How do I get samples, and how much do they cost?
Samples start with a specification, not a request. Send the capacity, interface, application and target quantity, and we confirm what can be sampled from the line, what has to be built, and the sample cost against that. Samples are not a separate product with separate quality: a sample is produced on the same line and tested to the same standard as the order, which is the whole reason to approve one — it tells you what your production batch will be, not what a supplier can make in a lab. For colour-critical branding, approve the sample before you commit artwork to a print run.
Three situations, three different samples
What you can sample, and how long it takes, depends on whether your design already exists.
| Situation | What we supply | What it settles |
|---|---|---|
| Standard product, specification clear | Units from the same line as production | Enumeration on your host, capacity, speed, finish and print quality |
| Custom build against your specification | A built sample to the agreed configuration | That the build matches the specification before volume starts |
| Bespoke mould or new shape | First article from the new tooling | Tooling feasibility, dimensions and surface finish before tooling cost is committed |
What a sample does not include
Being clear about this saves the round trip where sample expectations have been built on something the sample was never meant to show.
- It does not include a finished mass-production run — that is what the approval leads to.
- It does not include moulding or tooling already committed to your artwork or shape.
- It does not transfer any brand warranty that belongs to the silicon manufacturer; we do not imply one.
- It does not set your pricing. Sample cost and order pricing are separate figures in the same quotation.
How the sample leads into the order
Once a sample is approved it becomes the reference for the batch — the physical answer to "does this match?".
- Store the approved sample. It is the comparison point if anything is questioned on delivery.
- Record the configuration on it: capacity, grade, controller, interface, branding position.
- Keep repeat batches identical to it. Configuration drift between batches is the most common cause of a "different from the sample" complaint.
Sources
- Samples — how they work
- What to send for a quotation
- Production lead time
- Custom branding options
- Request a quote
Figures quoted on this page are from the published reporting listed above. Where a number is an estimate rather than a published figure, it is described as approximate.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a charge for samples?
Samples are quoted against the specification, because the cost depends on whether the product already exists or has to be built. The quotation states the sample cost and the order cost separately, so neither is implied by the other.
How long does it take?
From a confirmed specification. We return the sample window with the quotation rather than holding it back until you commit, because the sample is the step that lets you commit.
Can I get a sample before I know my exact quantity?
Yes, but an approximate target quantity helps. It determines whether we sample from the line or build to your specification, and that in turn drives the time and cost.
Is the sample the same quality as the order?
It is produced on the same line and tested to the same standard. That is the point of approving one: it tells you what the batch will be, not what we can demonstrate.
Working on a specification?
Send us the product type, capacity, quantity and target date. We reply to business enquiries within 1 business day.
Request a quote