At PCBPath, we stand behind the precision and reliability of every custom printed circuit board and electronic assembly we manufacture. Because custom PCBs are engineered exclusively from your proprietary Gerber, ODB++, and Bill of Materials (BOM) files, we enforce rigorous quality control protocols and maintain a transparent policy covering order cancellations, quality warranty claims, returns, and refunds.
1. Quality Assurance & IPC Acceptance Standards
Every order fabricated by PCBPath undergoes automated and manual quality verification prior to packaging and shipment. Unless specialized customer specifications are agreed upon during the pre-production engineering review, all bare boards and assemblies are manufactured and inspected in strict accordance with international IPC standards:
- IPC-A-600 & IPC-6012 (Rigid Bare PCBs): All standard rigid circuit boards are produced and inspected to IPC Class 2 criteria by default, with IPC Class 3 high-reliability fabrication available upon request.
- IPC-6013 (Flexible & Rigid-Flex PCBs): Flexible circuits are verified for coverlay alignment, dynamic bend reliability, and copper plating ductility.
- IPC-A-610 (PCB Assembly): Surface-mount technology (SMT) and through-hole assemblies are inspected via Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) and X-ray verification to ensure solder joint integrity, polarity accuracy, and component placement alignment.
- 100% Electrical Testing: Every production batch undergoes flying probe testing or dedicated fixture E-testing to verify netlist continuity and isolation against your approved CAM production files.
2. Order Modification & Cancellation Policy
Because custom PCB fabrication begins rapidly after Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) engineering approval, eligibility for order cancellation or file modification depends on the current production stage of your order.
Before CAM Review or Production Starts
You may cancel or modify your order for custom PCBs at any time before your design files have completed engineering review or entered the manufacturing floor. If you cancel your order prior to production, you will receive a 100% full refund of both manufacturing and shipping charges.
During Active Production or After Shipment
Once raw laminates have been cut, drilled, or imaged, or once BOM components have been procured and kitted for assembly, the order cannot be canceled for a full refund because custom materials cannot be reused for other customers. Once the finished product has been produced or handed over to the logistics carrier for shipment, we cannot cancel the order.
| Order Stage | Design File Modification | Cancellation Eligibility | Refund Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awaiting Payment / Pending CAM Review | Supported at no cost | Fully eligible | 100% full refund |
| Engineering Query (EQ) Hold | Supported before EQ sign-off | Eligible (less special material restocking if applicable) | 100% of unspent production and shipping costs |
| In Production (Fabrication / SMT) | Not supported | Not eligible | No refund (custom work in progress) |
| Shipped / In Transit | Not supported | Not eligible | Subject to RMA Quality Warranty Policy below |
3. Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) & Warranty Claims
Since our PCBs are custom-made based on your design Gerber files, we do not accept returns for customer design errors (such as incorrect footprint pinouts, unrouted nets in the original Gerber data, or incorrect BOM part selections). However, if we deviate from your approved specifications or if the manufacturing quality does not meet IPC standards or your specified requirements, you are entitled to apply for a return, free rework, or refund.
14-Day Inspection Window
You have the right to apply for a return or quality claim within 14 calendar days of receiving the product. We strongly recommend performing incoming quality control (IQC) on bare boards prior to mounting expensive components, as PCBPath’s warranty liability for bare PCB orders is limited to the replacement or refund of the bare circuit boards themselves.
What Is Covered Under Our Manufacturing Warranty
- Dimensional or Specification Deviations: Board thickness, copper weight, surface finish, solder mask color, or mechanical routing dimensions that fall outside your ordered tolerances.
- Electrical & Structural Defects: Open circuits, short circuits, delamination, unplated vias, or copper trace etching defects that violate IPC-A-600 Class 2 (or ordered Class 3) standards.
- Assembly Workmanship Defects: Tombstoning, solder bridging, missing components, incorrect component orientation, or placement errors deviating from your approved Pick-and-Place (XY) and BOM files.
Return Shipping Costs & Restocking Fees
For approved quality claims requiring physical return of the defective boards, we will only charge you for shipping costs once (including returns), and there will be no restocking fee for returning a product.
4. How to Initiate a Return or Quality Claim
To initiate a return or request technical root-cause analysis (8D corrective action report), please contact our Customer Service at [email protected] to obtain an official RMA reference number and the designated return address. To help our quality engineering team resolve your claim within 24 to 48 business hours, please include the following documentation in your email:
- Order Number & Part Number: The exact sales order reference and affected Gerber file name.
- Defect Description & Quantity: A concise explanation of the non-conformance and the exact count of defective boards versus the total inspected quantity.
- Photographic or Test Evidence: Clear macro photographs, microscope captures, or electrical test logs highlighting the specific defect alongside a photo of the inner vacuum packaging label.
5. Refund Processing & Timelines
Once we receive and inspect your return (or verify your photographic quality claim where physical return is waived), we will send you an email notification. We will inform you whether your refund or free expedited remake has been approved or rejected.
If approved, the refund will be processed immediately by our finance department and credited back to your original method of payment (credit card, PayPal, or wire transfer account) within 3 to 7 business days, depending on your payment provider.
Late or Missing Refunds
If you have not received your refund after receiving our approval confirmation email, please follow these verification steps:
- Check your bank account or payment portal statement again, as international settlement clearing times vary.
- Contact your credit card company or issuing bank, as it may take several additional business days for the credit transaction to be officially posted to your balance.
- If you have completed these steps and still have not received your refund, please contact us immediately at [email protected] with your order number so our finance team can provide the official bank trace or transaction reference ID.
