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Demand before discount
Start with space, test volume and sell-through risk
Write the maximum units you can store, test or use before asking for a lower price. A unit discount does not help if the quantity exceeds likely demand or creates a difficult size and color mix.
For a first order, define success as learning something specific: fit consistency, finish, packaging, delivery or buyer response. That makes a small test order easier to design.
MOQ grammar
Find the unit behind the number
Per style
One product design may have its own minimum.
Per color
Every chosen color can multiply the requirement.
Per size
A size breakdown may be fixed or carry separate minimums.
Per carton
The pack configuration, not the individual unit, controls ordering.
Mixed order
Several variants may count toward one total only under stated rules.
Custom order
Printing, labels, packaging or tooling may create a different threshold.
First-order model
Calculate the quantity you can actually place
| Offer | Displayed MOQ | Variant rule | Real first order |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 10 | 10 per color, three colors required | 30 units |
| B | 24 | Mix colors and sizes in one carton | 24 units |
| C | 1 sample | Production MOQ 50 after approval | 1 sample, then a separate 50-unit decision |
Record samples and production as separate commitments. A sample-friendly offer is not automatically a low-MOQ production offer.
Cost layers
Compare more than the unit price
- Sample price and sample shipping.
- Production unit price at the intended quantity.
- Setup, printing, labels or tooling.
- Required packaging and carton configuration.
- Payment fees and currency assumptions.
- Packed weight and estimated delivery cost.
- Defect allowance and replacement terms.
Decision rule
Prefer a controllable first test over a fragile bargain
A stronger first offer is one whose quantity fits your test, whose variants are clear, and whose total commitment you can explain. Remove an offer when the minimum changes during conversation, the quote omits decisive cost layers, or the required mix would create unsellable inventory.
