Quick answer: A hand carry hard case quote splits into six blocks — shell, handle set, hardware, foam, assembly, packing — with tooling amortised separately. An 8 CNY gap between two bids almost always sits in wall thickness or hardware, and rework usually costs more than the saving. Fix MOQ, mould ownership, lead time and payment terms before negotiating price.
Table of contents
- How the Unit Cost of a Hand Carry Hard Case Splits
- Where MOQ Sticks: Mould, Hardware, Foam
- Six Milestones From Sample to Shipment
- Four Quote Traps and Payment Terms
- FAQ
1. How the Unit Cost of a Hand Carry Hard Case Splits
Two suppliers quote one size: 168 and 160 CNY. The instinct is to push both to 155; the useful question is where the 8 CNY went, because the structure of a hand carry hard case is fixed and every saving lands on one block.
The shell takes over half and reacts sharply to wall thickness. Dropping from 3.6 mm to 3.0 mm removes 0.42 kg of material, worth 4.6 CNY at 11 CNY per kilogram. The rest of the gap usually sits in foam density or latch alloy.
| Cost block | Basis | Share | What gets missed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shell and lid | Per piece | 52% | Wall thickness, regrind ratio |
| Handle set | Per set | 9% | Bolt-on versus moulded-in |
| Hinges and latches | Per set | 11% | 304 versus 201 stainless |
| Foam | Per piece | 14% | EVA at 45 or 60 kg/m³ |
| Assembly | Per piece | 7% | Glue, foam fit, labels |
| Packing and freight | Per batch | 4% | Crates, pallets, marks |
2. Where MOQ Sticks: Mould, Hardware, Foam
MOQ is not a capacity question; it is three thresholds stacked.
Tooling is the first: 18,000 CNY spread over 150 pieces adds 120 CNY each, over 1,200 pieces only 15 CNY. Hardware is the second: latches and hinges start at 3,000 sets, and below that suppliers either decline or add 3 CNY per set. Foam is the third: EVA is cut from full sheets and a die costs 600 CNY.
| Quantity | Shell price | Tooling share | Landed unit price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 | 168 CNY | 120 CNY | 288 CNY |
| 300 | 160 CNY | 60 CNY | 220 CNY |
| 600 | 152 CNY | 30 CNY | 182 CNY |
| 1,200 | 146 CNY | 15 CNY | 161 CNY |
The economic batch sits between 400 and 700 pieces; beyond that each extra piece saves three or five CNY while inventory and colour-lot risk climb. Below 200, buying the mould outright beats amortising it.
3. Six Milestones From Sample to Shipment
Never accept a single number for lead time. Break it into milestones: drawing sign-off 3 days, tooling 12, trial shots 5, sampling 9, production 18, inspection and dispatch 4.
- Drawing sign-off, 3 days, latch positions and handle cut-outs
- Tooling, 12 days, frame and inserts in place
- Trial shots, 5 days, shrinkage read 24 hours after cooling
- Sampling, 9 days, one salt spray round and one drop round
- Production, 18 days, scheduled in 500-piece batches
- Inspection and dispatch, 4 days, packing list and marks
Sampling slips most often. Plants slot sample runs into gaps between production orders, and peak season pushes them back. Put the sampling date in the contract with a 0.5% sample fee penalty per day late; it works better than reminders.
4. Four Quote Traps and Payment Terms
Four things hide in a clean quote. A set price bundles shell, foam and hardware, so bids cannot be compared. Tooling folded into the unit price cannot move to another plant. Packing quoted per piece but charged per batch. Inspection billed separately at 800 CNY per round.
Payment terms move cash more than price does. The usual structure is 20% deposit and the balance at 45 days monthly, with tooling paid alongside and ownership in the contract annex. A supplier asking for full payment before shipment will usually drop another 3 CNY, but you surrender the right to inspect.
Rework belongs in the comparison sheet. One rejected case costs about 26 CNY: 12 to refit the handle, 6 to re-inspect, 8 for freight. A supplier thinning the wall to 3.0 mm fails 8% of drop tests, so 1,000 pieces bring 80 reworks and 2.1 CNY per unit.
Conclusion
A hand carry hard case is compared on how well the quote comes apart, not the headline price. Six cost blocks, three MOQ thresholds, six milestones and four traps on one sheet show where 8 CNY went. Fold rework into the unit price and the cheapest bid is rarely the cheapest case; with mould ownership in the annex, the price of a hand carry hard case falls year after year.
This article discusses only the container (case body) side of specifications and design intent, and does not cover any handling, loading or use of the contents.
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