Most packaging suppliers look identical on a homepage. The differences show up in the quote, and they are the same five differences every time: what the minimum really is, whether tooling is billed separately, where the boxes are actually made, how transit is handled, and what happens if the proof is wrong. Ask those five questions of anyone you are considering, including us.
Questions worth asking any supplier
- What is the true minimum for one size in one artwork, not the minimum across a mixed order?
- Is the cutting die a separate charge, and do I own or re-use it on a reprint?
- Are printing plates quoted per color, and does a color change trigger a new charge?
- Where is this manufactured, and is the quoted lead time production only or production plus transit?
- Do I see a digital proof, and does production wait for my written approval?
- Is domestic shipping inside the per-unit price or added at the end?
- What happens to the schedule if I change artwork after approval?
- Can I get physical samples before committing, and how does that work?
How iBox Factory answers them
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Minimum | 100 boxes per size and artwork |
| Die and plates | Included, not a separate line item |
| Design support | Included, dielines built from your product dimensions |
| Proof | Digital proof before anything prints, production waits for approval |
| Manufacturing | West Chicago, US and Guangzhou, China |
| US shipping | Included |
| Price basis | From about $0.48 per unit at bulk, quoted in writing per job |
| Samples | Arranged inside the quote conversation, not sold as a separate pack |
What a first order actually looks like
You send the product dimensions or a sample, the quantity and any artwork you have. We come back with a written quote naming the board, the structure, the finish, the lane and the per-unit price. Design support turns your art into a print-ready dieline, you approve a digital proof, and the job goes to whichever plant fits the lane you picked. Rush pairs expedited production with air freight and adds roughly 7 to 25 percent depending on the job. Standard moves by air. Cost saver moves by sea and is the cheapest way to buy volume if your date allows it. Production starts from about 7 business days plus 2 to 5 days for delivery, and specialty imported items can run up to about 12 weeks.
Working with two plants instead of one
A single-country supplier makes you choose between speed and unit cost permanently. Splitting production across West Chicago and Guangzhou means the same artwork can run domestically when a date is tight and overseas when the volume is large and the date is not. The quote tells you which plant and which lane, so the tradeoff is visible before you commit rather than after.
Send your specs through the quote form and you will get the answers to all eight questions above in writing. If you want the manufacturing side in more detail, see custom box manufacturer, and for the step by step process read how to order custom boxes.
