Compare assortments on the same cost basis. One quote may show goods only while another includes a delivery component; a low headline price does not resolve that difference. Make missing amounts visible before deciding which order fits your budget.
The worksheet below is a planning aid, not an earnings forecast. Replace every hypothetical figure with your accepted quote and business records. Keep a note of which costs you included and how you allocated shared costs across products, particularly when sizes or packing needs differ.
Which freight allocation should I use?
Use a method that reflects your order and document it. Dividing a shared amount equally may be a simple starting point for similar items, but it can misrepresent costs when some products account for much more weight or space. Apply the same method when comparing alternatives so the result remains understandable.
Does a positive gross margin mean a profitable order?
No. It says something about the price and the costs included in that calculation. It does not establish how quickly the stock will sell, whether every unit will sell or whether the remaining business expenses are covered. Keep sales expectations separate from the arithmetic.
What should I ask before approving the quote?
Confirm the exact product mix, quantity, quoted currency, freight assumptions and any costs still to be determined. If tax treatment is unclear for your business, resolve that with your accounting adviser before comparing figures on different bases.
Date your calculation and keep the quote it uses. When freight, quantity or assortment changes, recalculate rather than applying the old unit cost to a different order.
Calculate landed cost before comparing retail margins
A wholesale unit price is not the same as your cost to put that unit on sale. Add the costs your business actually bears: purchased pieces, allocated inbound freight and any packing or handling you supply. Treat taxes consistently with your own accounting treatment; do not silently mix recoverable and non-recoverable amounts.
A hypothetical calculation, not a 3DCentral quote
Suppose purchased stock costs $200, inbound freight is $30 and your own packing costs $10 for 20 saleable units. The total is $240, or $12 per unit. At a $20 selling price on the same tax basis, the difference is $8. Gross margin is $8 ÷ $20 = 40%; markup is $8 ÷ $12 ≈ 66.7%. These are different measures. Neither is net profit after wages, rent, fees, losses and other business expenses.
| Input | Your amount |
|---|---|
| Purchased stock | Use accepted quote |
| Inbound freight and other included costs | Use actual allocation |
| Saleable units | Count what can be offered for sale |
| Planned selling price | Use a consistent tax basis |
Do not divide by zero saleable units, a zero selling price for margin or a zero cost for markup. Investigate missing figures instead. Request an assortment quote, then calculate using your costs and intended price.
Download the bilingual landed-cost and reorder worksheet (PDF).
