OFFER COMPARISON · PROCUREMENT
Compare the
same thing.
A unit price is only one line of an offer. Before choosing between quotations, align what each one includes and note every unresolved condition.
Use a common scope before making a commercial decision.
Make the product identical.
Compare species or variety, grade or calibre, preparation, weights and pack size. “Canned sardines” or “table olives” alone leaves too many variables open.
Check the saleable unit.
Confirm can or jar format, label work, units per carton and whether packing materials are included. Private-label artwork and approvals can change both cost and lead time.
Align delivery and quantity.
Write the quantity, currency, requested trade term, named place, loading method and intended shipment window beside each quote. Do not treat unlike delivery bases as directly comparable.
Record validity and evidence.
Ask when the quote expires and which documents support the product and exporter claims. A missing document is an open item, not a presumed certification.
Offer A includes printed cans and palletized loading; Offer B lists plain cans and floor loading. Even if the unit prices differ, the commercial scopes are not yet aligned.
Keep the decision traceable.
A comparison should show what was confirmed, what was excluded and which questions were sent back to each party. Only explicit written agreement creates the final commercial terms.
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