Though both may be invoiced as 'one carton of tea', a 20 g sample and a consignment of several hundred gift boxes are priced under entirely different structures. Before requesting a quote, provide the destination postal code along with the net weight per unit, total unit count, outer carton dimensions, and estimated gross weight. If packaging is not yet finalised, request an estimate with the underlying calculation assumptions clearly stated.
Separate product price from landed cost
Request an itemised quote breaking down product costs, primary and secondary packaging, international freight, transit insurance (where applicable), customs clearance services, import duties and taxes, and final-mile delivery. Crucially, clarify which party acts as the importer of record and whether the consignee will face additional charges upon arrival. US dollar prices in the catalogue do not automatically include European VAT, customs duties, or delivery fees; 'free shipping' alone does not guarantee the absence of supplementary destination charges.
Lead times should likewise be broken down into order preparation, sampling or repacking, international transit, customs clearance, and local courier delivery. For seasonal gift boxes, allow contingency time for address verification and failed deliveries; for café raw materials, account for reorder frequencies and storage conditions. If a supplier quotes '7-day delivery', clarify whether this runs from order placement, dispatch from warehouse, or courier collection, and whether it covers customs clearance.
Jiang Rong Hao teas and matcha are available for quotation by product and quantity, but current public catalogue prices cannot be used to determine a fixed landed cost for any European country. Provide your supplier with the product links, packaging specifications, quantities, full delivery address, and required delivery date to compare formal written quotations on an identical delivery basis.