Request a bulk quote
Tell us what you need to source. We route your inquiry to 1–5 verified suppliers in the right craft cluster and reply within 1 business day. No spam, no commission to you.
What to put in the brief
Six lines separate an RFQ that returns a firm price from one that returns "please share more details".
- 1
Name the product and the finish, not just the craft
"Brass planters" gets a range; "raw brass planter, 8in, antique-dipped finish, unlacquered" gets a price. Finish and surface treatment often move unit cost more than size does.
- 2
Give a quantity and say whether it can flex
Exporters price in production batches. A firm 500 pcs quotes lower than "maybe 300–1000". If your volume is genuinely uncertain, ask for a price ladder at two or three break points.
- 3
State your Incoterm and destination port
FOB Nhava Sheva, CIF Rotterdam and DDP a UK warehouse are different numbers. Without a destination the exporter cannot cost freight, and you will get an ex-works price you can't compare.
- 4
Set the target landed cost, not the target FOB
Work back from your shelf price through duty, freight and your own margin. Sharing the landed target lets an exporter tell you honestly whether the spec is achievable or whether the material has to change.
- 5
Say when you need it on the water
Handicraft lead times run 4–10 weeks ex-works before freight, and Indian clusters slow sharply around Diwali and the IHGF fair weeks. A date lets the exporter tell you if the season works.
- 6
Ask for the sample terms up front
Most Indian exporters charge for samples and credit the fee against a bulk order. Agree the golden sample and a photo-approval sheet before production — it is your only defence in a variation dispute later.
What happens after you submit
We read the brief, pick the cluster, and shortlist verified exporters who already make something close to your spec.
Quotes come back with MOQ, unit price at your Incoterm, lead time and sample terms — directly from the exporter, not marked up by us.
You deal with the exporter directly: samples, golden-sample approval, PI and payment terms. We stay available if a shortlist needs widening.
Quoting FAQ
How many suppliers will see my RFQ?+
Between one and five, all in the craft cluster your specification points at. We do not broadcast inquiries to a directory — a brief sent to fifty exporters gets fifty low-effort replies. Where a listing on this site is indicative rather than verified, we route you to a verified exporter in the same cluster instead.
Does GreenFlip charge buyers a commission?+
No. Buyers pay nothing to raise an RFQ and we do not add a margin to the exporter's price. You contract directly with the exporter, on their paper, with their bank details.
What payment terms should I expect on a first order?+
A first order from an Indian exporter is usually 30% advance by TT with the balance against a scanned bill of lading, or an irrevocable LC at sight for larger values. Exporters need an AD Code registered at your port of loading and will file for a BRC/eBRC once paid, so expect them to insist on documented bank transfers rather than informal channels. Open account terms come after a track record, not on order one.
Can I order a sample before committing to a bulk run?+
Yes, and you should. Sample runs of 1–5 units are normal; the fee is typically credited against your first bulk order. Approve a golden sample in writing and keep it — inherent handmade variation and a genuine defect are only distinguishable against an agreed reference.
What if I don't know exactly what I want yet?+
Send the use case and the budget. "Corporate gifting, 2,000 units, under $6 landed, needs our logo" is a workable brief even without a product chosen — exporters will propose lines that fit the number.