Ya from what i understand Alignment is standard through sunfly.
It is not. I know this from their posted prices, but also from having negotiated with them directly on pricing for large orders. Alignment costs more simply because doing it takes more time and care, and causes higher rates of rejects. In other words, they charge more for aligned chips because they cost more.
I just looked at the site for the first time in a while and what you say makes sense. The ravenor classics are 10 cents more than solid ravenors.
Comparing Ravenor Classic and Ravenor is apples and oranges; one is a full-face printed ceramic (classic) and the other is a recessed chip with a label.
Better to compare two chips in the same line.
In the Classic line:
Badlands - non-aligned - 50c
Valentino - aligned - 61c
Sunset - non-aligned - 50c
Spaydz - aligned - 61c
11c cost for aligned designs.
In the Hybrid line:
Ascona - non-aligned - 63c
Everest - aligned - 81c
18c cost for aligned designs.
The reason for the difference?
With Classics, they first apply the print to the edges to the chips, then they place those chips onto the printed faces to apply those. For aligned designs, in that second step, they
also have to carefully make sure each chip is rotated properly for the already-applied edge to align with the face. This makes aligned application take more time and care, but after the face application is done, the work is done... for Classics.
But with Hybrids, they do
all of that of that work for edges and faces of the ceramics, and
then they also apply labels - and in a design where the orientation of the label matters, again, it takes more time and therefore costs more.
Ascona versus Everest:
While the edge spots aren't clear here, it's obviously that the alignment of neither the face nor the label matter for the Ascona, while both matter for the Everest.
I inquired directly and got a way better price offered to me. Im sure you know that from dealing with them for a GB but all pcfers should know
Agreed; inquiring directly with a vendor is a good idea, if you can reach them. Sometimes you can get advantageous pricing, for a variety of reasons. Maybe production is slow and they need to keep the line working just to cover rent. Maybe they want to get more business in your regions, and will offset the reduced revenue as marketing and word-of-mouth in mind. Or maybe sales is trying to hit a particular target to get a bonus. Whatever the reason, it's often worth a shot... but others can't necessarily bank on getting the same savings you did.
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