You took the $25 quote — and the $30 one was on a better margin anyway.
The hidden risk
A cheaper FOB doesn't mean cheaper total cost. Lower FOB often hides thinner fabric, skipped steps, missed certifications — all of which surface as returns, claims and lost reorders. The $30 quote may be cheaper at the bottom line.
How to judge
Always compute cost per wearable garment, not per unit shipped. Returns, claims, lost reorders all roll into the per-wearable cost.
What the supplier must provide
Side-by-side cost build-up of the cheap vs the honest quote — fabric, trim, labor, certifications visible.
How DONGFAN handles it
DONGFAN keeps its FOB straightforward: the cost-up you see is what the dress earns you in margin. No hidden savings that cost you reorder.
Buyer checklist
- Compute cost per wearable garment
- Add return and claim risk to FOB
- Get a side-by-side cost build-up
- Audit certification cost visibility
- Compare 5-year margin not PO1
- Treat FOB as a system, not a number