Free tool · China side
Write a request for quotation suppliers take seriously
A clear request gets clear quotes. Fill in what you know and this writes a structured request for quotation (RFQ) you can paste into Alibaba chat or an email. Send the same one to several suppliers and their quotes compare like for like.
After the quotes come in
- Put the quotes side by side in the quote comparer, which works out each one’s landed cost, anti-dumping duty included.
- Check each supplier’s business licence with the supplier check.
- Work out the real cost in the UK with the landed-cost calculator, using the carton details for the freight estimate.
- Order samples from the best two or three, and keep the one you approve as the standard.
Why FOB: under FOB the supplier handles Chinese export clearance and your own forwarder controls the freight and insurance. See FOB, CIF or DDP? The inspection standard (AQL 2.5 for major and 4.0 for minor defects) is explained in running a pre-shipment inspection.
More free tools for importers
- Supplier checkDecode the code on a Chinese business licence and run the warning signs before you pay.
- Payment safety checkCheck the bank details before you pay a supplier, and what to do if they change.
- Canton Fair companionLog suppliers booth by booth, check their licence codes and take home a shortlist. Works offline.
- Plan my importFour short steps give one plan: landed cost, UK rules and documents, the order-by date and supplier checks.
- Landed-cost calculatorDuty, anti-dumping duty and import VAT for your product, from live UK Trade Tariff rates.
- Quote comparerPut up to four supplier quotes side by side and see which is really the cheapest to land.
Questions about requesting quotes
What should a request for quotation to a Chinese supplier include?
The product and its specification, the quantities to price, packaging and labelling, the shipping term and port, the UK rules and test reports you need, samples, how quality will be checked and how you intend to pay. Ask for the price per quantity, the minimum order, lead times and carton details in the reply.
Why ask for several quantities?
Unit prices usually fall as the quantity rises. Asking for two or three quantities shows where the price breaks are, and lets you compare suppliers at the same volumes.
Which shipping term should I ask for?
FOB, for most UK importers. The supplier gets the goods onto the ship and handles the Chinese export paperwork, and your own forwarder controls the freight price and insurance from there.
Should I send the same request to several suppliers?
Yes. Sending the same request to a few suppliers gets quotes on the same basis, so you compare prices, minimums and lead times like for like instead of guessing.
Rather have the quotes collected for you?
I find and check suppliers, collect comparable quotes and put together a landed cost you can plan with.
Tell me what you want to import ->