MOQ, cartons and container loading: reading a wholesale quotation

A wholesale quotation is built from the unit price ladder, the MOQ, the carton quantity and the number of units that fit a 20 ft or 40 ft container. Two quotes at the same unit price can differ materially once packaging and loading are included. Ask the supplier to state the carton quantity, the loading quantity per container, the port of loading and the incoterm, and compare landed cost rather than the headline unit price. For a first order, samples and a mixed container are the usual way to validate several SKUs.