Start with the cargo identity
Use a specific product description and explain what the item does. Generic labels such as parts, samples or accessories can hide the information needed for screening, classification and carrier acceptance.
Flag anything that may change handling or acceptance: batteries, liquids, powders, magnets, motors, wood packaging, fragile pieces, unusual dimensions or branded goods. The purpose is not to classify the cargo in the first message; it is to identify where specialist review may be required.
- Product name and intended use
- Material or composition when relevant
- Whether the goods are new, used, branded or regulated
- Known supporting documents, without assuming they are sufficient
Give package data that can be checked
Package count and total gross weight are not enough on their own. Air and express options commonly depend on dimensional weight, while ocean planning depends on volume, package shape and loading constraints. Provide dimensions for each package type or a reliable total volume.
If the supplier data is provisional, mark it as estimated and state when final measurements will be available. A planner can then distinguish an early budget indication from a booking-ready calculation.
| Detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Package count and type | Shows how the cargo can be handled and consolidated |
| Gross weight | Supports capacity and chargeable-weight checks |
| Dimensions or volume | Prevents comparison on incomplete billing data |
| Ready date | Separates an available route from a route that matches the cargo timeline |
Define origin, destination and responsibility
Name the supplier or pickup city in China and the destination city plus postal code. For door delivery, say whether the address is commercial, residential, a warehouse or a fulfilment facility, because access and appointment requirements may differ.
State the agreed trade term if known, but do not treat an Incoterm as a complete price scope. Ask the quote to list pickup, origin handling, main transport, destination handling, customs responsibility and final delivery separately, together with exclusions and validity.
Use one brief for every option
Send the same cargo facts and service boundary to each provider. When information changes, date the revision. This creates a comparison that can be audited and reduces the risk of choosing a low number that excludes work required later.
SOLINK's shipment brief builder creates this summary on your device. It does not upload or submit the information; you decide when to send it through WhatsApp, email or WeChat.