We have found that our price is either equivalent to or a little more
expensive than commercial oligo offerings, yet we have many loyal
customers. We have told them they can get a better deal elsewhere, yet
some keep coming back to us because they say they like the more personal
service, and the idea that they are supporting our facility. Some have
said it is simply more convenient. For off-campus customers, it is
often convenient and quicker for them to order the oligos to be used for
their sequencing orders.
Where we do save money for our in house people is in purification, $15
per oligo, or modified oligos. We only charge a machine setup fee of
$25 PER BATCH of sulfurized oligos (we've had a batches up to 20),
compared to $25-50 PER OLIGO from commercial houses.
The machines have also been useful to one of our researchers who is
experimenting with oligo chemistry. Altogether, many good reasons for
keeping the ol' 392's going.
Felise Wolven
Operations Manager
CSUPERB Microchemical Core Facility
San Diego State University