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Ask HN: I was quoted €6K for CE certification

8 points by zkirill 2y ago

A big name lab just sent me an estimate for €6,000 to perform tests needed to get CE certification. It took them a month to prepare the quote. The product is a barebones development board in a metal case that comes with a power supply adapter. All components already passed CE certification independently. Last month a lab in China quoted me $300 for the same tests. I submitted the request to the lab in China on Friday night and they replied on Saturday at 03:00 their time. I was expecting 5x cost difference to perform the tests in Europe but not 20x. Is this normal? How does it make business sense not to get everything done in China including any necessary redesign in case the device fails the tests? Especially since I would need to pass the same test again whenever the development board BOM changes.

throwAGIway 2y ago
At least they replied, lol. I still have dozens of Chinese saleswomen wishing me good morning on WhatsApp more than two months after I sent my RFQ, the EU companies didn't even reply.
- zkirill 2y ago
  Holy shit. Did you end up going with China after all? Can you share anything else from your experience? I'm in disbelief about what's going on, having emailed at least a dozen labs around Europe and receiving only one reply.
  - throwAGIway 2y ago
    There's not much more to it yet, it's a large project and my first time trying something like this. I have selected few candidates and so far the cooperation with each of them was excellent, they are very skilled, proactive and keen businesspeople with good products for reasonable prices. I really wish the market here in EU was like that.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
iamflimflam1 2y ago
These guys are trying to solve this problem - https://early.smander.com/ https://early.smander.com/
b20000 2y ago
testing in china is not the same as testing in europe
- throwaway211 2y ago
  It's much faster, for one. You may be making another point, however. If so, please be more specific.
- hulitu 2y ago
  It is close enough.
ecesena 2y ago
Same experience, go with China to start, as you said you'll likely change the design and need to certify again.
lauranoure2026 2y ago
In Poland it would cost 2 to 3k euro. Can help with it.
- zkirill 2y ago
  Yes, please. Can you email me at poland.qyqa2@8alias.com?

8 points by zkirill 2y ago

throwAGIway 2y ago

At least they replied, lol. I still have dozens of Chinese saleswomen wishing me good morning on WhatsApp more than two months after I sent my RFQ, the EU companies didn't even reply.

zkirill 2y ago
Holy shit. Did you end up going with China after all? Can you share anything else from your experience? I'm in disbelief about what's going on, having emailed at least a dozen labs around Europe and receiving only one reply.
- throwAGIway 2y ago
  There's not much more to it yet, it's a large project and my first time trying something like this. I have selected few candidates and so far the cooperation with each of them was excellent, they are very skilled, proactive and keen businesspeople with good products for reasonable prices. I really wish the market here in EU was like that.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

iamflimflam1 2y ago

These guys are trying to solve this problem - https://early.smander.com/ https://early.smander.com/

b20000 2y ago

testing in china is not the same as testing in europe

throwaway211 2y ago
It's much faster, for one. You may be making another point, however. If so, please be more specific.
hulitu 2y ago
It is close enough.

ecesena 2y ago

Same experience, go with China to start, as you said you'll likely change the design and need to certify again.

lauranoure2026 2y ago

In Poland it would cost 2 to 3k euro. Can help with it.

zkirill 2y ago
Yes, please. Can you email me at poland.qyqa2@8alias.com?