Short answer: a product photo is not a full cost specification. Quotes vary because factories may be pricing different materials, weights, finishes, components, development scopes, quantities, packaging, inspection, and shipping assumptions.
The buyer who thought the cheapest quote had won
Consider a boutique owner sending the same reference image to three suppliers. The quotations can differ substantially. The first instinct is to choose the low quote. During follow-up, the differences appear: one supplier priced a lighter piece, another excluded the custom pouch, and the third included a development review and a more detailed finish specification.
The quotes were not actually for the same product.
Seven lines that should appear in a comparable quote
Ask each supplier to identify:
- base material and component material;
- product dimensions and estimated weight;
- plating color and finish system;
- stone, pearl, enamel, chain, clasp, and other components;
- sample or CAD scope and any development fees;
- quantity by style, color, and size;
- packaging, inspection, shipping basis, and quotation validity.
Qiuqiu Atelier's current FAQ recommends providing product category, reference image or link, material preference, plating color, stone or pearl size, quantity range, target price, packaging requirements, document requests, and destination country. That list reduces the back-and-forth that makes quotes hard to compare.
Weight can change the quote without changing the picture
Two rings can share the same outside shape while using different wall thicknesses. Two pendants can look identical in a product photo while one is hollow and one is solid. A wide cuff, a long chain, or a large earring can move the material and labor cost quickly.
If weight matters to the retail position or wearing comfort, ask for the target range and confirm it at sample stage. Do not compare a quote with no weight assumption against one that includes a defined construction.
Finish and components hide inside casual words
“Gold” may mean a color reference, a plated finish, or another system. “Pearl” may refer to different sizes and types. “Custom packaging” may mean a card, pouch, box, insert, barcode, or a complete gift set.
Write down what the words mean for your project. The clearer the vocabulary, the less likely the quote is to change after sampling.
Use the target price as a design tool
A target price is not only a negotiation anchor. It helps the manufacturer suggest a workable material, weight, component, or packaging route. If the original design cannot fit the target, ask which change would have the least effect on the look and customer experience.
That conversation is more useful than asking for a lower price without changing the brief.
Quote revisions are signals, not automatically red flags
A revised quote can mean that a missing specification has finally been defined. If the first request did not state the quantity per style, the factory may have assumed one mixed batch. If the sample reveals a heavier wall thickness or a different clasp, the cost may change for a real reason.
Ask the supplier to show what changed between versions. A useful revision names the material, weight, finish, component, packaging, or quantity assumption that moved. An unexplained increase deserves a question; a clearly explained change gives you a decision to make.
Compare risk as well as price
Add the cost of a delayed sample, a packaging error, a missed retail window, or a batch that does not match the approved piece. This does not mean choosing the most expensive supplier. It means asking which quote gives you enough information to control the risks your launch can actually afford.
A better RFQ format
Send the same one-page brief to every factory. Include the reference image, style count, quantity range, target market, material preference, finish, packaging, target price, compliance needs, and destination. Ask for exclusions and assumptions in the reply.
Then compare the complete production route, not just the unit price.
Want a quote you can actually compare?
Send Qiuqiu Atelier your reference, quantity range, target customer, material or finish preference, packaging needs, and destination country. The team can identify the missing specifications before the quotation becomes a chain of revisions.
Save the original brief with every quote version. When a quotation changes, you should be able to see whether the change came from a new design decision, a different quantity, a packaging addition, or a logistics assumption. That record makes revisions easier to audit and compare, and gives your team a better basis for approving the sample.