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02 · DDP Basics and Trade Terms

Compare DDP Quotes

Compare China to USA DDP quotes on the same terms with a scope checklist, a worked comparison and a short message for clarifying costs before booking.

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Match the Delivery Scope

Before comparing a per-kilogram price, align the cargo data, named US delivery point, customs and duty arrangements, billing basis and exception charges. A cheaper quote to a transfer warehouse is not directly comparable with delivery to your final receiving warehouse. Ask for one written scope that explains the whole shipment.

Get the blank worksheet

Qianding Logistics Content Team · Updated

Compare Quote Coverage

Two China-to-U.S. freight quotes are only useful to compare when they describe the same shipment and the same service scope. A lower headline total does not automatically mean a lower final logistics cost.

First make sure both quotations use the same cargo facts: package count, packed weight, final dimensions, China pickup point, and U.S. destination. Then compare what each quotation says is included, excluded, or conditional.

  • Which pickup and origin services are included
  • Which international freight and destination services are included
  • Which items are specifically excluded
  • What additional charges can be triggered
  • How those additional charges are calculated and who is responsible
  • How long the quotation remains valid

Pay particular attention to blank fields or services that are not mentioned. A blank line does not necessarily mean the service is free or included. Ask for unclear items to be confirmed in writing before comparing totals.

The final comparison should be based on the same cargo, route, destination requirements, and written scope. Actual charges can only be confirmed against the current shipment and quotation.

Freight quote checklist separating included excluded and conditional charges
Illustrative graphic for shipment planning not a Qianding facility or customer shipment.

Receiving check

Unloading Scope

DDP delivery is to the named place ready for unloading; the buyer handles unloading under the rule.

Under the ICC Incoterms 2020 DDP rule, the seller delivers the import-cleared goods on the arriving means of transport, ready for unloading at the named place. The buyer is responsible for unloading. This responsibility split does not tell you whether a particular freight quote includes a liftgate, forklift, dock appointment, inside delivery or unloading labor.

Before booking, write the exact receiving point and confirm its hours, access limits and available equipment. If the receiving site cannot unload the vehicle or requires a special appointment, ask for that service and any related charge to be identified in the quotation.

Qianding concept graphic showing an open box truck at a receiving bay with palletized cargo still inside, illustrating DDP delivery ready for unloading. Qianding concept graphic viewed from a receiving warehouse toward an open truck with cargo still inside, illustrating arrival before buyer unloading.
Illustrative receiving scenes, not a Qianding facility, customer shipment or promise of a particular unloading service.

Confirm the receiving point

  • The exact named place and delivery address
  • Receiving hours and appointment requirements
  • Dock, liftgate, forklift or other equipment available
  • Vehicle-size, gate, road and access restrictions
  • Who unloads and which additional service is quoted

FAQ: Does DDP mean the driver must unload? No. Under the DDP rule, delivery is ready for unloading at the named place and the buyer unloads. Any additional unloading or receiving service must be confirmed in the actual logistics quotation.

Reference: ICC Academy explanation of DAP and DDP

Booking date check

Quote Validity

Compare the quotation validity with the date the cargo will actually be ready.

A freight quotation is tied to the shipment facts entered and the pricing conditions available when it is issued. Carrier quotation tools show that validity can be product-specific and that indicative pricing depends on current shipment details, tariffs and surcharges. That does not create one universal validity period for every Qianding or carrier quote.

If cargo becomes ready later than expected, confirm that the quoted package data, route, destination and validity still match the shipment before booking. An earlier estimate does not guarantee the same price, capacity, route or timing.

Qianding concept graphic showing an unfinished garment and a clock, asking whether the cargo will be ready while the freight quote is valid. Qianding concept graphic showing a metal date stamp and asking whether an old freight quote is still current for a new booking.
Timing concepts, not Qianding quotations or promises about a universal validity period.

Recheck before booking

  • Quotation number, issue date and stated expiry
  • Actual cargo-ready date
  • Final packed weight, dimensions and package count
  • Current origin, route and United States destination
  • Any revised tariff, surcharge or service condition

FAQ: How many days is a freight quote valid? There is no universal answer. Use the validity stated on the specific quotation and request an updated written quote when the cargo or booking date falls outside it.

DDP and Service Scope

Under Incoterms 2020, DDP assigns the seller import clearance and applicable import duty and tax obligations, with delivery at the named destination ready for unloading. It does not by itself oblige the seller to buy cargo insurance. Check the actual sales contract and the agreed delivery point.

Reference: ICC Academy explanation of DAP and DDP

A logistics quotation is a separate service document. The label DDP on a rate sheet is not enough to establish who performs each task or pays every invoice. Check the quoted service against the seller's delivery obligations and resolve any gap before booking. A freight quote should not be used to silently change a sale agreed on DDP terms.

Check Each Stage

Part of the shipmentSpecify in writingAvoid this ambiguity
China pickup and handlingPickup location, receiving, consolidation and any requested packing workPickup included with no collection area or handling scope
International transportMode, billing units, minimum charge and measured cargo basisA price per kg without a chargeable weight method
Import clearance and dutiesResponsible parties, duty and tax treatment and assumptions usedTax included with no explanation of the applicable shipment
US deliveryExact destination, appointment, pallet and unloading arrangementsDoor delivery that stops at an unspecified transfer point
Exceptions and validityCharge trigger, calculation method, payer and quote expiryAdditional fees as incurred without a way to verify them

Use One Cargo Version

Send each provider the same final or clearly marked estimated carton data. Note the product, carton count, gross weight, outer dimensions and destination. Where packing is not final, ask when the shipment will be remeasured and how a change affects the quoted amount.

Compare the requested services as well as the rate: supplier collection, mixed-carton work, labels, pallets, appointments and split delivery points. Keep the original rate sheet with its date so a later revision can be traced.

Understand air freight chargeable weight

A Quote Comparison

Illustrative example, not a customer shipment or a live offer: you need delivery to a US third-party logistics warehouse with a receiving appointment. Both providers receive the same carton data, but their proposals cover different work.

DifferenceProposals receivedClarify before comparing
Delivery endpointA ends at a transfer warehouse; B names your final warehouseAsk A to include the remaining delivery leg
Receiving appointmentA leaves it unspecified; B describes the arrangementConfirm the booking responsibility and any related charge
Final measurementA uses supplier estimates; B bills on warehouse measurementsAsk both for the billing method after final packing
Waiting chargesA says extra charges may apply; B states a trigger and billing basisAsk who authorizes changes and how costs will be evidenced

The table does not establish which provider is cheaper or better. First obtain comparable scopes and updated totals. Flexport's proposal guidance similarly recommends evaluating the wider spend rather than the base price alone.

Reference: Flexport on comparing logistics proposals

Keep Open Costs Visible

If an item cannot yet be priced, record it as unresolved rather than zero. For a possible exam, storage period or delivery change, ask what event triggers the charge and what evidence will support it. Do not assume every exceptional cost falls on the buyer merely because the freight quote lists an exclusion.

Separate the confirmed amount from conditional charges and unpriced work. Only compare confirmed totals once the requested services match. An unresolved item stays visible until its scope and treatment are agreed.

Review possible additional charges

Ask for Clarification

You can send this short checklist with a quote reference. Remove items already answered; there is no need to resend the full shipment file.

  • Please confirm the exact collection and delivery points covered by this quote.
  • Please show the billing weight or volume, minimum charge, currency and quote expiry.
  • Please explain the customs and duty arrangements and any assumptions that could change the amount.
  • Please confirm whether the requested labels, pallets, appointment and unloading arrangements are included.
  • For anything not yet priced, please state the trigger, billing basis and who would pay.
  • Please send the revised total and identify any point still awaiting confirmation.

Check the other questions to ask a freight partner

Compare Written Quotes

A blank comparison worksheet with separate spaces for price, scope and unresolved points. It contains no current freight rates.

Download worksheet Excel workbook with English and Chinese sheets

Common questions

Are import duties optional under DDP

Under the DDP rule, the seller is responsible for applicable import duties and taxes. Check whether the proposed logistics service actually supports that obligation instead of relying on the label alone.

Does DDP automatically include cargo insurance

No. DDP does not by itself require the seller to arrange insurance for the buyer. Ask separately about cover, exclusions and any claim procedure.

Does a quoted weight remain fixed after repacking

Not necessarily. Ask how the final measured weight and outer dimensions affect billing, and request an updated quote when the packing changes.

Should I choose the lowest price per kilogram

Only compare that figure after aligning billing rules and service scope. Different minimums, destinations or excluded work can change the total.

Who unloads the cargo under DDP

Under the DDP rule, the seller delivers the import-cleared goods at the named place ready for unloading; unloading is the buyer's responsibility. Confirm the actual receiving equipment, access, appointment and any separately quoted service before booking.

Can I book against an old freight quote when the cargo becomes ready later

Reconfirm the quote validity, current cargo details and cargo-ready date before booking. There is no universal validity period, and an earlier quote does not guarantee the same price, capacity, route or timing.

References

This guide is for shipment preparation and quote discussion. It is not legal, tax, or customs-compliance advice. The final plan depends on actual cargo data, US regulatory requirements, current route availability, and the written quotation.

Clarify your quote scope

Send the product and destination first. Mention any collection, receiving or delivery requirement that you want the quote to cover.

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