Shipping & Commercial Terms / B2B purchasing
RFID Shipping & Incoterms: Plan Costs and Delivery
Compare an RFID quotation using the same product specification, named place and Incoterms version. Separate production readiness from carrier transit and customs. Confirm who arranges transport, where risk transfers, and who handles destination clearance before approving the order.
01 / Compare a named delivery term
Agree the place where delivery and risk transfer occur
State the rule, a precise named place or port and the version in the quotation. Freight cost and delivery risk can move at different points. The summaries below explain normal delivery arrangements under Incoterms® 2020; confirm the selected rule and agreed obligations in the sales contract.
Swipe the table to compare responsibilities.
| Term / transport | Delivery and risk transfer | Carriage and clearance |
|---|---|---|
| EXWAny transport mode | Goods are made available at the named collection point, before loading onto the collecting vehicle. | Buyer arranges carriage and export/import clearance. Confirm who can perform export formalities at the origin. |
| FCAAny transport mode | At the seller’s premises: loaded onto the buyer’s collecting vehicle. At another agreed point: on the seller’s vehicle, ready for unloading and at the nominated carrier’s disposal. | Seller handles export clearance. Buyer arranges onward carriage and import clearance. Identify the exact handover point. |
| FOBSea or inland waterway only | Goods are on board the buyer-nominated vessel at the named port of shipment. | Seller clears export. Buyer arranges main carriage and import clearance. Use a suitable any-mode rule for courier or air shipments. |
| CIFSea or inland waterway only | Risk passes when the goods are on board at the shipment port, even though the seller pays carriage to the named destination port. | Seller clears export and pays main freight and minimum cargo insurance. Buyer clears import; check destination and unloading charges separately. |
| DAPAny transport mode | Goods reach the named destination on the arriving vehicle, ready for unloading. | Seller arranges carriage and export clearance. Buyer handles unloading, import clearance and applicable import duties/taxes. |
| DDPAny transport mode | Goods reach the named destination, import-cleared and on the arriving vehicle, ready for unloading. | Seller handles carriage, export/import clearance and applicable import duties/taxes. Buyer unloads. Quote only after the seller confirms it can fulfil these obligations. |
Choose a term that fits the transport
FOB and CIF are sea or inland-waterway rules. For courier, air or a handover to a container carrier before vessel loading, discuss a suitable any-mode term such as FCA or DAP. Confirm the collection facility or handover point; the company’s office address is not automatically the dispatch warehouse.
Insurance and unloading need explicit scope
Of the six rules compared here, CIF requires the seller to arrange cargo insurance for the buyer, at the rule’s minimum cover. Confirm exclusions, insured value and any additional coverage needed. For other quoted rules, agree who arranges insurance. For DAP and DDP, confirm any unloading cost included in the carriage contract; the delivery point remains ready for unloading and the buyer takes unloading risk.
Write the named place into the quotation
These are format examples to complete with agreed locations:
- FCA [agreed collection address or carrier handover point], Incoterms® 2020
- DAP [receiving address, postcode and country], Incoterms® 2020
FOB names the shipment port; CIF names the destination port while the shipment port and on-board handover also need to be clear. A term does not determine the product specification, payment method, title to the goods or tariff rate. See ICC’s Incoterms 2020 questions and answers.
02 / Work back from arrival
Keep production, transit and clearance visible in the schedule
Agree when production lead time starts, then record readiness, transport and receipt as separate milestones.
Swipe the table to compare timing stages.
| Stage | Planning baseline | What the estimate covers |
|---|---|---|
| Production readiness | 7–15 business days | Standard planning baseline after order inputs and applicable payment conditions are agreed. Tooling, materials, personalization, inspection or changes may need a different schedule. |
| Transport | 2–5 days for DHL / FedEx express as a planning estimate | Starts after carrier collection. Confirm the destination service; airfreight, sea freight and consolidation require their own route quotation. |
| Local clearance and receipt | Destination-specific | Allow for import formalities, destination handling, remote delivery or receiving appointments. A dispatch date or transit estimate does not guarantee the receiving date. |
Include the destination postcode, required arrival date and any installation deadline in the inquiry. Rush production available on request; availability and the achievable schedule are confirmed before acceptance.
03 / Prepare shipment release
Align packaging, documents and payment with the order
Packaging and batch identification
Specify quantities per carton or roll, SKU and lot separation, carton marks, packing-list references, handling requirements and any encoding-report handover. Confirm packed weight and dimensions so the freight quote reflects the finished shipment.
Export and import documents
Agree the commercial invoice, packing list and carrier document, plus any origin or product-compliance evidence required for the actual article and destination. Ask the importer or customs representative to confirm classification and applicable charges. A generic tariff code or chip certificate does not establish the treatment of every finished card, tag or reader.
Payment is agreed separately from the Incoterm
- Standard production
- 30% T/T deposit, 70% balance before shipment
- Established accounts
- L/C at sight or 50/50 terms for established accounts; agreed account by account.
- Small sample orders
- PayPal accepted for sample orders under $500
Confirm the deposit, balance or documentary-credit conditions together with specification approval and shipment release. Do not assume a deposit alone resolves missing artwork, chip availability or personalization requirements.
Review the quality-control process and sample policy when defining approval and inspection checkpoints.
From Quote To Dispatch
Build the shipment plan before goods are ready
The sequence coordinates the order and logistics responsibilities. It does not assign one total duration to different products, routes or clearance processes.
Confirm the quote basis
Agree the product and packing scope, delivery point and transport mode. Record the Incoterms version and the quoted cost inclusions so alternative quotations can be compared on the same basis.
Allocate transport and clearance
Identify the carrier or forwarder arrangement, insurance where required, and the party handling import formalities. Resolve whether the requested destination arrangement can actually be performed before accepting it.
Confirm readiness and shipment release
Complete the agreed specification and artwork approvals, production checks and release conditions. Keep the production-ready date separate from the booked transport and estimated arrival.
Check documents and dispatch details
Match the commercial invoice, packing list and shipment identifiers to the actual goods. Confirm the consignee, handling notes and applicable transport documents, then coordinate tracking and receipt with the responsible parties.
Shipment Planning Brief
Settle these details before booking transport
Use the same brief for the supplier, forwarder and receiving team. Record unresolved items before the shipment is released.
- Provide the destination country, full delivery location, consignee and receiving contact, plus any delivery appointment requirements.
- State the requested Incoterms rule, precise named place or port and version, and the actual transport mode.
- Identify who arranges the main carriage and insurance, and list which origin, destination and handling charges are included.
- Confirm the responsible importer or clearance party and the product and shipment information needed for its customs review.
- Agree packing, SKU or encoded-lot separation, carton marks, document requirements and the inspection or acceptance records needed before dispatch.
- Align specification approval, production readiness, payment and release conditions with the transport plan; distinguish estimated arrival from any expressly agreed delivery commitment.
Share specifications and non-sensitive examples. Keep live access keys, credential dumps, member records and account credentials out of the inquiry.
Request a quotation with a clear delivery scope
Share the product configuration, quantities, destination, preferred transport and requested trade term. We will confirm the proposed cost scope, responsibilities and schedule for that shipment.
Plan Your Delivery QuoteBuyer questions
Freight, risk and delivery terms
What should an RFID shipping quotation specify?
State the product and packing specification, quantities, transport mode, Incoterms rule, precise named place or port and rule version. Identify freight, insurance and handling inclusions and who handles import clearance. Agree payment, product acceptance and scheduling separately. A term such as FCA or DAP without the named point leaves the handover unclear.
Should I use FOB or CIF for an air or courier shipment?
FOB and CIF are sea or inland-waterway rules, so they should not label an air or express-courier shipment. FCA is usable with any transport mode and includes seller export clearance; its precise delivery point determines the handover and loading obligations. Agree a suitable rule with the supplier and forwarder for the actual route.
If the seller pays the freight, does the seller carry the risk until arrival?
Not necessarily. Under CIF, the seller pays carriage and provides the required minimum insurance to the named destination port, but risk normally transfers when the goods are loaded on board at the shipment port. Freight payment and risk transfer are separate. Confirm the selected rule, insurance coverage and exact delivery point instead of inferring risk from the freight payer.
Who handles import duties, taxes and unloading under DAP or DDP?
Under DAP, the buyer handles import clearance and applicable import duties or taxes. Under DDP, those import obligations sit with the seller. Both deliver at the named destination ready for unloading, with unloading risk on the buyer; check the carriage contract to avoid paying an unloading charge twice. DDP availability must be confirmed for the destination and actual shipment before it is quoted.
How should I distinguish production timing from shipping time?
Production or sample preparation begins from the agreed ready inputs, not simply the first inquiry. Agree the configuration, artwork, inspection and payment requirements for release, then plan transport from dispatch. The sample-carrier estimate is DHL / FedEx express, 2–5 days; it is not a guaranteed arrival time and does not establish the transit time for every bulk order. Destination clearance and delivery arrangements can add time.
What payment terms apply to RFIDAK orders?
Standard terms are 30% T/T deposit, 70% balance before shipment (telegraphic transfer / bank wire). L/C at sight or 50/50 terms for established accounts; these options require account-specific agreement. PayPal accepted for sample orders under $500. Confirm the applicable payment and release conditions in the quotation. Selecting an Incoterms rule does not by itself select a payment method or change those terms.