Worked example: buying 300 identical bottles
All three fictional suppliers quote in EUR, with equivalent specifications and freight to the same destination. This is a calculation example, not a list of suppliers you can buy from.
| Quote | Unit price | MOQ / pack | Freight + setup | Order units | Known cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sample A | €2.10 | 500 / 100 | €250 + €50 | 500 | €1,350 |
| Sample B | €2.45 | 200 / 50 | €90 + €0 | 300 | €825 |
| Sample C | €1.90 | 1,000 / 100 | €350 + €80 | 1,000 | €2,330 |
Sample B has the highest unit price but the lowest known outlay for this order. Sample C leaves 700 extra units. A lower per-unit cost is not automatically a better use of cash.
The calculation you can reproduce
order_units = ceil(max(required_units, MOQ) / pack_size) × pack_size known_cost = order_units × unit_price + freight + setup cost_per_ordered_unit = known_cost / order_units
For B: ceil(max(300, 200) / 50) × 50 = 300 units. The known cost is 300 × €2.45 + €90 = €825. Cost per ordered unit is €2.75. The RFQ Desk example uses the same data and required quantity.
How to use the CSV
- Download the file or select the sample in the calculator.
- Use one row per supplier and keep all seven headers unchanged.
- Enter one currency for the entire comparison and set required units to 300.
- Replace fictional figures only with confirmed quotes. A blank freight charge is unknown; zero means confirmed zero.
- Export the comparison, then ask suppliers about exclusions before ordering.
What is missing from the total?
Duty, tax, insurance, inspection, payment fees, financing and unquoted delivery charges are excluded. Align freight scope, destination, specifications and payment terms first. This is a known-cost comparison, not a complete landed-cost estimate or a supplier recommendation.
What happens after the quote?
Once a purchase order and invoice exist, use the two-way invoice-matching example to understand unit-price differences and cumulative invoiced quantities. It does not authorize a payment.