Shipping and insurance costs can sit outside the purchase scope when a written quotation presents them as separate customer charges rather than including them in the base purchase price. The U.S. International Trade Administration lists “Insurance and shipping costs” among quotation details and also lists “Total charges to be paid by customer.” However, the source does not establish that these costs must always be excluded; their treatment depends on the individual quotation.
Which costs should be checked separately?
| Cost or figure | What the cited guidance establishes | What the reader should check |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping | Shipping costs are listed as a quotation detail. | Whether shipping is included in the purchase price or shown as an additional charge. |
| Insurance | Insurance costs are listed as a quotation detail. | Whether insurance is included in the purchase price or itemized separately. |
| Total customer charges | The guidance lists the total amount payable by the customer. | Whether that total reflects all itemized charges, including shipping and insurance. |
A charge shown separately is not automatically outside the transaction. It may still form part of the total customer charges even though it is not included in the base purchase scope.
How to check a written quotation
- Identify the purchase scope. Determine which goods or services the quoted base price is intended to cover.
- Locate the individual charges. Look for shipping and insurance among the quotation details.
- Check whether they are bundled. Do not assume they are included merely because the quotation provides a total.
- Compare the itemization with the total. The listed total customer charges should be checked against the separate items to identify any ambiguity.
- Request written clarification where needed. The quotation should state whether shipping and insurance are included or additional and how they are reflected in the total.
What the reader must still confirm
The cited guidance does not provide a universal rule that shipping or insurance is always outside the purchase scope. It also does not specify payment deadlines, refund treatment, or other contract terms. Those matters—and whether either cost applies to a particular transaction—must be confirmed from the transaction’s own quotation and written terms.