An imported quote rarely looks higher once it is compared like for like. The gap usually comes from six lines: scope, hardware, compliance, freight, duty and installation. One quote includes them; the other excludes them. Convert both to landed cost at the same specification and scope before comparing the number.
Six lines explain most of the gap: scope, hardware, compliance, freight, duty, installation.
Installation is the most common hidden gap.
Duty can erase the factory saving in a 25% market.
Compare per unit at the same incoterm and scope.
A higher quote can include more, not cost more.
1. The comparison problem
Two quotes look comparable because they are both for cabinets. They are usually not. One includes fitting, the other does not; one includes duty, the other does not; one names hardware, the other says branded. The number reflects the scope, not the value.
2. The six lines
| Line | Often included | Often excluded |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Carcass, doors, drawers | Benchtop, appliances |
| Hardware | Named brand | Branded, model unknown |
| Compliance | Reports and certificates | Assumed |
| Freight | FOB or CIF | Ex-works |
| Duty | DDP | FOB |
| Installation | Included | Excluded |
The table is a map, not a rule. The point is to check each line in both quotes before comparing the total.
3. Scope
A local quote often includes benchtop and appliances; an import quote often does not. That alone can be 20–30% of the total. Write the scope on one page and mark each item as included, excluded or by others.
4. Hardware and compliance
A quote that says branded hardware without a model is not comparable with one that names a model and cycle rating. The same applies to compliance: a quote that assumes reports is not the same as one that includes them. The hardware specification shows how to compare.
5. Freight and duty
Freight and duty are the lines most often left out. An FOB quote excludes both; a DDP quote includes both but hides the margin. Model duty at the current rate for the market before comparing. The Incoterms guide explains the difference.
6. Installation
Installation is the most common hidden gap. A local quote often includes fitting; an import quote often stops at delivery. That single line can be 10–18% of the cost, and it is the line that decides whether the import is really cheaper.
7. Like-for-like
Convert both quotes to landed cost at the same specification, incoterm and installation scope. Then compare per unit, not per container. The landed cost guide gives the model.
8. What to do next
Ask both suppliers to itemise the six lines. A supplier who cannot itemise is telling you the scope is not fixed. Once the lines are visible, the comparison takes an afternoon, not a month.
9. A checklist before you commit
Before you sign, confirm six things: the board grade, the hardware model, the finish system, the packing standard, the inspection scope and the payment schedule. Each should be in writing, not in a call. The quote checklist turns the six into a one-page comparison.
10. Common mistakes
The most common mistake is comparing a factory price with a landed cost. The second is leaving the inspection out of the budget. The third is paying the balance before the inspection is signed off. Each is avoidable with a written scope and a pre-shipment inspection.
11. How to measure the room
Measure each wall at three points, top, middle and bottom, and use the smallest. Walls are rarely square, and a 10 mm bow over three metres changes the filler. Measure the ceiling at each corner and note sockets, radiators and soil pipes before drawing. A measured survey saves more time than a faster drawing, and the measuring guide has a printable sheet.
13. A specification checklist
Write four lines for every material: the product, the grade, the thickness and the surface or edge treatment. A material specified by name alone leaves the grade to the factory, and the grade is where the cost and the performance sit.
14. Questions the factory will ask
Expect four questions: which grade, which thickness, which edge and which batch. The answers should already be in the specification. If they are not, the factory will choose, and the choice will be the cheapest that meets the drawing.
Frequently asked questions
Why is an imported quote sometimes higher?
It usually is not, once compared like for like. The gap comes from scope, hardware, compliance, freight, duty and installation being included in one quote and excluded from the other.
How do I compare two quotes fairly?
Convert both to landed cost at the same specification, incoterm and installation scope. Then compare per unit, not per container.
What is the most common hidden gap?
Installation. A local quote often includes fitting; an import quote often stops at delivery. That single line can be 10–18% of the cost.
Does duty explain the difference?
Sometimes. A 25% tariff market can erase the factory saving. Model duty before comparing headline prices.
Is a higher quote always worse?
No. A higher quote can include better hardware, compliance and installation. The question is what is included, not what the number is.
How long should a comparison take?
A few days if both quotes are itemised. Weeks if one is a lump sum, because the scope has to be reconstructed.
