What a Complete Pallet Quote Includes (and What Gets Left Out)
Getting a pallet quote sounds simple. Send a spec, get a price back, pick the lowest one. In practice, a lot of quotes leave things out, and those omissions show up on the invoice.
Here's what a complete pallet quote covers, and what to watch for when yours comes back short.
Delivered price vs. shop price
This is the one that catches buyers most often. A shop price is what the pallet costs at the supplier's dock. You still have to pay to get it to you. A delivered price includes freight to your door.
On a standard GMA 48x40, the spread between shop and delivered can be $1.50 to $3 per pallet depending on your location and the supplier's freight network. When you're comparing two quotes, make sure both numbers reflect the same thing. If one supplier quotes shop and one quotes delivered, you're not comparing the same thing.
See what standard pallet costs look like delivered.
Spec confirmation
Did the supplier actually read your spec?
A spec sheet covers grade, dimensions, deck board count and spacing, stringer vs. block construction, notching, heat treatment, and any marking requirements. A supplier who quotes without confirming every item is either assuming you want a standard configuration, or quoting what they have in stock and hoping it matches.
Before you treat any quote as final, ask for written confirmation of the spec they quoted. If something was assumed, find out what it was. How to write a complete pallet spec if you want a checklist to work from.
Lead time commitment
A lead time that says "5-7 business days" needs a starting point. Does that start when you place the order, when the supplier processes it, or when it ships? On a custom pallet or crate, that distinction can add a full week.
Custom pallet and crate lead times: what to expect.
Ask the supplier to be specific. If they say 5 days from order receipt and you need it by a certain date, get that in writing.
What happens when volume spikes
A quote is a snapshot of your normal order quantity. What happens when you need twice as many next month?
Some suppliers are rigid on lead times during peak periods. Others can flex, but at a higher price. Knowing this ahead of time matters if your business has any seasonality or production variability.
Ask: what's the maximum volume you can fill on standard lead time? What's the process and cost for a rush order?
Who answers the phone
When a shipment is wrong or a truck is late, who do you contact? A named account rep who knows your account is worth more than a general customer service queue.
Ask for the name of the person who will own your account. If the supplier can't answer that, it tells you something.
What to watch for in the fine print
- Grade substitution language: some suppliers reserve the right to substitute a lower grade if their stock is short. If your spec requires a specific grade, make sure the quote says so explicitly.
- Freight exceptions: "freight included" sometimes means "freight included except for accessorial charges." Ask what's covered and what triggers an extra charge.
- Minimum order requirements: some suppliers have minimums that aren't mentioned until you try to place a small order. Get the minimum in writing.
How Atlas approaches quoting
We quote delivered price, confirm every spec before sending a number, and give you a named contact on every account. If something in your spec was unclear, we'll ask before we quote, not after the pallets arrive.
Have a quote you want to compare, or a spec you want priced out? We'll turn it around the same day.
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