What to include before asking a Chinese supplier for a quote
A short pre-RFQ checklist for buyers who have a drawing, sample, photos or only an early product description.
Before sending a request, write down what the supplier is expected to price. A clear product name is useful, but it is rarely enough for a made-to-order part.
The minimum brief
Start with:
- Product name, part number or a short functional description.
- Drawing revision, photos, measurements or an existing sample.
- Material, finish and manufacturing process if known.
- Expected order quantity and a realistic annual range if available.
- Destination country and whether you need a sample first.
- Packaging, branding, standards or certificates that are genuinely required.
If you do not know a field, write unknown. That is more useful than leaving a supplier to assume.
Why process matters
The same shape may be made by machining, casting, stamping or injection moulding. The tooling, minimum quantity, lead time and acceptable tolerances can change with the process. If you are asking for process advice, say so explicitly; if the process is fixed, state the constraint.
A clean first message
Please review the attached information and confirm whether you can quote this exact part. Please separate sample, tooling and production charges, and state the quantity basis, MOQ, lead time, Incoterm and payment terms.
After replies arrive, compare like with like. A supplier who asks for clarification is not automatically worse than one who sends a fast but incomplete number.