Delivered price or itemised sourcing quote?
For repeat orders, ask for a delivered total and an itemised breakdown on the same scope. Use the total for purchasing and the breakdown to review changes in factory cost, freight, duty and sourcing margin or service fee. Agree which costs are fixed and which can change. Request this format from Cambridge China Bridge.
Choose the format around your buying process
A delivered price suits a purchasing team that wants an agreed amount for goods arriving at a named warehouse. An itemised quote suits a procurement or finance team that needs to explain cost changes across repeat orders. You can request both: a delivered total for approval, supported by a breakdown for review.
The quotation format does not establish who sells the goods or manages each task. Ask whether the UK sourcing company is your seller or is arranging purchases for you, who invoices you and who handles quality problems. Keep those arrangements explicit whichever price format you choose.
Compare the same costs in each format
A delivered quote can combine factory cost, transport, duty and the sourcing company's margin. An itemised quote separates those layers, showing either the company's margin or a separately stated service fee. An itemised quote with an estimated freight line is still an estimate, even when its total looks complete.
Ask whether the total includes VAT, what delivery means at your warehouse and which charges remain outside it. Use understanding landed price for the cost calculation and comparing Chinese supplier quotes to align specification, packaging and quantity before comparing the sourcing companies. For personal purchases, see all-in quotes for personal China orders.
| Cost layer | Delivered price | Itemised quote |
|---|---|---|
| Factory cost | Included within the goods price; request the underlying detail | Shown separately against the agreed specification |
| Freight and delivery | Confirm the destination, included handling and exclusions | Separate transport lines; identify estimates and validity |
| Duty | Confirm whether included or payable separately | Show the allowance and its calculation basis |
| Sourcing company's payment | Margin may sit within the total | Show margin or service fee, its basis and scope |
| VAT | State whether the quoted total includes or excludes it | Identify the VAT treatment rather than burying it in another line |
Request open-book detail at the right level
Ask what supports each line: the factory quotation, freight quotation, duty assumptions and the sourcing company's payment. Agree which documents will be shared and whether figures are quoted costs or actual costs reconciled after shipment. A label such as 'goods' or 'logistics' is not enough for an open-book review. Our agent-cost guide explains the payment models.
Request factory cost and sourcing margin separately if you need that visibility; disclosure should be agreed rather than assumed. Fees depend on the order and agreed work. At Cambridge China Bridge, factory audits and inspections are usually included in the quote; complex checks that need a third party are charged separately and agreed in advance. The factory quotation breakdown guide addresses factory pricing rather than the UK company's commercial offer.
Agree how repeat-order prices will change
Keep an approved baseline covering specification, packaging, quantity, currency, destination and service scope. On each reorder, request the previous and proposed cost lines with reasons for changes. Separate factory increases, freight movements and changes in the sourcing company's payment. Agree how negotiated savings, supplier rebates and unused cost allowances will be treated.
For a delivered price, record quotation validity, when the price becomes fixed and what can trigger a revision. For an itemised quote, record which costs are estimates, which need your approval before commitment and how actual charges will be reconciled. Keep setup costs separate from recurring costs; confirm before removing samples or tooling from the reorder budget.
Send a request your team can approve
Ask: 'Please quote our repeat order against the attached specification and delivery address. Show the delivered total, factory cost, freight and delivery, duty, VAT treatment, and your margin or service fee. Identify exclusions, estimates, payment stages, quotation validity and changes from our previous order. Confirm the seller, importer and responsibility for quality problems.' For UK customs valuation, transport, insurance, loading or handling connected with delivery to the UK border must be included.
Send the current quotation and previous invoices for a cost review. If you want the UK company to supply the goods, discuss buying through a UK company. If you want to retain your factory, discuss existing-supplier support. Cambridge China Bridge has its own staff in China; confirm the proposed scope and reporting before placing the repeat order.
Frequently asked questions
Which quote format is better for repeat China orders?
Request a delivered total with an itemised breakdown. The total supports purchasing approval; the breakdown helps explain changes and review savings across repeat orders.
Does an itemised sourcing quote mean we buy direct?
No. It describes how costs are presented. Confirm separately who sells and invoices the goods, who imports them and who handles quality problems.
Can we ask a sourcing company to show its margin?
Yes. Request factory cost and margin separately, with supporting documents where agreed. Confirm what will be disclosed before commissioning the work.
Should freight be fixed for every repeat order?
Ask whether freight is fixed for the accepted order or refreshed before each shipment. Record validity, approval conditions and how any difference from the allowance will be settled.