Two fishmeal quotations expressed in the same price unit may still describe different offers. One may include transport and delivery support; another may cover warehouse collection only. Product grade, available lot, payment terms and validity can also differ. Align the conditions before ranking the numbers.
Establish a common purchasing brief
Begin the comparison with the required ingredient, application, agreed specification, quantity, destination and delivery timing. Without a common brief, a neat spreadsheet can disguise materially different proposals.
Record analytical units and reporting basis as well. FAO distinguishes as-received and dry-matter composition data. That distinction is a reminder to align information, not a method for judging total value through one converted parameter. Reporting basis
Give each commercial condition its own field
A practical internal sheet can include product and specification version, lot confirmation, price unit, quantity, stated taxes, transport and unloading scope, payment terms, lead time, validity, accompanying documents and unresolved questions. Mark unspecified items as pending, rather than assuming they cost nothing.
Convert quantity units consistently. Recalculate transport quoted per vehicle, tonne or shipment against the same purchasing plan. Where currencies differ or a direct import is involved, the responsible personnel should confirm conversion assumptions and cost boundaries instead of using permanent default figures.
Turn differences into questions
Similarly priced offers may provide different delivery flexibility. A cheaper offer may require longer waiting or additional documentation checks. Show what differs, who must confirm it and when an answer is needed. Price-only ranking hides these issues.
If production cannot tolerate a delay, discuss delivery certainty explicitly. Limited storage space may also make split deliveries important. Confirm whether that arrangement is feasible before treating it as part of the offer.
Check before issuing the order
- Match product name, specification and quantity units to the actual offer.
- State included and excluded charges clearly.
- Reconfirm the lot, delivery location and timing.
- Assign contacts for payment and documents.
- Connect sampling, acceptance and exception reporting arrangements.
Keep the agreed version
Record the date and changed fields whenever an offer is revised, and order against the version both parties confirm. This comparison framework is editorial purchasing guidance, not a market price forecast. Haili can discuss product and delivery options for the actual requirement; prices remain subject to confirmation for the specific transaction.
