At a glance
Key points for your project
- Write down what one quoted unit contains and what the MOQ applies to.
- Separate recurring product costs, one-time charges and delivery costs.
- Treat unknown charges as unresolved items instead of assigning them a zero.
1. Define what one unit means
Start with the sellable configuration. For strips, state the number of pouches and pairs in one retail box. For kits, list every component and its quantity. For mouthwash, name the bottle size and the contents of a shipping carton. Record both the retail unit and the shipping unit.
Ask suppliers to quote the same configuration and currency. If a quotation uses pieces, sets, pairs or cartons, translate it into your agreed retail unit before comparing it. Preserve the original quotation alongside the conversion so the purchasing team can check the arithmetic.
2. Ask what the MOQ applies to
Request the minimum order basis in writing: per finished product, formula, flavor, color, container, printed pouch or retail artwork. Then describe the variants you actually want. For an order split between two flavors and three box designs, ask the supplier to confirm the accepted quantity for each combination.
AlvoSmile states a bulk MOQ of 1,000 pcs. Share the intended configuration so the team can confirm how that applies to the product and variants; do not assume the total can be divided across any mix. If component purchasing has a different minimum, ask how unused components will be handled, stored and charged.
3. Separate the cost lines
For US or European deliveries, name the destination country, delivery point and currency in the comparison. Request destination cost estimates from the party handling those services; do not reuse a figure quoted for a different destination.
Use the same worksheet for each supplier and mark each line as included, separately priced, not applicable or pending. For freight, identify the named handover point and ask which origin and destination services are included.
| Cost line | Information to request |
|---|---|
| Finished product | Exact specification, retail unit, order quantity, currency and unit price. |
| Packaging | Which containers, printing, inserts and cartons are included? |
| One-time work | Development, artwork, tooling or setup charges, with ownership arrangements. |
| Agreed evaluations | Scope, responsible party and any separately priced testing or inspection. |
| Transport | Origin collection, freight, insurance and the stated delivery point. |
| Destination costs | Brokerage, clearance, applicable duties or taxes, and final delivery estimates. |
| Terms | Payment stages, price validity, exclusions and revision conditions. |
4. Calculate a comparable amount per retail unit
Illustrative arithmetic only: imagine 1,000 identical retail units quoted in USD. Product costs total $2,000, packaging excluded from that price costs $300, one-time setup costs $200 and the specified freight service costs $500. The subtotal is $3,000, or $3.00 per ordered retail unit.
This is not an AlvoSmile quotation or an expected market price. The example shows why a $2.00 product line alone does not describe the full purchase. The $3.00 subtotal still excludes any unquoted destination charges, taxes and other items. Keep those visible until confirmed. Compare a repeat order separately if the setup charge will not recur, and check the quotation rather than assuming it disappears.
5. Compare quantity tiers with inventory exposure
Request a small number of quantity options that fit your launch plan, using exactly the same specification. For each option, record total cash required, cost per retail unit, packaging commitments and the quantity allocated to each variant. A lower unit cost at a higher tier needs to be assessed against the extra stock and spend.
Ask whether staged delivery, a later reorder or a simpler starting range is available, and what those options change. Do not assume the supplier can split a batch or hold inventory. For a new brand, a written comparison of two feasible options is more useful than a long price list without order conditions.
6. Keep sample terms separate from the bulk budget
Ask what the proposed sample represents: an existing product, a custom formula version, printed packaging or a fully assembled retail unit. Record sample preparation, shipping and any additional development scope separately. If a fee may be credited against an order, request the conditions in writing.
AlvoSmile offers free samples with preparation in 7 working days. Shipping arrangements and the selected sample configuration should be discussed with the team. That preparation period is separate from bulk production and transport. Connect the budget to the project timeline so a revised sample does not quietly change the order assumptions.
7. Approve one quotation version before ordering
Give the agreed quotation a reference and date. Attach the product specification, packaging version, quantities and inclusions that support it. Record open items, responsibility for estimates and the circumstances that require a revised price. Have the purchasing decision reference that version.
If a formula, box finish, pack count or delivery service changes, ask the supplier to show the effect on price and timing before approval. Keep the signed-off sample and quote connected. The product brief guide helps organize the information to send before requesting prices.
Your project checklist
- The quoted piece, pair, set or carton has been converted into a defined retail unit.
- MOQ and quantities are confirmed for each proposed variant.
- Packaging and one-time charges are identified without double-counting.
- The delivery point, included services and unconfirmed destination costs are visible.
- The final quotation reference matches the approved product and packaging version.
Buyer questions
Is 1,000 pcs enough for several different products?
Ask for a configuration-specific confirmation. AlvoSmile’s stated bulk MOQ is 1,000 pcs, but this does not establish a mixed-order allowance across formulas, products or packaging designs.
Should I compare only the quoted unit prices?
Compare the same retail configuration and include the relevant packaging, setup and delivery lines. Identify exclusions and unresolved costs before comparing the total.
Can the same unit price be used for a reorder?
Ask for the reorder terms. Quantity, specification, component costs and any nonrecurring work should be shown in the new quotation rather than assumed unchanged.
Your next step
Request a quotation you can compare.
Send the product format, pack contents, quantity, variants and destination. Ask our team to identify the included costs and items that need separate confirmation.
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