Did you ever confused by suppliers' reply for bad quotation sheets? Did you complain them? But did you inspect yourselft? Did u give all details to your supplier?

I belive most of buyers can do this task well. Here I just post what suppliers need in order to make the complete quotations:

1. The material, structure of your products, size, etc. are indispensable for suppliers to make the quotation. When you ask for the price, do you give such information to suppliers? If your law and your clients allow, do you cacaulate how much you can save if you choose recycled material? Even you specially appoint complete new material, how do you assure that no recycled material is added? Yes, the sample that you receive is made of complete new material. But when lot production, some suppliers will add used parts or recyled material. For structure, can you discuss it with your suppliers? Maybe they can give you good advice. You know, complex structure is costly as well.

2. Maybe everybod knows terms are also necessary. But how do you choose the best one for you? How do you know the shipping? For example, when the supplier offer CIF price, it seems that the price is so lower. But after that, you may pay huge amount for Custom Clearance, tariff and tax. Even you may pay for the food touch testing. When you send your inquiry to supply, do you intend to check such information? Sometimes, DDP or DDU price will save you much money. For small order quanty but with very high value, do you intend to buy insurance for your products? Perhaps, some suppliers will remind you. But what if they do not remind you but disasters happen to arrive?

3. Can you design a quotation sheet for your suppliers? As known to all, buyers just ask quotation from suppliers and buyers just receive suppliers' forms. But their forms might not contain all information that you need. So, do you have an idea to design your own quotation sheet and just ask your supplier to fill in the blank?

General speaking, both parties should find a way to work with each other efficiently. But the buyers must be on your own initiative.

Replying to [Peter Chan]:This is surely a good article both for buyers and suppliers.

Quoting from [luckyzhang]:


Replying to [Peter Chan]:This is surely a good article both for buyers and suppliers.

Yes, this is my advice to buyers.

Replying to [Peter Chan]: Everything should be written in black n white i.e. Crystal clear

Replying to [Peter Chan]:you are right. i often meet this problem.
customers often complain our price on high side. but our products are made of newly material. they can get much low price. but the products are made of recycled rerecycled rererecycled material. how to make comparison in different quality.

Replying to [Peter Chan]:
Very good article

Replying to [Peter Chan]:I send a sample of what I want to my supplier with explicit instructions.

No suprises.

yep,good idea,let supplyers know what buyer wants

Replying to [Peter Chan]: When replying to a buyer's request for quotes, I always send a list of reuired information I need from them to give them accurate quotes.

Sometimes buyers want a quick price list of items to be custom produced, but that is just impossible. There are so many different options in producing apparel, there is no way to list everything with a specific price.

Sometimes buyers do not know their exact details to give for quotes, so I also make it clear that I can help them with any details they are unsure about.

Replying to [Peter Chan]:
It is a big problem, how to make it well?

Replying to [highstyleinc]: I think the most is that the buyer and supplier should be understand each other.Can think thing change the sites.
Hope you have a good luck.