Getting started · 2026-10-22 · 3 min read

How asks, offers and closing times work

The price on a lot, how to offer below it, and what the countdown means.

We are not an auction. Each lot has an ask price set by us and a closing time set by the supplier's deadline.

The ask

The ask is the price for the whole lot, in USD, FOB at the U.S. origin. The lot card also shows it as a percentage of the manifest retail value and as a cost per unit, so you can compare lots of different sizes.

Making an offer

• Accept the ask or offer a lower number from the lot page.
• Name your port so we can send the CIF price with our answer.
• We reply within one business day, usually sooner.
• An offer is not binding on either side until we confirm it in writing and send the pro-forma invoice.

The closing time

The countdown runs to the date and time shown on the lot, the same for every visitor. It does not reset when you reload. When it reaches zero the lot is closed: it has sold, or the supplier has withdrawn or repriced it. Ask us and we will look for a similar load.