A buyer should compare the original and revised quotations side by side and record every addition, deletion, or change in wording. The core checks are the product description, stated price, shipment time, terms of sale, terms of payment, and total charges to be paid by the customer.
The U.S. International Trade Administration describes a quotation as stating the product, price, shipment time, terms of sale, and terms of payment. It also specifically lists total charges to be paid by the customer among the quotation details.
What should be compared?
| Quotation element | What the buyer should check |
|---|---|
| Product | Whether the revised product description is identical to the original or contains changed wording |
| Price | Whether the stated price has changed |
| Shipment time | Whether the stated shipment time has changed |
| Terms of sale | Whether any condition in the sale terms has been added, removed, or reworded |
| Terms of payment | Whether the payment timing, method, or other stated conditions have changed |
| Total customer charges | Whether the total amount the customer is required to pay has changed |
How should the comparison be made?
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Keep both versions clearly identifiable. Label one as the original and the other as the revision so that their wording and amounts are not confused.
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Compare each field before focusing only on the total. A revised total may appear unchanged even though the product, shipment time, sale terms, or payment terms have been altered.
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Read changed wording closely. Substitutions are as important as numerical changes: two differently worded clauses may place different conditions on the transaction.
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Reconcile the total customer charges. Compare the total in the revision with the charges stated in the document. If the quotation does not provide enough detail to verify that total, the difference remains unresolved.
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Request clarification of every material change. A changed field should not be treated as explained merely because another field remains unchanged. The written clarification should identify which wording or amount was replaced and what now applies.
What must the buyer still confirm?
The buyer must personally confirm that:
- the revised product description matches the intended purchase;
- the revised shipment time is acceptable;
- the sale and payment terms are acceptable;
- the total customer charges reconcile with the amounts shown; and
- each term from the original was either retained or intentionally replaced.
The cited agency material does not prescribe an acceptance process or a method for resolving conflicting revisions. The buyer therefore still needs to verify the complete revised wording and obtain direct clarification wherever the two quotations differ.