Parts sourcing between trade buyers and suppliers does not behave like retail checkout, and it should not try to. Between a part list and a shipment there are four things that must be settled — part number, quality tier, availability and freight — and each one changes what the final price is.
This page sets out the sequence we follow. It is deliberately unglamorous: the point is that nothing is charged until the details are confirmed in writing.
Step 1 — Send the enquiry
A usable first message contains, in order of usefulness:
- Part numbers — as a list, one per line. Paste them; do not retype them.
- Quantities, if you know them. Quantities change the price.
- Vehicle details or VIN, for anything you could not identify by number.
- Destination — country and, ideally, city or port. Freight cannot be quoted without it.
Photos are welcome and often the fastest route when a number is unreadable. If a number is ambiguous, say so — that is far better than an order placed against a guessed part.
Step 2 — Quotation
We match the list against OE references, check availability with our suppliers, and reply with:
- the confirmed part number and what it cross-references to;
- the quality tiers available and the price of each — see the four tiers if that wording is new to you;
- lead time and the freight cost to your destination;
- any substitution we are proposing, flagged as such rather than applied silently.
Typical response time is within 24 hours for a standard part list. Oversized items (bumpers, body panels) and mixed-brand lists can take longer to price accurately.
Step 3 — Confirmation locks the price
When you confirm the quotation, the price is locked. That matters on parts where supplier prices move: the number you agreed is the number you are invoiced at, and it does not drift between confirmation and dispatch.
If a supplier cannot supply after confirmation, the correct response is to tell you — not to ship a different tier. Where a change is unavoidable we will contact you before anything is packed. The only circumstance in which a price moves after confirmation is a defect found on inspection, which is documented and reported.
Step 4 — Packing and shipping
Parts are packed for export, not for a shelf: body panels and lights are crated, small components are boxed and labelled by part number so a mixed order can be checked against the packing list on arrival. Where an order mixes heavy and fragile items, the two are packed separately.
Freight is quoted before dispatch, by air or sea depending on the deadline and the volumetric weight. Once a shipment leaves, tracking is issued and you can follow the order's progress on the enquiry tracking page using your enquiry reference.
Step 5 — Settlement
Settlement terms are agreed per order and confirmed in writing before dispatch. Depending on the buyer relationship this may be payment against a confirmed invoice, or settlement terms extended to approved trade accounts.
Two practical points for buyers new to importing:
- Ask for the full landed figure — goods, packing and freight together — rather than comparing goods prices across suppliers. A lower unit price with higher freight is a worse deal, and it is the most common comparison mistake we see.
- Confirm what documents you need for your own customs and accounting, and tell us before dispatch. It is far easier to issue them with the shipment than to reconstruct them afterwards.
Next step
Send your part list, quantities and destination, and we will reply with the matched numbers, the quality tiers and the landed cost. If you are still assembling the list, start with the OE numbers — that step is what makes the rest of the process quick.