What Information Should You Send When Requesting a Slipper Quote

Every day we receive the same message: a product photo — sometimes not ours — and the word "Price?" We reply anyway, because that's the job. But the quote we send back to a buyer who sends one photo and one word is an estimate. The quote we send to a buyer who sends specifications is a commitment. Here's the difference — and what to include so your quote is accurate enough to make a decision on.

"Send Me Price" vs "Here's What I Need"

A factory that quotes from a photo alone is quoting their cheapest version of that design — basic material, basic packaging, no logo, no special colors. If you later add customization, the price changes. If you specified what you actually need upfront, the first quote is the real quote. No revisions. No surprises.

What to Include: The Five Pieces of Information That Get You an Accurate Quote

1. A Clear Product Reference

One photo of the product you want — ideally a front view and a sole view. If you have the factory's own product code or reference image from their catalog, use that. If you're sending a competitor's photo, say so. The factory can tell whether the product is theirs or someone else's. Being upfront about it builds trust and avoids an awkward conversation later.

If you want a variation — "this design, but with a different strap color" or "this sole, but thicker" — describe the variation. Don't assume the factory will infer it from the photo. They'll quote what's in the image.

2. Material: EVA or PVC, Virgin or Recycled

State the material. Not "whatever is cheaper." Your market determines the right material — EVA for comfort and lightness, PVC for durability and waterproofing — and the price difference between the two is significant enough to change the quote. Within each material, specify virgin or state your quality expectation. Virgin material costs more. Recycled costs less. You get what you pay for, and you should know which one you're paying for before comparing quotes.

3. Order Quantity

Not "a container." A specific number — 1,800 pairs, 3,600 pairs, 5,000 pairs. The unit price changes with quantity because fixed costs — mold amortization, machine setup, material batching — spread across more units. A quote at 500 pairs is a different per-pair price than the same product at 1,800 pairs. If you don't know your final quantity yet, provide a range: "1,800 to 3,000 pairs." The factory can quote both ends.

4. Target Market

Tell the factory which country or region you're selling into. This matters more than most buyers realize. Different markets have different requirements: Nigeria has high import duties that affect landed cost sensitivity. The Middle East has different color and design preferences. Southeast Asia has monsoon seasons that make waterproof properties critical. A factory that knows your market can recommend the right material grade, the right packaging for the climate, and the right design details. One that doesn't know your market is quoting blind.

5. Packaging Requirements

If you have a packaging specification — polybag only, polybag with hangtag, printed carton, individual box — state it. If you need your logo on the packaging, state that too. Packaging changes the unit price by $0.02 to $0.10 per pair depending on the option. If you don't specify, the factory quotes their default — polybag only. If you later request printed cartons, the price changes. Save the revision cycle by specifying upfront.

What Happens When You Send All Five

Five pieces of information. They take sixty seconds to type into a WhatsApp message. The difference between sending one and sending all five is the difference between a guess and a commitment.

Written by Guangdong Chongdi Slippers Factory, Wuchuan, China. We answer "price?" every day. We answer it better when you tell us what you're buying.