Two quotes for "crystal skulls" can look comparable and be nothing of the sort. This is a framework for getting to a real comparison.
Start with price per kilogram
In carved stone, price per kilogram is the industry's common language and the only sensible starting point for comparison.
If one supplier quotes $500 for ten pieces and another quotes $700, you have learned almost nothing. If one quotes $60/kg and the other $95/kg, you now have something to work with.
Ask every supplier for USD per piece and USD per kilogram, and the finished weight the per-kg figure is based on. If a supplier resists quoting per kilogram, that is informative.
Then normalise for the things that move the number
Once you have per-kg pricing, adjust for:
| Variable | Why it changes the comparison |
|---|---|
| Material | Quartz, jasper, obsidian and labradorite are not the same market |
| Finished weight | A "10-piece order" at 1.3 lb each is a very different order from one at 2.6 lb each |
| Size | Larger sound blocks are scarcer, so large pieces carry a higher per-kg price |
| Carving detail | Standard form versus detailed features and added design elements |
| Finish quality | A genuine high-gloss polish costs more time than a matte finish |
| Inspection standard | Individual inspection versus batch sampling |
| Packaging | Bulk carton versus individual retail box |
| Incoterm | EXW, FOB and DDP are not comparable prices |
That last one catches people constantly. A DDP price includes freight and duties; an EXW price does not. Comparing them directly will lead you to pick the wrong supplier.
The dimensions most buyers forget
- Freight basis. Carved stone ships on actual or volumetric weight, whichever is greater. Ask for carton dimensions and packed weight, and calculate it yourself.
- Damage rate and remedy. What happens when pieces arrive chipped — and who pays?
- Lead time. Confirmed per order, or a generic figure that will not hold?
- Response speed. How long did the quote take? That is a preview of how the order will go.
- Sampling policy. Is a sample available, what does it cost, and is it credited against the order?
- Payment terms. 30/70 T/T, or something that puts all the risk on you?
- MOQ structure. Per design, or per order with mixing allowed? This single difference can halve the size of a workable first order.
- Material disclosure. Will they tell you what the material actually is, and whether it has been treated?
A comparison worked through
Suppose you have two quotes for a mixed 10-piece order:
Supplier A — $950 DDP, 10 pieces averaging 2.4 lb, mixed materials, individual boxes, 40-day lead time, MOQ 10 per order with mixing allowed, quotes per kg on request.
Supplier B — $820 FOB, 10 pieces averaging 2.0 lb, single material, bulk carton, 25-day lead time, MOQ 10 per design.
On headline price B looks 14% cheaper. But:
- B's pieces are lighter, so you are getting less stone per dollar.
- B is FOB, so you are paying freight on top — likely $150–250 for that volume.
- B requires 10 pieces per design, so a mixed order is not actually possible at this price.
- B's carton is bulk, so add retail packaging.
Once normalised, A may well be the cheaper and more flexible option — and it is certainly the one that lets you test multiple materials in one order.
This is why the comparison framework matters more than the number.
Questions that reveal the most
- What is the exact finished weight and L × W × H of the pieces in this quote?
- Is every piece inspected individually, or by batch sampling?
- What is the carton dimension and packed weight per carton?
- Is this EXW, FOB or DDP?
- Is your MOQ per order or per design, and can I mix materials?
- How long will my specific order actually take?
- What is your remedy if pieces arrive damaged?
- Can you confirm material and any treatment from supplier records?
A supplier who answers all eight plainly, quickly and in writing is a better commercial partner than one with a lower number and vague answers.
Do not optimise only on price
The cheapest supplier is only cheapest if the pieces arrive intact, match the specification, and can be reordered at the same quality. Otherwise the saving is consumed by returns, remakes and the time you spent managing it.
What to weigh alongside price:
- Consistency across repeat orders
- Willingness to document specifications
- Responsiveness during the order, not just before it
- Whether they disclose material honestly
How we quote
We quote per order, expressed per piece and per kilogram, with the material, finished weight and specification stated. Our MOQ is 10 pieces per order with designs and materials mixed freely — because forcing a buyer to take ten of one design is not a term that helps anyone.
Tell us what you are comparing and we will quote on the same basis so the numbers are actually comparable. Request a quote.