Many budget overruns on a purchase come from downstream. The negotiated price was EXW; freight, insurance, handling, export packing and sometimes customs were missing. Comparing an ex-works price with a delivered price is comparing two currencies without an exchange rate.
Choosing the incoterm is first a risk decision. FCA gives you control of the freight and its cost but transfers liability early. DAP simplifies operations but concentrates power with the supplier. DDP is comfortable and almost always the most expensive. We decide based on your volume, your ability to negotiate freight, and your acceptable risk level.
Inside the EU, most of the work is documentary. The supplier’s VAT number must be valid in VIES on the invoice date, proof of transport must be kept, and the reverse-charge wording must be correct. A badly drafted invoice turns an exempt transaction into a tax assessment.
Finally we organise the shipment and handle claims. Reservations on delivery must be written on the consignment note, precisely and within the deadline, or recourse against the carrier is lost — the most frequent and most expensive mistake among buyers who manage their own freight.
What you receive
- Incoterm recommendation matched to risk and cost
- Freight quotation and booking (road, groupage, sea)
- Document control: invoice, packing list, CMR, certificate of origin
- EU VAT number verification and reverse-charge handling
- Shipment tracking and transport claim management
