How much does a custom zipper sample cost?

Q: How much does a custom zipper sample cost?

Sample cost for a custom zipper depends on what has to be made. Pulling from stock components and assembling a short length is usually charged at a modest handling fee, often in the range of a few tens of US dollars per style, while a new tape color, a new die or a new puller adds a development charge that can run into the low hundreds. The charge should be itemised: components, tape dyeing, tooling and courier. Ask whether the sample fee is credited against the bulk order, and under what condition. A common rule is that the fee is refunded when the order reaches a stated value or quantity, but not when the sample is a one-off development. Courier cost is normally paid by the buyer. Before you approve, confirm what the sample represents: a hand-made prototype, a production-equivalent piece, or a piece from the actual production line. Only the last one proves the process.