"10,000 pcs" Barrier: A Factory's Honest Truth About MOQs

Q1: "I only need 500 tubes. Why is it so expensive, or why do you refuse?"

A: It comes down to Raw Materials and "Calibration Waste."

• The Material Trap: It’s not just us. Our suppliers (who sell us the plastic pellets and color masterbatches) have their own MOQs. To make a specific colored tube, we often have to buy enough material for 5,000+ tubes minimum. So, the material cost for 500 tubes is almost the same as for 5,000.

• The "Calibration" Waste: Setting up an industrial production line takes half a day. When we start the machine, the first 300 to 500 tubes are often wasted just to calibrate the color and printing alignment.

  • The Reality: If you order 500 tubes, we might waste 500 just to get the machine running.

  • The Choice: A factory will always prefer a machine that runs non-stop for days over a machine that runs for 1 hour and stops.

Q2: "Is there any way to squeeze in a smaller order? Maybe 3,000 or 5,000?"

A: Yes, if you are patient. Ask about our "Gap Period."

While digital printing on tubes is still rare and mostly for paper prototypes, there is a strategy for small orders: Timing.

• The Strategy: Every factory has a "Slow Season" or a gap between massive orders. During these times, we might accept a smaller order (like 3k or 5k) just to keep the machines running and workers busy.

• The Catch: You cannot be in a rush. If you can wait for our schedule to open up, we are more likely to say yes.

Q3: "Why is the price for a small batch so much higher than a large batch?"

A: It's the "Start-Up Fee."

The standard industry MOQ is 10,000 pieces. If you go below this, we have to charge a "Machine Start-Up Fee" (Surcharge).

• The Math: Let’s say the setup cost is $500.

  • For 10,000 tubes, that’s $0.05 per tube. (Negligible).

  • For 1,000 tubes, that’s $0.50 per tube. (Huge). Even if the unit price looks high, it is still cheaper for you in total cash flow than buying 10,000 tubes you don't need.

Q4: "I just need 100 tubes for a photoshoot or influencer seeding. What do I do?"

A: Treat it as a "Sample Run" or do Manual Labeling.

• Option A: The "Sample" Route: Be honest with us. Tell us this is for "Market Testing" or a "Pre-production Sample." Factories often produce samples at a loss (we lose money on them) because we are betting on your future success. If we see potential, we will help you make 100 pcs as a "prototype run."

• Option B: Manual Labeling (The DIY Way): For 100-500 pieces, do not ask for machine labeling (machines also need 10k to run smoothly). The Solution: Buy blank stock tubes and apply high-quality stickers by hand. It’s the only cost-effective way for micro-batches.

Summary: How to work with us?

• Be Honest: Don't promise a million orders tomorrow. Tell us your current stage.

• Be Flexible: If you can accept stock colors or wait for our production gaps, we can lower the MOQ.

• Be Realistic: Understand that small orders act as "Samples," and they cost more per unit to cover our setup waste.