The "Hidden Details" Not in Your Inquiry Often Determine the Success of 2,700 Glass Cups

Yesterday, we received an inquiry from Nabiha in Malaysia. It was very direct—a photo of a double-wall glass cup with a logo, a quantity of 2,700 units, and questions about pricing and sample lead times.

On the surface, it looked like a "perfect" inquiry: photos, quantity, and logo requirements were all there. However, through the eyes of a factory with over a decade of experience, this inquiry hid significant downstream risks. If we had simply provided a price for those 2,700 cups, future disputes and claims would have been almost inevitable.

Our Professional Follow-up:As your supply chain steward, we must help the client "fill in" the details they haven't considered. We replied with five core questions:

1. Logo Technique: Do you need laser engraving or silk-screen printing? Laser is permanent, while silk-screen is vibrant but sensitive to harsh washing.
2. Factory Audit: Does your brand require BSCI or other social responsibility audit reports? This is crucial for large-scale customs clearance.
3. Quantity Unit: Does "2,700 units" mean 2,700 individual cups or 2,700 sets (2 pcs/set)? This doubles the packaging volume.
4. Packaging Safety: This is the most frequently ignored point. For 2,700 fragile items shipped long-distance, will you use standard egg-crate dividers or color boxes with pearl cotton (EPE) inserts?

The Result:Upon receiving our reply, Nabiha remarked, "You are the fourth factory I've contacted, and only you asked about the quantity units and factory audit qualifications."

It turned out the client’s prior experience was limited to local sourcing, and they weren't aware of the high packaging standards required for long-distance cross-border logistics. Through our professional guidance, he not only corrected the procurement list but also adopted our suggested EPE insert solution. Although the unit price increased by a few cents, the risk of breakage was reduced by 90%.

Our Values:At Guan International, a quote is just the beginning of the service. We ask more questions because we understand that for B2B clients, a successful delivery is far more important than a low unit price. Our purpose is to leverage our industry depth to shield you from the pitfalls you cannot see.

If you are comparing suppliers, don’t just compare the price digits. Compare who cares more about ensuring your products reach your end customers safely and professionally.