I sent 5 prototype boards to PCB Fab Express (http://www.pcbfabexpress.com)
after someone here mentioned them.  I wasn't aware of them previously, but
it looked like a good deal from their web site.

Their FAQ and ordering process makes it very clear that they don't do
unplated holes unless you pay $50 extra.  I did have some purely mechanical
holes, but didn't care if they were plated, so I checked the button to not
pay $50 extra to get unplated holes.

I did the order and sent the data yesterday.  Just now (afternoon of 24
December) I received an email telling me that my job contained unplated
holes, that this was contrary to the parameters of the service I selected,
and asking whether I want to pay the $50 extra to get unplated holes.  My
job was on hold until I replied.  The tone of the message implied I had done
something stupid and hadn't bothered to read their FAQ.  Good thing I
happened to be here on christmas eve and checked my email.  Otherwise my job
could have been held up for a long time.  I might not have found out it was
on hold until about the time the boards should have shown up.

Neadless to say, I was pretty pissed that they put my job on hold for an
answer I had already explicitly given by clicking one of their buttons on
the order page.  I called them and did get it straightened out pretty
quickly.  They will make the board with all holes plated (as they should
have known to do in the first place).

I asked how I could have specified to plate all holes (other than clicking
the button explicitly saying so).  They said I should have mentioned this in
the comments box, although there was no hint that this was required.

By the way, their excuse for all this nonsense was that they used to do it
the other way, and customers would complain their holes got plated when they
weren't expecting it.  This is a pretty lame excuse because the FAQ and
odering page make the policy quite clear.  In fact, the ordering page forces
you to select one of "Yes I'll pay $50 to get unplated holes", and "No, I
don't want unplated holes".  It seems they have now taylored their process
to idiots at the expense of everyone else who can actually read.

I'll keep everyone posted on how this test run goes.

So:

****  If your board has holes with no copper running to them and you don't
care if they get plated, make sure to say so explicitly in the comments box,
else your board will be held up until you reply.  ****


*****************************************************************
Embed Inc, embedded system specialists in Littleton Massachusetts
(978) 742-9014, http://www.embedinc.com

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