A unit price is meaningful only against a configuration
Two quotations for a “60 cm LED mirror” can cover different glass, light layout, driver, frame, packaging and order quantities. The lower figure may be for a simpler build or a different shipping term. Before comparing suppliers, put the technical and commercial assumptions on one sheet.
The RFQ guide explains how to start an inquiry. This article focuses on the fields that make the returned unit costs comparable.
Size, glass and frame change the build
Mirror dimensions influence material use, weight, packaging and handling. Glass thickness and edge treatment can change both material and finishing work. A framed design adds profile, surface finish, corner assembly and fit checks; a frameless design has different exposed-edge expectations. Ask the supplier to quote the same drawing for every comparison.
Review framed models alongside other shapes, but do not compare their prices as if frame and rear structures were identical.
Electrical and packing details matter
Specify the LED effect, driver input, control method and any optional function. A changed driver or added control changes the bill of materials and may change what supporting documents the importer needs. Request a component list rather than accepting “standard electronics” as a quotation line.
Carton type, internal protection, labels, private-label print and pallet arrangement also affect cost. Packaging should be evaluated against the transport route and intended sales channel, not reduced only to the cheapest box.
Compare on a matched basis
Make a comparison table with columns for model revision, quantity per variant, component specification, packing, sample or setup charges, quotation validity, shipping term and exclusions. Ask every supplier to flag deviations in writing. A price that excludes a required carton, compliance document or custom sample is not directly comparable.
Quantity can alter purchasing and setup efficiency, but the relationship is not automatic or linear. Request a price break only for quantities the buyer can realistically take. No Dongtai unit prices are published here; send the same specification through the inquiry channel for a current quote.
Red flags in two seemingly comparable quotations
If one supplier names a driver and the other writes only “LED power supply,” request the missing electrical detail. If one price includes export cartons and the other lists bare product, normalize the packing cost before judging the unit price. If one uses a standard size while the other quotes a custom drawing, decide whether the products are truly alternatives for the project.
Ask for an explicit deviation list: size tolerance, glass specification, lighting effect, control method, frame finish, mounting hardware, carton, labels and documents. Then calculate landed cost under the same shipping term. The comparison should record assumptions and exclusions next to each quoted amount; a number detached from its specification is not a purchasing decision.
