Unit price is not the full cost
The useful purchasing number is the cost of getting sellable inventory into your business. Shipping, possible duties, payment charges, packaging, and defective items can change the economics.
Create a cost worksheet
Record item price, quantity, freight, duties or brokerage if applicable, packaging, and other transaction charges.
Calculate per-unit cost
Divide the total attributable purchase cost by the number of sellable units received.
Check current import rules
US import duties and requirements can change. Confirm classification and applicable rules with qualified customs resources or a broker.
Create a shipment-level cost sheet
Start with merchandise and sample charges, then add freight, insurance, payment fees, applicable duties, brokerage and delivery to your premises. Allocate shared shipment costs using a consistent method, such as weight or item value, and record that method.
Check the import assumptions
Ask who is importer of record and what delivery terms apply. Customs classification, origin and current US import rules can affect the final amount; obtain qualified customs advice for a material order. Do not assume a supplier quote includes every border charge.
Before you commit to an order
Use this short decision record to keep the purchase tied to the specific products and terms you have actually checked.
- Write down the exact product specification relevant to wholesale jewelry landed cost and keep the supplier’s written confirmation.
- Calculate the total cost for your actual quantity and US delivery address, not just the advertised unit price.
- Approve a representative sample and agree on how discrepancies, damage and replacements will be handled.
- Retain the quote, order confirmation and sample notes so the next order can be checked against the same standard.
Example: a decision that changes the order
Two suppliers quote identical merchandise totals, but one shipment requires separate brokerage and delivery charges. The final per-unit landed costs will differ.
Use the example as a question to resolve with the supplier, not as a claim about any particular merchant’s current stock or policies. Save the answer alongside the approved sample and final quote.
A worked landed-cost example
Suppose a hypothetical order contains 100 pieces at $12 each, $140 in freight, $35 in payment and handling charges, and $75 in applicable customs and brokerage charges. The shipment costs $1,450 before any domestic preparation. If five pieces are unsellable and no credit is received, the effective inventory cost is $1,450 ÷ 95, or about $15.26 per sellable piece. These are illustrative numbers, not a duty quote or a SilverBene price. Recalculate using your actual invoice, classification, origin, delivery terms, and sellable quantity.
Separate quoted costs from unknown costs
Ask whether the supplier quote is EXW, FOB, DAP, DDP, or another agreed delivery term, and obtain its exact meaning for your shipment. Record who pays international freight, import clearance, duties, taxes, and final delivery. A shipment advertised as shipping included may still leave the buyer with customs-related charges. Do not estimate a US duty rate from the jewelry's retail description; the correct tariff classification, material composition, country of origin, and rules in effect at entry matter.
Use landed cost in a reorder decision
Maintain a worksheet by SKU with invoice currency, exchange rate actually paid, unit quantity, freight allocation, charges, received quantity, rejects, and credits. Compare landed cost with realistic selling price after marketplace fees, packaging, returns, and marketing. If the order works only when every item sells at full price, test a smaller quantity or revise the assortment. For material imports, consult a licensed customs broker and current US Customs and Border Protection guidance.
Explore a wholesale supplier
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