To compare quotations for custom storage boxes from China, send each supplier the same product specification, quantity breakdown and packing requirements. Ask them to identify substitutions, exclusions and separately charged work. A lower unit price is only comparable when the quoted product and delivery scope are equivalent.
Start with the retail use case and the available shelf or storage space. A photograph can show the design direction, but it will not establish the fabric weight, support board, usable interior or pack format. Record those details before selecting a price.
Define the exact product being quoted
State whether you need a flexible bag, a fabric box with support panels or a rigid container. For a fabric box, identify the lid, window, base and handle arrangement. Describe the intended contents and how customers will move or access them.
Give the assembled external dimensions in a stated order, with a drawing showing the measurement points. Keep internal usable dimensions, folded size and carton dimensions separate. If shelf fit is still undecided, use our fabric storage bin sizing guide before fixing the sample dimensions.
Specify the outer fabric, lining, binding and support material separately. If you want alternative materials, ask for a separate option with the changed components listed. This makes a proposed saving visible instead of hiding a substitution inside the unit price.
An RFQ example based on a produced storage box
The following product details come from a produced Great Shine configuration. The 500-piece inquiry quantity is an example request, not a disclosed customer order or a supplier quotation.
| RFQ field | Example brief |
|---|---|
| Product | Foldable fabric storage box with attached lid and front clear window |
| Assembled external size | 40 × 50 × 25 cm, length × width × height |
| Fabric and binding | 80 gsm polypropylene non-woven outer fabric, lining and binding |
| Support and window | 2 mm cardboard support; clear PVC front window, with position and construction confirmed against the reference |
| Quantity requested | 500 individual pieces of this style; proposed colors and allocation to be supplied with the inquiry |
| Retail pack | CPP bag, hanging hook and printed insert; artwork to be confirmed |
| Existing carton reference | 12 pieces per carton for this configuration; final carton size and weight to be confirmed |
| Additional brief | Target market, sales channel, destination, required delivery date and any added logo or inspection requirements |
For this confirmed configuration, the minimum order is 500 pieces per style, with mixed colors allowed within the same style. List the proposed color quantities and have the allocation confirmed. Different sizes or structures cannot automatically be combined as though they were colors of one style.
If you change the fabric, board, dimensions, branding or packaging, ask for revised commercial terms. The original carton quantity is a packing reference for that configuration, not a promise for a modified retail pack.
Ask what the price includes
Send the following comparison sheet with the RFQ. For each line, have both suppliers mark it as included, separately charged, excluded or still to be confirmed. These are fields to complete from actual replies, not assumed supplier answers.
| Quote line | Scope to identify | Supplier A / supplier B record |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Exact specification and revision, including any substitutions | Scope status; deviation; quoted amount and currency |
| Branding | Logo method, artwork, label and placement | Included work; setup charges, if any |
| Retail packaging | Bag, hook, insert, printing, barcode and assembly | Components included; separate charges |
| Carton packing | Pieces per carton, carton specification and marks | Packing basis; confirmed dimensions and weight |
| Samples and courier | Sample specification, revision arrangements and dispatch | Included sample work; courier and other charges |
| Inspection or testing | Required checks, reports and any external service | Service scope; responsible party; separate fee |
| Delivery | Agreed delivery term and named location | Included transport; exclusions; validity period |
Do not enter zero for a blank fee. An unanswered line remains unresolved until the supplier confirms it. Ask for the cost basis and responsibility for any charge that sits outside the product price.
Keep pieces, sets and color splits clear
One piece means one individual box. A set means the agreed combination of products sold together. If you request sets, list the quantity of each size or style inside one set and state the total number of complete sets required.
Check that unit prices use the same basis. A per-piece quotation and a per-set quotation cannot be compared directly. Likewise, 12 pieces per carton describes packing, not the order minimum or the number of retail sets.
Record color allocations by style. If a quotation assumes one color while your brief asks for several, resolve that difference before selecting the supplier.
Compare the full scope before negotiating price
First check that each reply uses the current specification. Highlight any change in material, support panels, window, lid construction or pack. Ask for the original requirement to be priced as well if you want to evaluate an alternative.
Next, separate recurring product charges from one-time work and external services. Compare quotations in the same currency and against the same delivery scope. Use confirmed packing information when requesting transport pricing; folded product dimensions alone do not establish carton dimensions or freight cost.
If a supplier proposes an option to reduce cost, record what changes and what needs another sample check. For example, replacing the support board changes the construction being purchased. It should be treated as a separate option until approved.
Connect the quotation to sample approval
The sample request should identify the quoted revision and any temporary materials or accessories. Confirm whether logo and packaging are included in the approval sample or will be reviewed separately.
Great Shine samples are free and are completed in 3-7 days after the sample details are confirmed. Courier costs and delivery timing are confirmed separately. Agree the scope and schedule of any requested revisions; free samples do not imply unlimited free changes or shipments.
Once the sample is approved, bring the final specification, quotation, color allocation and packing instructions into agreement. The detailed storage box sample approval and QC checklist covers the inspection actions; use this RFQ article to keep the purchased scope clear.
Send the brief for a comparable response
Review our storage box and fabric bin options and identify the structure you want quoted. Attach the dimensioned brief, product reference, artwork and packaging requirements. Include the market, order quantities and destination, and mark decisions where you want a supplier recommendation.
Ask the supplier to return the specification revision, price basis, deviations, included items, separate charges and quote validity together. That response gives your team a basis for comparison before negotiating or approving a sample.
Questions about comparing storage box quotes
Can I ask for a price before every detail is fixed?
Yes. Identify open decisions and ask the supplier to state its assumptions. Treat the result as provisional until the specification and exclusions are confirmed.
Does a sample price establish the bulk unit price?
No. Compare the bulk quotation for the agreed quantity and specification. Record any sample differences and separate charges instead of assuming they are covered by the bulk price.
Should I choose the supplier with the lowest unit price?
First resolve specification and scope differences. Compare the complete quoted requirement and the evidence needed for approval before making the purchasing decision.
