Let me be blunt: If you only quote your incumbents, you are training them to raise prices with confidence.
In 2026, resting on your laurels is a supply chain risk. Every serious PCB buyer needs a robust vendor bench.
The Core: Two qualified production sources handling 60% of your volume.
The Challengers: Two “quote-ready” vendors kept warm with the remaining 40% of spend.
Quoting is not betrayal. Quoting is governance.
Even if you love your current vendor, you must quote competitors.
✅ It validates your current market pricing (Governance).
✅ It keeps your incumbent sharp (Strategy).
✅ It uncovers better fit—price, lead time, or tech—without you forcing it (Discovery).
Do NOT use a challenger’s quote just to beat down your incumbent.
It is business malpractice to ask a loyal partner to match the pricing of a hungry new vendor, only to give the order back to the incumbent.
That creates a “Last Look” culture where no one gives you their best price first.
If the challenger wins on merit, give them the PO.
Then, tell the incumbent exactly why they lost. There is no better training than a missed opportunity.
In 2026, you should build your PCB bench. And then you should use it.