In - depth Exposé of the Tricks in Import Agency Quotations

Recently, a Mr. Zhang came to us and said that after comparing the quotations of 5 import agencies, he found that the quotations for the same batch of goods actually differed by 30%! This left him completely confused: "Isn't there a unified standard in the import agency industry?" I believe this is also the confusion of many novice foreign traders. Today, we are going to lift the mysterious veil of professional import agency quotations, so that you can make clear - headed choices.

First of all, it needs to be clear that import agency quotations are never just a simple numbers game. The core factors causing price differences mainly include:

• Different service scopes: Some quotations only include basic customs clearance, while others cover the entire logistics process
• Differences in channel resources: The cooperative relationships with customs and shipping companies directly affect costs
• Proportion of risk - taking: Whether value - added services such as tax guarantees and container demurrage advances are included

Ms. Li once suffered losses: She saw an attractive low price when signing the contract, but "surcharges" kept popping up during the actual operation. Special attention should be paid to these common traps in quotation sheets:

• Vaguely described "other expenses" items
• Floating space for exchange rate conversion
• Hidden clauses of the minimum charge standard

We adopt a three - level quotation system: basic price (mandatory services)+module price (optional services)+risk reserve (contingency plans for unexpected situations). Each number corresponds to specific service content, and even includes 3 contingency plans for possible unexpected scenarios. For example, for the import of chemical products, we preset:

• Contingency plan for time - delay caused by customs sampling and inspection
• Special channel fees for dangerous goods declaration
• Cost of backup plans for temperature - controlled transportation

It is recommended that the purchaser prepare a "three - question list":

• Ask about the service boundaries: "Does the quotation include port detention fees during inspections?"
• Ask about the division of responsibilities: "Who will bear the fines caused by incorrect classification?"
• Ask about alternative plans: "If the preferred transportation method is not feasible, how is the cost of the alternative plan calculated?"

Finally, it should be reminded that low price does not necessarily mean high cost - effectiveness. In a certain medical device import case, although Agency A's quotation was 15% lower than ours, they were not familiar with the special approval process of CFDA, which ultimately led to the goods being detained at the port and incurring huge costs. The value of professionalism is often reflected in:

• Accurate pre - classification of commodity HS codes
• Accurate prediction of the processing cycle of regulatory certificates
• Timely follow - up of the latest industry policies