How to compare supplier quotes effectively
Compare quotes on landed cost, not unit price. Landed cost includes the unit price, freight, customs duty, insurance, and payment-terms cost. AdeptLink's quote comparison tool computes landed cost automatically when you enter destination and Incoterm. Buyers who choose the lowest landed-cost quote (not the lowest unit price) report 23% fewer post-delivery disputes.
Key facts
- Buyers choosing on landed cost report 23% fewer disputes vs. choosing on unit price alone.
- On average, freight and duty add 18% to the unit price for cross-border B2B orders.
- Suppliers offering Net-30 payment terms quote 4-6% higher unit prices than those requiring full prepayment.
What is landed cost and why does it matter?
Landed cost is the total cost to receive a shipment at your warehouse: unit price + freight + insurance + customs duty + import VAT + last-mile delivery + any clearance fees. For cross-border orders, landed cost is on average 18% higher than the FOB unit price.
Two quotes with the same unit price can have very different landed costs: a supplier in Vietnam shipping to Rotterdam typically beats a supplier in China by $0.40/kg in freight after the 2024 Red Sea reroute.
Which factors should I score beyond price?
Score five factors on a 1-5 scale: lead time (and on-time delivery rate), payment terms flexibility, sample availability, certifications, and supplier reliability score (visible on every quote card). Weight each by importance — for example, 40% landed cost, 25% lead time, 15% reliability, 10% payment terms, 10% certifications.
How does AdeptLink calculate the supplier reliability score?
Each supplier carries a 0-100 reliability score updated weekly. Inputs: on-time delivery rate (40%), dispute rate (25%), buyer review average (20%), and time on platform (15%). Suppliers above 80 are eligible for the Trusted Supplier badge and unlock buyer protection up to $50,000 per order.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I negotiate a quote on AdeptLink?
- Yes. Click Counter-Offer on any quote to submit a revised unit price, quantity, or terms. Suppliers receive the counter-offer in their dashboard and can accept, reject, or counter back. The full negotiation history is preserved on the RFQ timeline.
- How long are quotes valid?
- Each quote shows a validity period set by the supplier — default 14 days. After expiry, you must request a re-quote. Material market moves (steel, copper, ocean freight) can shorten validity to 3-5 days.
- Can I split an order between two suppliers?
- Yes. Accept partial quantities from two different quotes; AdeptLink creates one order per supplier and groups them under the same RFQ for tracking. Splitting is common for high-volume orders to mitigate lead-time risk.
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