Supplier quote comparison calculator
Compare import supplier quotes by landed cost and PO risk.
A cheaper unit quote can lose after freight, duty, VAT, brokerage, inspection, defect allowance, MOQ cash pressure, deposit exposure, or slow lead time. Put three supplier offers into the same landed-cost model before choosing a vendor.
Import supplier quote comparison planner
Enter shared customs assumptions, then compare supplier-specific unit cost, MOQ, freight, inspection, defect allowance, and lead time.
Advanced customs assumptions
Import saved landed-cost decision
Bring in the latest locally saved landed-cost scenario so supplier quotes inherit the same market, duty, tax, buffer, resale price, and margin target assumptions.
Supplier comparison table
| Rank | Supplier | Factory/unit | Landed/sellable unit | Total landed | Margin | Lead time | Readout |
|---|
PO readiness diagnosis
ReviewingThe diagnosis will compare the recommended quote against your margin, cash, defect, lead-time, and deposit limits.
Negotiation asks before issuing the PO
Use this before
- Choosing between RFQ replies where one supplier looks cheaper on unit cost alone.
- Approving a high-MOQ quote that ties up more cash than the margin can justify.
- Sending a quote back to a buyer before freight, inspection, and defect assumptions are visible.
How to compare import supplier quotes without missing hidden cost
Use the same customs, tax, and selling assumptions across every quote. The winning supplier is usually the one with the best landed cost per sellable unit after defects, not the one with the lowest headline factory price.
| Decision question | What to compare | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Which quote is really cheapest? | Landed cost per sellable unit | Normalizes freight, duty, tax, brokerage, and defect assumptions across suppliers. |
| Which quote creates the most cash pressure? | MOQ units and total cash tied up | A lower unit quote can still force too much cash into inventory before sales happen. |
| Which supplier best protects margin? | Margin at target sell price | Shows whether the quote still works after import friction and operational buffers. |
| Which supplier is operationally safer? | Defect allowance and lead time | Late or inconsistent supply can erase the savings from a lower factory quote. |
Method used in this calculator
The tool starts with product value, then layers in freight, insurance, brokerage, duty, tax or VAT, inspection or tooling cost, and an optional FX or compliance buffer. It converts the result into landed cost per sellable unit by accounting for defect allowance rather than assuming every ordered unit is usable.
That makes the output easier to trust for RFQ reviews, pre-PO approvals, and reseller margin checks because the formula reflects the real trade-off between quote price, customs cost, working capital, and fulfillment risk.
- Use a recent supplier quote and the destination market you actually plan to ship into.
- Keep HS code, origin treatment, and de minimis assumptions consistent across suppliers.
- Stress-test at least one conservative defect and freight scenario before locking a vendor.
Related import planning tools
Use the supporting tools below when the supplier decision depends on customs treatment, shipment-level economics, or resale margin.
- Landed cost calculator for modeling one shipment or supplier in more detail.
- Import margin calculator for checking wholesale or resale economics after the quote is chosen.
- De minimis calculator for testing low-value threshold assumptions before comparing small orders.
- HS code lookup guide for tightening classification assumptions that affect duty rate accuracy.
Supplier quote comparison FAQ
How do you compare supplier quotes for imports fairly?
Hold the customs and selling assumptions constant, then compare landed cost per sellable unit, total cash tied up, lead time, and margin. That prevents one quote from looking better only because it omits freight or hides MOQ pressure.
Why can the cheapest supplier quote still lose?
Freight, brokerage, tax treatment, defects, and slow lead times can offset the lower factory price. The cheapest quote on paper often becomes the most expensive option once the order lands and becomes saleable inventory.
What inputs should I verify before choosing a vendor?
Check the unit quote, MOQ, freight method, inspection cost, defect rate, lead time, HS code assumptions, and whether duty or VAT relief is actually available in the destination market.
When should I switch to a landed-cost calculator instead?
Use the landed-cost calculator when you already know the supplier and need to model one shipment deeply. Use this page when the decision is which supplier to shortlist or approve.