Personal China orders: an all-in UK quote
Yes. Ask for a written total covering the goods, our margin, agreed checks, freight, UK tax and delivery to your stated address. List exclusions beside it and confirm whether the total is fixed or estimated before paying. You can request this quote from Cambridge China Bridge.
Start with your household budget
Tell us that you are buying for yourself, your home or your family, rather than for resale. Send the product link or photographs, quantity, dimensions, finish, postcode and spending limit. Keep the enquiry to genuine branded goods, your own designs or unbranded products. For a small personal purchase, start with our small-order service.
Ask for the total amount payable in pounds for the agreed order and delivery service. A factory price alone cannot tell you whether the purchase fits your budget. Our landed-price guide explains the cost components; here, the useful result is the cost of your whole household purchase.
What the total should cover
Ask for a written scope alongside the total. Each cost should be marked included, separately payable or awaiting confirmation. If a cost is unresolved, ask for it to be settled before treating the quote as your final budget.
Record any sample payments already made and whether they are credited against the order. Ask whether the total is fixed or estimated, how long the quote remains valid and what could change it. Our hidden-costs guide gives the wider checklist without turning your personal purchase into a business costing exercise.
| Part of the quote | Written confirmation to request |
|---|---|
| Goods and margin | Exact product, quantity, materials, finish and packing; our margin included |
| Agreed checks | What is checked, who checks it and any separately agreed third-party work |
| Freight and handling | Collection in China, international transport, insurance position, port handling and customs clearance |
| UK tax | Applicable duty and VAT included; who arranges payment |
| Home delivery | Named address, unloading and the agreed handover point |
| Exclusions | Any samples, storage, redelivery, assembly or other services outside the total |
Our margin and your first order
Cambridge China Bridge charges no separate sourcing fee, commission or retainer on goods orders, including your first goods order. Our margin is inside the quoted price. That means our work is paid for within the total. You can request an itemised quote showing the factory price and our margin; see how our sourcing charges work.
Our pricing position is: factory audits and inspections are usually included in the quote; complex checks that need a third party are charged separately and agreed in advance. Factory sample charges and courier costs are agreed separately in writing. Ask whether those agreed costs are included in this total or payable before it.
Keep tax inside the amount you budget
VAT on goods bought solely for personal use cannot be reclaimed as business VAT. Keep it in your household budget. Ask the quote to identify the applicable tax and confirm that the amount you will pay includes it.
For goods sent from abroad, VAT can be paid when you buy or to the delivery company before you receive them. Ask who will handle the import and tax payments, and whether any carrier bill remains payable by you. Confirm these arrangements through our UK customs and delivery service.
Define delivery before you accept
For a sofa, cabinet or other bulky item, ask whether delivery ends at the kerb, your entrance or the room where you want it. Confirm unloading, stairs, lift access, assembly and packaging removal. Send access photographs and check that the packed item can pass through the route. Our sofa delivery guide covers the home-access questions.
Before paying, ask for the exclusions, payment stages, cancellation and fault-handling terms, and the process for approving extra costs. Identify who pays for storage or another delivery attempt if access fails. Keep the accepted quote and product specification together. If you already have a supplier quote, use our quote-check service to review its scope.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a total price including UK tax and delivery?
Yes. Request a written total for the agreed goods, margin, checks, freight, applicable UK tax and specified delivery service. Confirm exclusions and whether the total is fixed or estimated before paying.
Do you charge a sourcing fee on my first order?
We charge no separate sourcing fee on goods orders, including your first goods order. Our margin is included in the quoted price. You can request an itemised quote showing the factory price and our margin.
Can I reclaim VAT on goods for my home?
VAT on goods bought solely for personal use cannot be reclaimed as business VAT. Treat the VAT-inclusive amount as part of your household budget.
Does home delivery include carrying goods upstairs?
Only if the agreed delivery service includes it. Ask for the handover point, unloading, stairs, assembly and packaging removal to be stated in writing before accepting the quote.