Packaging quotes are hard to compare because suppliers quote different things and call them the same thing. Here is the list we would use if we were buying, with our own answers underneath each one so you can hold us to the same standard.
Price and minimums
- What is the minimum order? Ours is 100 boxes. Watch for a low headline minimum that carries a setup charge which makes small runs uneconomic anyway.
- What is the unit price at the quantity I will actually buy? Ask for your real number, not the best case. Ours starts from about $0.48 per unit at bulk volumes and is confirmed on your written quote, because size, board, print and finish all move it.
- What does the tooling cost? At iBox the cutting die and the plates are included. Elsewhere, ask whether the die is a one time charge, whether it is yours, and what happens if you change the size later.
- What is in the price and what is not? Ours includes the die and plates, design support, US shipping and a digital proof before anything prints. Ask specifically about freight, because a low unit price with freight bolted on afterwards is not a low price.
Specification
- Are the dimensions internal or external? This single question prevents more failed first runs than any other. Get it stated in writing.
- What board grade, and what maximum gross weight does it carry? A corrugated shipper carries a box maker's certificate naming that limit. Adjectives are not a specification.
- Will I see a proof before it runs? You get a digital proof with every iBox order, and nothing prints until you approve it.
- How are samples handled? Ask before you commit to a run. Ours are arranged through the quote conversation rather than bought separately, so raise it while you are being priced.
Timing and production
- Where is it made? We run two plants, West Chicago in the US and Guangzhou in China. Knowing which one runs your job tells you a lot about the lead time.
- Which turnaround lane is this quote based on? Ours come in three: rush (expedited production with air freight), standard (air) and cost saver (sea). The floor is from about 7 business days plus 2 to 5 for delivery, and specialty imported items can run up to about 12 weeks. A date without a lane is a guess.
- What does rush actually cost? Ours is a premium of about 7 to 25% depending on the job, not a flat percentage, because expediting a simple carton and a rigid box with fitted inserts are different problems.
- When does the clock start? Usually at proof approval rather than at order placement. If artwork needs rebuilding, that time lands at the front of your schedule.
The question people forget to ask
Ask what the supplier will not do. Any supplier claiming their packaging is approved for your product category deserves a follow up question about who tested what, and to which standard. We make packaging. Child resistant features are available on request, but we do not certify compliance. Confirm requirements for your jurisdiction and product. That is the honest position and you should expect it from anyone you buy from.
A quick comparison sheet
| Ask for | Good answer looks like | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Unit price | At your quantity, in writing, with freight stated | A range with no quantity attached |
| Dimensions | Internal, in length x width x depth | Three numbers with no basis given |
| Board | Grade plus maximum gross weight | Heavy duty, premium, extra strong |
| Lead time | A lane, a date and what starts the clock | A single number with no conditions |
| Regulatory claims | What they do and explicitly do not claim | Blanket approval claims with no standard or test named |
If you want to test this list on us, send your spec and request a quote. Take the answers, put them next to anyone else's, and buy from whoever answers most clearly. Our right sizing explainer is a good next read if cost per unit is what you are trying to bring down.
