1. Start with the same shipment
Use the same product, packed measurements, China pickup location and U.S. delivery address for each request. State whether the shipment needs shared container space or a full container, and ask the provider to confirm the suitable option.
Keep estimated carton sizes and weight clearly marked. Ask what would trigger a revised quotation after measurement, a change in quantity or a change of delivery address. A provisional figure should not be treated as a final delivered price.
2. Check the handover points
Write down the collection point and the final handover point. “China to USA” could describe a port-to-port movement or a service continuing to a specified address. The two totals are not directly comparable.
For example, a quote ending at a U.S. port leaves onward arrangements to be checked. A quote naming your delivery address should also describe the included delivery service. This is a scope example, not a customer case or a price estimate.
3. Ask which items are included
Use the questions below when reviewing the written quote. An unanswered item is still unconfirmed; do not treat it as included. Not every charge applies to every shipment.
| Quote item | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| China pickup and preparation | Does the quote start at the supplier, a receiving warehouse or the port? Are any requested consolidation, repacking or storage services included? |
| Ocean movement | Which origin and destination are named? What cargo measurements, container arrangement and chargeable basis are used? |
| Import and destination handling | Who arranges clearance, which import costs are included, and which destination handling items remain to be confirmed? |
| Final delivery | Does the price end at a port or at the stated address? Which appointment, unloading and access requirements have been allowed for? |
4. Confirm the destination requirements
Tell the provider whether the address is a business, residence, warehouse or fulfillment center. Include receiving hours, any appointment requirement and whether unloading equipment is available. Ask about liftgate service, waiting time, redelivery and any destination handling that may apply.
If requesting a DDP option, confirm the named destination, import clearance arrangements, duties and taxes, and the information you must supply. Have the written quote distinguish the agreed service from conditional charges rather than relying on “all-in” alone.
5. Separate expected costs from possible extras
Ask which figures are fixed for the stated shipment, which are estimates, and which depend on a later event. Examples to clarify include examinations, additional storage and changes to the delivery arrangement. Request the charging basis and how you will be notified before additional work is arranged.
For container shipments, confirm the applicable free time and the process for collection and empty-container return. The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission explains that demurrage concerns containers exceeding terminal free time, while detention concerns extended equipment use. The applicable terms need checking for the specific shipment.
Also confirm the currency, quotation expiry, sailing assumptions and what the estimated transit period measures. A port arrival estimate is not the same as an estimate ending at your delivery address.
Reference: Federal Maritime Commission — Detention and Demurrage.
6. Send the details you have
Start with a product photo or link, China pickup city, U.S. ZIP code and the information available about the packed shipment. If several suppliers are involved, list their locations and ready dates.
Cloud Tiger Logistics can review suitable ocean shipping options, discuss consolidation and clarify the proposed quotation scope. Your measurements do not need to be final to start a conversation; mark what is still estimated.
Review your ocean shipping options
Send a product photo and U.S. ZIP code to start. Include the China pickup city and packed measurements if available.