1. Quote basics
- 01What exact trade term is quoted?FOB, EXW, DDP, CIF, or something else.
- 02Is the unit price for the finished product?Confirm packaging, inserts, labels, barcodes, and carton requirements.
- 03How long is the quote valid?Freight, material, and exchange-rate assumptions can expire quickly.
- 04What is the MOQ and lead time?Ask whether sample, first order, and reorder pricing differ.
2. Freight and delivery
- 05Is international freight included?Separate factory price from shipping whenever possible.
- 06Is US domestic delivery included?Confirm delivery to port, warehouse, Amazon FBA, 3PL, or final address.
- 07What shipping method is assumed?Air, sea, express, rail, or mixed service can change margin materially.
- 08Is insurance included?Ask what value is insured and who claims if goods are damaged.
3. Duty and tariff assumptions
- 09What HTS code is assumed?Verify final classification with official sources or a customs broker.
- 10What declared value will be used?Especially important for DDP quotes that look unusually cheap.
- 11Are base duty and extra tariffs included?China-origin trade actions can change the landed-cost picture.
- 12Who is importer of record?Clarify responsibility if customs challenges the declaration.
4. Product and compliance
- 13What material and specification are confirmed?Match the quote to the exact product you plan to sell.
- 14Are testing reports available?Ask for relevant safety, material, or category documentation.
- 15Is inspection included?Clarify who pays for rework if the product fails QC.
- 16Are labeling requirements included?Packaging, country-of-origin marking, warning labels, and platform rules matter.
5. Ecommerce margin
- 17What sale price is realistic?Use actual marketplace search results, not the price you hope to charge.
- 18What platform fees apply?Amazon, Shopify, Etsy, and TikTok Shop fees differ by category and fulfillment path.
- 19What ad spend can the margin survive?Stress-test launch traffic before placing a large order.
- 20What is the walk-away price?If target price is above the market, renegotiate or skip the order.
Red flags
- DDP quote is much cheaper than your own landed-cost model.
- Supplier refuses to separate freight, duty, and delivery assumptions.
- HTS code is missing, generic, or copied from another product.
- Unit cost is far below other quotes without a clear material or packaging reason.
- Quote excludes inspection, packaging, labels, testing, or domestic delivery.
Next step
Run the numbers before you reply to the supplier.
Use the calculator to turn this checklist into landed cost, breakeven price, margin, quote risk notes, and a supplier-ready report.
Free tool
Supplier quote profit checker
- Compare supplier quotes by profit
- Stress-test tariff, ads, and sale price
- Copy a buyer report into the supplier thread