Is the Cheaper Quote Still Cheaper After Delivery?
The problem: A quote for stone-coated metal roofing delivered to port can look cheaper than one that includes delivery to your warehouse. Even the landed cost per square metre can mislead if one supplier uses the tile’s full dimensions and the other uses the area it covers after overlap.
Illustrative example: A distributor in Laguna, Philippines, accepts a quote that is 8% lower than a competing offer for delivery to their warehouse. The cheaper quote says “freight included” but doesn’t specify where delivery ends or which charges it covers. When the tiles reach the Port of Manila, the distributor has to pay separately for terminal handling and trucking to Laguna. The order ends up costing 5% more than the warehouse-delivered offer they turned down. If the distributor has already agreed a resale price with their dealer, a cost increase of just a few percent can turn a small profit into a loss.
How HOMATE helps: When we prepare your quote, we’ll go through the product details with you, from the tile profile and effective coverage to matching accessories and packing. Drawing on our export experience, we’ll compare freight costs and transit times with you and recommend the shipping option that best fits your budget and schedule. Your quote will show how far delivery is covered and which charges you still need to budget for. We want to earn your business beyond the first shipment by helping you serve your own customers well enough to win their next order.
What Happens If Your Project Needs Just a Few More Packs?
The problem: A full container may make sense for the first order. An extension to the same roof may need only a few packs, and the contractor needs to know both whether they match and when they can reach the site.
Example: A Nigerian distributor supplies HOMATE Bond tiles for the first phase of a project. The contractor then adds a canopy beside the finished roof. The distributor still has the original colour code, but needs to check whether the extra packs are from the same batch before promising a match.
How HOMATE helps: HOMATE has a local warehouse in Nigeria. Send us the original order reference, colour code, batch label, extra quantity and delivery city so we can check local availability first. If the available packs are from another batch, compare a sample with the original. Confirm the site delivery date separately. If local stock can’t cover your reorder, we’ll do everything we can to arrange production at our factory. We’ll work with you to find the shipping option that best fits your order size, budget and site deadline.
What Should You Ask to See Before Your Tiles Leave the Factory?
The problem: A signed sample shows what you approved. It doesn’t show what went into production. If you discover a difference only after delivery, you may already have promised those materials to your customer.
Example: An Australian construction-company owner described importing building materials, including windows, doors and joinery. Some samples looked good, but the bulk goods that arrived were different. The company eventually set up its own product testing and quality checks. The owner said this helped them avoid problems they had faced on earlier orders.
How HOMATE helps: We manufacture our stone-coated roofing tiles in our own factory. Before your order ships, we’ll send you photos and video showing it being inspected. Agree with us beforehand on the details you want recorded, such as the production tiles beside your approved sample, a thickness measurement or the batch markings on the pallets. You’re also welcome to appoint a third-party inspector to check the goods at our factory before they ship.