How to Compare Mango Suppliers: Quotations, Invoices, Samples and Quality

To compare mango suppliers fairly, write one specification first covering variety, origin, grade, count or weight, packing, and delivery date and place. Send it to every supplier, ask for itemised quotations, test a sample, and compare total landed cost, not the headline rate.

If you have three quotations for mangoes in front of you and the numbers are far apart, the numbers are probably not for the same thing. Mangoes are sold by the dozen, by the kilo, by the box and by the count, in grades that are not standard from one seller to the next. This page is a buyer's guide: how to set up a fair comparison between suppliers, whether you are buying for a company gift, a restaurant, a wedding or a recurring order. Most of it applies to any supplier, including us.

Write one specification first

Suppliers cannot be compared until they are quoting for the same fruit. Before you ask anyone for a price, write down:

• Variety and origin. Alphonso (Hapus) from Ratnagiri or Devgad is not the same as Kesar, Pairi or any other mango. Say which you want.
• Grade or size. Ask each supplier how they define their grades. A dozen of Alphonso weighs roughly 1.8 to 3.3 kg depending on grade, so "one dozen" without a grade can mean a very different amount of fruit.
• Unit. Dozen, box, count or kilo. Use the same unit in every request, and ask the supplier to state the weight or count in the box.
• Ripeness on arrival. Raw, firm, semi-ripe or ripe, and how many days you need the fruit to last.
• Packing. Carton, tray, gift box, and how the fruit is cushioned.
• Delivery places and dates. The cities, the addresses and the dates, in writing.
• Quantity and frequency. A one-time order of 200 dozen is a different job from 20 dozen every week.

Send this same sheet to every supplier. If a supplier replies with a different grade or a different pack, ask them to requote on your specification, so you are not comparing a smaller fruit to a bigger one.

Ask for itemised quotations

A good quotation is a list, not a single figure. Ask each supplier to break it down:

• Rate for the fruit, with the unit and grade stated.
• Packing charges, if any.
• Delivery charges, and whether they are per address or for the whole order.
• Taxes and shipping charges, shown separately. There is no GST on fresh mangoes; GST applies on shipping for corporate gifting orders, and our invoice shows it. Ask any supplier what its invoice shows.
• How long the quotation is valid. Mango prices move during a season, so a quotation with no validity date is not firm.
• What is not included.

Ask the supplier to state the terms in writing, not on a call. Terms such as minimum order quantity, volume pricing, credit period, advance payment, sample policy and replacement terms differ from one supplier to another, and we do not assume what any of them offer. Ask each one, and keep their answers in the same sheet.

Compare total cost, not the headline rate

The lowest rate is often not the lowest cost. To compare the total purchase cost of three suppliers, put these into one row each:

• Fruit cost for your specification.
• Packing and delivery.
• Taxes.
• Any payment terms that cost you money, such as an advance paid weeks before delivery.
• The cost of fruit you cannot use. If 1 box in 20 arrives bruised or overripe, that is a real cost.

Volume pricing needs a special warning. When you raise the quantity, check that the grade stays the same. A lower rate for a larger order can mean smaller fruit, so ask the supplier to confirm the grade on the larger quote, in the same words as the smaller quote.

For reference, our own Alphonso is sold from Rs 1,849 per dozen on the product page, and prices change by grade and season. Check the product page for the current price.

Samples and quality checks

A sample tells you more than a brochure. Whether a supplier sends one, and at what cost, is the supplier's decision, so ask. If you get a sample, use it well:

• Buy the same grade you intend to order. A sample of the best fruit in the shop tells you nothing about the grade you want.
• Open it on arrival. Look at the packing, the condition of the fruit, the size and the smell.
• Let it ripen as you will in real use, and taste it. Taste, fibre, flavour and sweetness vary between fruit and between varieties.
• Photograph and record. Keep notes and photos of what arrived and when, for your comparison sheet.
• Compare samples side by side with the specification you wrote, not with each other.

Ask each supplier how the fruit is ripened. We do not use carbide. Our Alphonso mangoes are ripened naturally on hay beds. Whichever supplier you choose, ask them the same question and ask them to answer in writing. No test at your end proves how fruit was ripened, and a simple water test is only a rough clue, not proof.

For a large order, also ask whether the supplier can give a written description of how they inspect and grade fruit before dispatch. Not every supplier issues formal quality reports, so ask what they can give you.

Invoices, payment and paperwork

Check these before you pay:

• Invoice. Confirm the invoice name and address match your records. For invoices and purchase orders, see our article on mango purchase orders and invoices for business buyers.
• Licences. Food sellers in India need an FSSAI licence. Ask for the licence number. We are an FSSAI-licensed seller.
• Payment details. Verify the bank account name before you pay, and match it to the business name on the invoice. Be cautious about paying a large advance to anyone you have not bought from.
• Origin claims. If a supplier says the fruit is GI-tagged Alphonso, ask to see the certificate and check the name on it. Our credential is the GI Authorised User certificate AU/5974/GI/139/260 (GI No. 139), and details are on the Brand Facts page.
• Damage and replacement. Ask what the window is for reporting damage and what the remedy is. Our window is 24 hours from delivery.

Check capacity for a large or recurring order

A supplier who is fine for 10 boxes may not be fine for 500. To check whether a supplier can fulfil a large order, ask:

• Where does the fruit come from, and from how many growers? We source across 48 villages of the Ratnagiri and Devgad belt on the Konkan coast.
• How many days do they need between your confirmation and delivery?
• Which courier or transport do they use, and how do they handle several addresses?
• What do they do if a delivery date is missed?
• For a recurring order, can they commit to the weeks you need? Alphonso is harvested from about February to June, with the best supply from March to May, so a supply that runs past June needs a different plan.

If a supplier cannot answer these questions in writing, you have learned something. Do not rely on a verbal promise for a date that matters.

Comparison sheet

Copy this into a spreadsheet and fill one column per supplier:

How we can help

We supply Alphonso to households, companies, restaurants and hotels. If you are comparing us with other suppliers, send us your specification, with your quantity, cities and dates, and we will tell you what we can do. Use our gift form for gifting orders, or look at the corporate gifting guide. For single orders, see the Ratnagiri Alphonso and Devgad Alphonso pages. We have sold to customers since 2019, and online since 2020, with 47,000+ customers including offline and marketplace sales.

For restaurants and hotels, see our article on being an Alphonso supplier for restaurants, hotels and caterers. For gifting, see how to choose a corporate Alphonso gift supplier.

People also ask

How do I compare mango suppliers fairly?

Write one specification covering variety, origin, grade, unit, packing, delivery place and date, and send it to every supplier. Ask for itemised quotations, test a sample and compare the total cost. If a quote arrives for a different grade or pack, ask the supplier to requote on your specification.

How do I compare the total cost of three mango suppliers?

Put fruit rate, packing, delivery, taxes and payment terms in one row per supplier, then add the cost of fruit you expect to lose. Compare the total landed cost for the same quantity and grade. A low rate with an advance payment or a smaller fruit may cost more.

Should I ask for a sample before a bulk mango order?

Yes, where the supplier offers one. Whether a sample is sent, and at what cost, is the supplier's decision, so ask. Order the grade you intend to buy, open it on arrival, let it ripen as you would in use, and record the size, condition and taste against your specification.

How do I check if a mango supplier can fulfil a large order?

Ask in writing where the fruit comes from, how many growers supply it, how much notice they need, how they deliver to several addresses, and what happens if a date is missed. Mango season is short, so also ask whether the supplier can cover all the weeks you need.

Related searches

• Choosing a corporate Alphonso mango gift supplier
• Alphonso mango supplier for restaurants and hotels
• Corporate Alphonso mango gifting guide
• Corporate gift of Alphonso mango
• Employee reward mango gifts across cities
• Mango gift budget per person
• Brand facts and credentials
• Buy Alphonso mangoes online

Written by Prashant Powle, founder of AlphonsoMango.in. Last reviewed October 2026.

Prefer to order directly? Browse Alphonso mango dozen, Alphonso Mango Pulp Tin, our gifting page and our HoReCa trade page.