The delivery label is only the starting point
A quotation should identify the selected delivery rule, its edition and a precise named place. A label without a place leaves a significant gap in the commercial picture. Ask the supplier to spell out what it expects each party to arrange.
This guide is a checklist for discussion, not a substitute for the wording of the selected rule or transaction-specific professional advice. Consult the relevant official rules and your specialists when interpreting obligations.
List included and excluded costs
Put product value, packing, collection, main transport, insurance arrangements and final delivery on separate lines in your comparison. Identify any costs that are estimates and who obtained them. Avoid adding an uncertain charge as if it were a firm quote.
Ask who is expected to handle customs formalities and destination requirements. Do not assume a transport price includes duties, taxes or every local charge.
Separate cost allocation from other questions
Who pays for a stage, when risk transfers and how ownership passes are questions that should be checked separately in the actual transaction documents. Payment terms, acceptance criteria and remedies also require attention.
A short price comparison cannot resolve every contractual issue. Record open points and make sure the responsible person reviews them before the order is confirmed.
Compare on the same basis
Use the same product specification, quantity, currency, destination and timing assumptions. If offers use different delivery arrangements, show the difference instead of labelling one “cheaper” on product price alone.
Keep a dated copy of the quotation and clarify its validity. Reconfirm changed terms in writing. The aim is an informed commercial decision with fewer hidden assumptions, rather than an apparently precise total built on incomplete information.