Why pay more for 3D prints

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Why buy 3D printing services through a middle man like 3D Hubs when you can buy direct from the shop  building the part?
3D Hubs started as a site to connect print buyers with sellers along with provided quoting, billing and communication services.
Recently 3D Hubs decided to turn their back on the community that help make them to a closed B2B service with no direct communication between the buyer and the shop physically making the part.
At this time 3D Hubs does not directly operate any 3D printing processes.
So what does this mean?

• As a buyer you will likely pay more for the part because the middle man needs their cut.
• 3D Hubs orders the parts from the builder who accepts the lowest price 3D Hubs offers or if Hubs puts it out as a bid the lowest offered.
• If a builder has any questions or concerns those messages must be sent to 3D Hubs personal who will relay it to the buyer then relay the response to the builder.
• Your part may never be built by the same company or machine twice.
• You can not get a small order of less the $30 through hubs, this was a goal stated in the partner program.

So what can you do?
There are many sites now who help connect buyers and printers most are not as fancy as Hubs was but just as effective.
Here are some that come to mind.

• Paperlessparts.com <- growing community of high end and mid range shops
• Makexyz.com <- instant orders like 3dhubs along with the heavy markup but also has options to buy directly from a builder with the site adding a 15% to the order
• Treatstock.com
• xometry.com <- both direct sell and community options.

Shops that sell directly

• Shapeways.com
• 3dsystems.com
• Stratasys.com