How long is a quote valid and why does it change?
Your quote validity depends on the grade you ordered: Grade A holds for 90 days, Grade B for 30 days, and Grade C is priced as-is with no fixed window because that stock turns over fast. After that window, factory allocation, FX movement, or freight rates can push the number up or down. Lock your grade and your deposit inside the stated window and the price does not move.
Why this concern is real
You are buying from a pool of 184 factories across China, and stock positions shift daily. A container of Grade A units priced on Monday may be partially sold by Thursday if another buyer in Kenya or the Philippines takes the same serial-logged batch. Freight is not fixed either — Lagos routes alone run $3,000-4,000 depending on carrier space and bunker surcharges that week. If your quote sat unconfirmed for six weeks, the factory allocation, the freight line, or both may no longer be valid at the same number.
How it actually works
Every unit we quote has already passed a 27-point bench test, serial-logged at the factory, so the grade stamped on your quote (A, B, or C) is not a guess — it is tied to a specific tested unit or batch. Grade A units (3 years or less old) carry a 90-day price hold because their supply is more stable. Grade B units (up to 5 years old) carry only a 30-day hold because that inventory moves faster and gets re-priced more often. Grade C units are sold as-is, tested but not warrantied on condition, so we do not hold a fixed validity window on those — the price you see is the price at time of booking. Note: we do not offer used cooling appliances or used TVs at any grade, so those categories are quoted fresh-stock only and follow separate terms.
How we handle it at Apex Home Export
When you request a quote for markets like Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Iraq, Egypt, or the Philippines, we state the grade and the exact hold date on the document itself — no verbal promises. To convert a quote into a booking, you pay a 30% deposit, and we release the remaining 70% against the Bill of Lading copy after loading video is sent to you. This two-step payment structure is what actually protects your price: once your 30% lands and your corporate account matches your contract entity, the unit or batch is pulled off the open pool and reserved under your name. For example, a twin tub unit priced new at $30-45 or used Grade B at $48-68 gets locked at that number the moment your deposit clears, not before. If you want third-party confirmation before committing, SGS and Bureau Veritas inspections are welcome on any order.
What you should do before you pay
- Confirm the grade (A, B, or C) printed on your quote and note its exact validity date.
- Match your company name and registration to the contract entity before sending funds — mismatched entities delay allocation.
- Ask for the serial log reference from the 27-point bench test so you can trace the specific unit.
- Get the current freight estimate in writing, since Lagos alone ranges $3,000-4,000 depending on the week.
- If ordering Grade C, book fast — there is no extended hold, and stock moves within days.
Bottom line: your quote is only as firm as its grade window — 90 days for A, 30 days for B, as-is for C — and the 30% deposit is what actually freezes the number. Message us on WhatsApp at https://wa.me/8619905922526 with your target grade and market to get a dated quote today.