If you are a professional buyer of a company and planning to purchase a batch of good quality ratchet tie downs. So how do you evaluate whether the supplier’s quotation is competitive? In your normal operation, you may send inquiry to several suppliers for quote, and then put all prices into a table for comparison. But from technical point of view, do you really know the differences among the products of different suppliers? Let us bring you the breakdown cost items of ratchet tie down and with some details, then you probably will get professional knowledge about ratchet lashing straps.
The biggest cost of a tie down is actually the metal components which are normally include metal hooks and ratchet tensioner. To decide lashing capacity of a ratchet lashing belt is in fact the metal parts, not the strap. Deformation of hooks or ratchet comes before strap break in most of cases. Its cost relates to materials (such as Mild steel is normal, manganese steel or stainless steel, etc), weight, heat treatment and surface treatment. You must know which aspects are important for you, and which one is not. Then decide what do you want and what is an appropriate price.
The second part is woven strap cost. In first you should know the strap material. Is it PES(Polyester), or PP(Polypropylene) or PA (Polyamide, Nylon). From the quality point of view, Nylon is best, PES is little big better than PP. But from cost point of view, price of PES and PP are in a similar level, and they are almost half of Nylon’s. So, PES is the most cost-efficient material compared to the other two. Straps cost relates to its weight. The width and length of the belt are in direct proportion to the weight. What you have to know is the prices of PES, PP & PA is linked to the price of oil. Although strap cost is not a big part of a lashing ratchet, but it is still better to place order when oil price is low. In fact, strap color also impacts its cost. Normal black, grey, red, yellow, green, orange, blue is fight. But if you want brown or pink, it is no doubt that it will come with long lead-time and high cost. Some belts have reflective stripe. Please evaluate if the reflective stripe is necessary in you market since it cost quite much.
The third part is packing cost. You should know if you need rating label, storage band or bag. Do you need polybag plus header card, blister plus color insert, plastic rack with sticker label or maybe mail box with instruction manual? Clearly this cost is fluctuated depending on your packing solution.
And then supplier should add up manufacturing overhead. It includes labor costs such as assembly, sewing, packing and quality inspection. Also includes energy costs such as water and electricity, plant rent, equipment depreciation and taxes. It is no doubt that there is difference for this part between different supplier. But trust me, the gap is not so big if you are talking to suppliers from same area.
Finally, factory investor will demand reasonable profit. To be honest, ratchet tie down is a low-cost consumable product, market does not allow high profit. If you are inquiring a batch quantity, for example, one 20” container, then you can get a reasonable price in the first time. Don’t talk to your supplier for 10% even 30% discount. You will never get same quality product if someone say yes to you. Hope above information is valuable for you. Send mail to james@ql-tools.com if you are interested to our product.
