mean that any order below 2000pcs of each size is probably a silly thing to do, considering that you’re literally paying for them anyway.
Without him, his post, and his springs, I would have never had this idea to do this kind of group buy. Me seeing his phosphor bronze springs was the start of a new high current era
I’m a bit conservative, I will wait for the sample test. If they work out well I like to ’upgrade to 20’small 20 large.
And if the samples appear not good enough to go for the large order, I’m happy to donate a few dollars to compensate for the sample costs.