Minimum order value, no MOQ: what to buy to reach it
Ask the supplier to mark every basket line as eligible or excluded and show the eligible subtotal after discounts. Fill any shortfall only with products you can test or sell, then compare the delivered cost, including UK duty on each added line, with a narrower trial. Cambridge China Bridge can check the basket.
Get the minimum-spend calculation in writing
Treat “no MOQ” as the start of the questions, not the end. This guide is about a minimum spend; production minimums and sample approval are in MOQ and sampling, and a single unit is covered in buying one item from a factory. Ask whether the threshold applies per order, dispatch, product range or supplying factory, whether items still have pack restrictions, and whether it counts goods value before or after discounts, credits and taxes.
Send your proposed basket and ask the supplier to mark each line eligible or excluded, then show the eligible subtotal apart from the invoice total. Ask when eligibility is checked and whether an unavailable item or a split dispatch changes it. An invoice total tells you nothing about which goods counted.
| Basket entry | Confirmation to request |
|---|---|
| Stock products | Which ranges can be combined towards the same minimum? |
| Clearance goods, accessories and spare parts | Are these eligible, and do separate pack restrictions apply? |
| Samples | Does sample spending count, or is it only credited against a later invoice? |
| Tooling, printing and packaging charges | Do these count towards the threshold or sit outside it? |
| Discounts, credits, delivery and taxes | How does each affect the eligible subtotal? |
Decide what the trial must prove, then fill the gap
Write down the one question the trial answers: customer demand, suitability in use or repeatable quality. For each product record its purpose, quantity, who will test or buy it and the result that would justify reordering. Remove any line whose only job is to lift the invoice total.
Work in three steps. First, calculate the shortfall as the required goods value minus the eligible subtotal. Second, fill it with items you would need anyway, such as a related product with a named customer or spare parts for the main item. Third, check each addition's pack contents and colours with supplier minimum packs, so the minimum spend does not dictate an unsuitable assortment. Combining deliveries from different suppliers does not by itself pool their spending towards one supplier's minimum; for pooling between buyers see pooling orders to meet a MOQ.
What each added line costs once it reaches the UK
Every product in a mixed basket has its own commodity code, and duty is worked out line by line on that line's share of the customs value. A filler product can therefore carry a higher rate than the item you came to buy. Freight is shared across the lines, here by value for simplicity; ask your broker how they will apportion it. For finding the right code, see finding your commodity code.
Illustrative example, not a quote: a basket meeting an illustrative £1,500 minimum, made of plastic kitchenware under 3924 10 00 90 and textile toiletry bags under 4202 92 91 90, with £300 of freight and insurance. On 9 October 2026 the UK Trade Tariff showed 6% third-country duty on the first line and 2% on the second, with no anti-dumping duty on Chinese goods on either. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the total customs value plus duty, £1,864.80, which is £372.96. Swapping the £600 of kitchenware for another £600 of toiletry bags would save £28.80 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
| Line | Goods price | Freight share | Customs value | Duty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic kitchenware, 3924 10 00 90 at 6% | £600.00 | £120.00 | £720.00 | £43.20 |
| Textile toiletry bags, 4202 92 91 90 at 2% | £900.00 | £180.00 | £1,080.00 | £21.60 |
| Whole basket | £1,500.00 | £300.00 | £1,800.00 | £64.80 |
Compare mixing with a narrower order
Request comparable quotes for your preferred basket, a mixed basket that meets the threshold, and a narrower trial with an agreed surcharge or exception. Compare total cash committed, expected unsold stock, freight, handling and the checks each product needs. Use shared shipment costs per product to allocate costs without hiding an expensive addition inside the shipment average.
Mixing is worthwhile when the added goods have a credible use and the combined cost fits the trial budget. It is poor value when it adds bulky stock, incompatible packing, a higher duty line or products needing unfamiliar checks. Ask your customs broker to review the proposed goods one by one before you commit.
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Approve the basket and the shortfall plan
Before you commit, keep with the order the agreed eligibility rules, item descriptions, quantities, discounts, eligible subtotal and separate charges. Ask the supplier to reserve the quoted stock, and agree what happens if an item becomes unavailable: a revised basket for your approval, a smaller accepted order or cancellation on agreed terms. Do not authorise automatic filler products.
Inspection and factory checks are normally included in our quote; anything complex enough to need a third party is charged separately, agreed in advance. If the checks look heavy against a small basket, read when inspection costs more than the trial order. Use the first China order checklist for the wider purchasing and shipment checks, and brief our staff in China with the approved basket, the trial's purpose and your spending limit. After receipt, record results and remaining stock by product before deciding what to reorder.
Frequently asked questions
Does no MOQ mean I can buy any quantity?
Ask whether individual products still have pack restrictions and whether the supplier applies a minimum goods value. Get both confirmed against your proposed basket.
Do samples and shipping count towards the minimum spend?
Ask the supplier to confirm each separately. A sample credit or a delivery charge on the invoice does not establish that it counts towards the eligible goods subtotal.
Can I mix products to reach the minimum order value?
Only after the supplier confirms which ranges count together. Choose additions with a clear use, and remember each added line has its own UK duty rate, so compare the delivered basket cost with a narrower trial.
Is UK duty charged on the whole basket at one rate?
No. Each product is declared on its own commodity code. In our example the kitchenware line carried 6% and the toiletry bag line 2%, as read from the UK Trade Tariff on 9 October 2026.
What if my trial order is below the minimum spend?
Ask for an exception, a surcharge or an eligible stock alternative, and compare these with useful additions. If none fits your budget and purpose, ask for a sample-only route or another supplier.