Gift Box Quote Comparison Sheet
Two quotes for the “same” box are rarely for the same box. Fill in one column per quote before comparing prices.
| # | Spec | What to pin down | Quote A | Quote B | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Box style | Lid-and-base, magnetic flap (foldable or fixed), drawer, book-style, shoulder-neck | |||
| 2 | Size | Inside or outside dimensions (L × W × H)? Tolerance (± mm or in)? | |||
| 3 | Board | Chipboard thickness and grade (e.g., mm, pt or gsm); same on lid and base? | |||
| 4 | Wrap paper | Standard coated (art) paper, kraft, textured/specialty stock, leatherette; weight (gsm or lb) | |||
| 5 | CMYK or spot (Pantone) colors; outside only or inside too; coverage | ||||
| 6 | Finishing | Matte/gloss/soft-touch lamination; foil (color, area); emboss/deboss; spot UV | |||
| 7 | Closure | Magnet count and strength; ribbon (type, length); any hardware | |||
| 8 | Insert | Paperboard, EVA foam, molded pulp, flocked tray; cavities; fit tolerance | |||
| 9 | Assembly & packing | Shipped flat (collapsible) or assembled; units per master carton; carton size and weight | |||
| 10 | Samples | Pre-production sample included? Sample cost and timing? Approval step before the production run? | |||
| 11 | Quality check | Inspection before shipment? Standard used (e.g., AQL level)? Who pays if it fails? | |||
| 12 | Price basis | Incoterm (EXW / FOB / DDP) and the named place; what’s included up to where | |||
| 13 | Landed cost | Unit price + freight + duties/fees + inspection + any service fee = cost at your door (mark each line estimate or confirmed) | |||
| 14 | Payment terms | Deposit and balance; when balance is due | |||
| 15 | Documentation | If you need it: FSC claims (certificate number), food-contact or “no intentionally added PFAS” statements for food boxes, Prop 65 for California — ask the supplier for paperwork |
How to read it
- A quote that looks expensive may be the only complete one: check rows 3–9 first.
- Compare at the same quantity tier, the same Incoterm, and the same destination.
- Any blank cell is a question to ask before deciding.
Prepared by Side by Side Sourcing — packaging sourcing for US buyers (a sourcing service, not a manufacturer).
The fill-in columns show on larger screens and in the PDF.