A catalogue says the minimum order is one hundred units. You plan to buy four colours, twenty-five of each. Before treating that as a valid order, find out exactly what the minimum applies to.
A supplier may describe quantities by product, colour, size, packaging version or production run. These arrangements vary, so the useful task is to obtain a written definition for the quotation you are considering. Do not assume that every item sharing a product photograph belongs to the same minimum.
Turn the proposed mix into a table
In a fictional stationery order, the buyer wants four notebook colours. Send the supplier a table listing each variant and quantity, plus the total. Ask them to confirm which combinations meet their requirements and which would change the price or schedule.
| Variant | Requested quantity | Supplier confirmation |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | 25 | Pending |
| Green | 25 | Pending |
| Grey | 25 | Pending |
| Red | 25 | Pending |
If the answer is one hundred per colour, the proposed total becomes four hundred to keep the same range. That is a different purchasing decision, not a small administrative correction. Revisit expected use, storage and cash requirements before accepting it.
Keep an agreed exception attached to the specific quote. Permission to mix colours on a trial order should not silently become a standing rule for every reorder.
The outcome you need is a confirmed variant schedule. A headline minimum is a starting point for the conversation; the line-by-line interpretation determines what you would actually be buying.
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