A useful request for quotation (RFQ) lets a supplier price the same tape you intend to order. “Logo tape for shipping boxes” leaves out the carton, print file, quantity and delivery details that change a quote. Use the checklist below to prepare one brief that purchasing, design and the packing team can all review.
Start with the configuration you can actually order
BrandTapeCo’s standard online custom-printed water-activated tape is offered in 48 mm or 60 mm width, 50 m per roll. The online minimum is five rolls for each design and color configuration. A different printed width, including 72 mm, is not offered. If you need a different roll length, contact sales with the requested length and quantity so they can assess feasibility and provide a separate written quote; it is not a standard online option or a guaranteed service.
Choose kraft paper or reinforced kraft paper according to the cartons and packing process you will actually use. Reinforcement should not be treated as proof that any specific box or shipping route will pass a performance test. If you have a load or handling requirement, describe it and ask how to evaluate a sample on your own cartons.
Copy this RFQ brief
Fill in one line for each item. If a detail is undecided, say “to confirm” rather than allowing different suppliers to assume different specifications.
- Carton and use: carton dimensions, board type, approximate packed weight, closure pattern, hand or machine application, and shipping destination. State whether the tape will seal one center seam or another layout.
- Tape: 48 mm or 60 mm; kraft paper or reinforced kraft paper; standard 50 m roll. If considering both widths or materials, request separate quote lines rather than mixing them into one price.
- Print: one-color, two-color or full-color artwork; number of distinct designs and color configurations; the final logo file, intended print direction and color references. Ask the supplier to confirm how the art will repeat and what a cut at the end of a strip may show.
- Quantity: rolls per design/color configuration and total rolls. For a standard online order, budget at least five rolls for each configuration; one design in two colorways counts as two configurations. If your brief is for a larger procurement order, ask for a written quantity-specific quotation.
- Delivery: country, postal code, delivery address type, desired arrival date and whether shipment must be split. Ask for shipping cost and transit estimate separately from production time.
- Approval: who can approve the artwork proof, which file revision is final, and whether you need a physical sample before a production order. Do not assume a digital proof demonstrates real-world adhesion or color on your carton.
Ask for a comparable written response
Request a quote that repeats the selected width, material, roll length, print method, design/color count and quantity on each line. It should identify the unit and total price, any setup or artwork charges, shipping charge, destination and payment terms. If a supplier proposes an alternative, ask them to label the change rather than quietly substituting it into the same line.
For timing, separate proof preparation, production after approval and transit. BrandTapeCo’s published guidance is that a usable-artwork proof is typically prepared about one business day after the order and usable files are received; production is typically five to seven business days after proof approval. Those are typical stages, not a promised arrival date. Confirm the order-specific schedule in writing, especially before a promotion or stockout.
Compare the delivered cost, not just price per roll
When you compare quotations, check whether each one is for the same roll length, number of rolls, material, print configuration and delivery destination. A lower per-roll number can be misleading if it excludes setup, freight or a second colorway. Standard online configurations spread setup across at least five rolls; a specially quoted single roll can cost more than the entire standard five-roll order. Do not infer a one-roll bargain from a “sample” discussion—ask what is being supplied, whether it is printed, and what it costs.
Before approval: a short receiving plan
Keep the approved proof and quote with the purchase order. On delivery, check roll count, width, material, print version and visible damage against that record. Test an actual strip on the cartons and with the dispenser and water setting your team will use. Record the carton, application conditions and result if the seal or print does not meet your requirement; that evidence is more useful than a vague “tape failed” complaint.
Ready to send the brief? Check the current standard tape options, then contact the sales team for any order-specific question or different roll-length feasibility review.
