Wholesale & Private Label Guides

A wholesale quote can look simple until you reach a few capital letters near the bottom. If yours says DDP shipping, those letters decide who pays to move the goods, who deals with import paperwork and duties, and where your store takes over. This guide explains the term in plain words so you can read the quote, compare it with others and plan your shelf price.

What does DDP shipping mean in plain words?

DDP stands for Delivered Duty Paid. It is one of the Incoterms rules, a set of standard trade terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce. The current edition is Incoterms 2020, and a quote usually writes the term followed by a named place, such as the address of your store or warehouse.

Of all the rules, DDP puts the most work on the seller. In plain words, the seller:

• arranges and pays for transport to the named place of destination;
• handles export and import clearance;
• pays the import duties and taxes that apply;
• carries the risk of loss or damage until the goods are made available to you at that place.

The handover point matters. Under DDP the goods are delivered on the arriving vehicle, ready for unloading, at the named place. Unloading itself is normally the buyer's job unless the quote says otherwise. A general overview of all eleven Incoterms rules helps if other quotes use different terms.

How is DDP different from DAP and EXW?

Most clothing quotes a small store sees use one of three terms. The table keeps each one general; the exact split of costs is whatever your quote states.

DAP looks close to DDP on paper because the goods travel to the same place. The difference shows up when the shipment lands: under DAP your business handles import clearance and pays the duties and taxes before the goods are released, often through a broker you hire. EXW sits at the other end. The seller makes the goods available at its own premises, and you or your forwarder handle loading, export steps, freight, import and final delivery. An EXW price can look lower per piece, but it leaves out most of the cost of getting jackets to your door.

Why does DDP shipping help a small store?

For a boutique or a young brand, the main benefit is predictability. Three things get easier:

• One landed cost to plan around. Freight, duties and taxes are already in the price, so the figure on the quote is close to what each piece costs you on arrival. You can set retail prices before the order ships instead of after the last invoice settles.
• No surprise bill at delivery. Under DAP or EXW, duties, taxes and broker fees can arrive after the goods land, sometimes when cash is tight going into a season. With DDP those costs were settled when you accepted the quote.
• Simpler receiving. You are not chasing paperwork or booking a broker. The shipment comes to the named address, and your team can focus on unpacking and getting stock onto the floor.

DDP also makes comparing suppliers fairer. A DDP price and an EXW price are not the same thing, so ask each supplier to quote on the same basis, or estimate the missing freight, clearance and import costs before you compare. If you are new to stocking leather outerwear, our guide to buying wholesale leather jackets covers the basics of styles and materials.

Heavier pieces such as puffers and coats show why this matters. Bulky outerwear costs more to ship, so a quote that already includes freight and duties makes the per-piece cost far easier to plan. Here are three genuine leather styles a store can stock or put under its own label:

Men's Black Leather Puffer Jacket with Detachable HoodWomen's Distressed Brown Lambskin Leather Bomber JacketMen's Black Leather Mid-Length Car Coat

Each one can be ordered in any quantity, with no minimum and sizes mixed as needed. Browse more men's leather jackets, the full range of leather coats and trench coats, or women's bomber jackets to build a mixed order.

What does DDP not cover, and what should you still check?

DDP covers a lot, but it ends at the named place, ready for unloading. Several delivery details sit outside the basic rule and are worth confirming in writing:

• The named place. Make sure the quote states the full delivery address, not just a general area. A shop, a warehouse and a home office can mean very different delivery costs.
• Unloading. Under DDP, unloading is normally the buyer's task. For a few cartons that is easy; for a pallet, check whether you need help or equipment.
• Inside delivery. Moving goods past the front door, up stairs or into a stockroom is a separate service. Ask whether it is included.
• Delivery appointments. Some buildings and shopping centers need a booked time slot or a loading dock. Tell the supplier early so the delivery can be arranged that way.
• Local charges. Ask whether any charges at the destination, such as storage when no one is there to receive, are excluded from the price.

Import rules, duties and taxes vary by product and destination, and they can change. This guide does not give customs or tax advice. A good supplier spells out exactly what its DDP price includes, and the written quote is where that belongs.

How does White Buraq handle DDP shipping?

White Buraq is based in Duluth, Georgia, with its own family workshop crafting leather since 1998. Our shipping terms are kept simple:

• Orders to US addresses ship duties paid (DDP).
• Worldwide orders ship with freight, duties and taxes agreed up front, so the cost of getting goods to you is settled before you order.
• Quantity, sample fee, price, lead time, payment, freight and duties are agreed in writing before work starts. A sample is made before every new style, and production starts only after your written approval.

Leather lead time depends on the design, materials, quantity and decoration, so we confirm it in writing with the quote rather than promising a standard figure. Plan your launch or season from that written date.

Pricing is just as plain. Wholesale for store stock is 50% of retail. Because orders to US addresses arrive duties paid, you start from the retail price, know your cost per piece, and have no import bill to add later. For a single personal jacket, fully custom leather jackets are also an option, quoted individually from $199 to $499.

What should you ask a supplier about DDP shipping?

Before you sign, a short list of questions will tell you whether a DDP quote is complete:

1. What exactly is the named place of delivery, and is it written in the quote?
2. Is the whole quote in writing, including freight, duties, taxes and anything excluded?
3. Which edition of the Incoterms rules does the quote refer to?
4. Who handles problems in transit, such as a held shipment, damage or a missed delivery, and how do I reach them?
5. Is unloading or inside delivery included, and can a delivery appointment be booked?
6. If the order ships in more than one part, does the DDP price cover each shipment?

Clear, written answers are a good sign of how the rest of the order will be run.

FAQ

Does DDP mean I pay nothing at delivery?

Under DDP the seller pays the freight to the named place and the import duties and taxes. Services outside the rule, such as unloading, inside delivery or storage, may still cost extra unless the quote includes them, so read the exclusions.

Is DDP more expensive than DAP or EXW?

The DDP price per piece is usually higher because it already includes freight, clearance, duties and taxes. Under DAP or EXW you pay those costs separately, so compare the total landed cost rather than the unit price alone.

Who should I contact if a DDP shipment is delayed?

Start with the seller. Under DDP the seller arranged the transport and the import clearance, so ask for a named contact and a tracking reference when the order ships.

Do White Buraq orders outside the US ship DDP?

Orders to US addresses ship duties paid. For other destinations, freight, duties and taxes are agreed up front and written into the quote before work starts, so you know where you stand.

DDP shipping turns a wholesale quote into one delivered cost you can plan around, as long as the named place and any extras are written down. When you are ready to price a run under your own name, start with our private label leather jacket program.