← Blog · 2026-11-02
MOQ · OEM · production
MOQ is the number importers argue about most and understand least. On globes it is not one number — it is the outcome of four separate cost drivers, and knowing which one is binding tells you where there is room to negotiate.
When a factory quotes 500 pieces, that figure is usually the highest of four separate minimums:
Ask which of the four is driving the number. If it is packaging, you can often lower MOQ by accepting a plain carton for the first order.
Below roughly 500 pieces per model, the fixed costs — sample making, print setup, packing line changeover, inspection — outweigh the margin. That is why most factories quote 500 as the entry point for OEM desktop globes and set higher minimums for illuminated models.
A mixed order is normal, but the arithmetic matters. If you order five models at 200 pieces each, you have a 1,000-piece order but five separate minimums to satisfy. Either raise the quantity on the slow-moving models or accept that fewer models will fit the budget.
A practical first-order structure many importers use: two models at the full MOQ, two more at a reduced trial quantity if the factory allows, one container. That tests the market without committing to a single bet.
Unit price drops fastest between 500 and 1,000 pieces, then flattens. Above one container, the curve is almost flat — at that point you are negotiating on relationship, payment terms and freight, not on piece price. If a supplier offers a large discount at 5,000 pieces for a first order, ask what happens to the price at 800.
Freight per unit is where a container genuinely wins. But two smaller shipments give you two market reads and two chances to fix a specification mistake. For a first order in a new market, the second option is usually the cheaper one in total.
LEQI quotes 500 pieces per model for OEM desktop globes, with samples in 3–7 days and production in 25–40 days after approval. Send your size, quantity and market and you will get a quote with the lead time and MOQ written down.
Usually yes. Most factories allow mixed models in one container as long as each model meets its own minimum. The constraint is the map edition and the packaging print run, not the carton count.
Often, yes. Illuminated globes add wiring, LED modules and electrical testing, and custom tooling or a new map edition adds a fixed cost that has to be spread over a minimum quantity. Ask for the MOQ per model rather than a single blanket number.
It depends heavily on sphere diameter, carton size and whether inner protection is foam or moulded pulp. Ask your supplier for the packed carton dimensions and count per 20ft and 40HQ for the specific model you are buying — never estimate from a different size.
Not always. A container lowers the unit freight cost, but ties up working capital and warehouse space. For a first order, two smaller shipments often cost less in total risk than one container of a model you have not yet tested in your market.