Material sourcing
What a comparison looks like.
A real request, run through the desk in October 2026: 400 square metres of reclaimed ulin decking, 140 by 20 mm, for a villa development in Tabanan, needed on site within five weeks. Four Bali suppliers were asked. Two quoted within three working days. Supplier names are withheld here; the client receives them in full.
| Supplier A, Seminyak | Supplier B, Gianyar | |
|---|---|---|
| Material as quoted | Reclaimed ulin, 140 x 20 mm as specified, lengths 3 m and longer, finished four sides, export standard | Reclaimed ulin, 18 x 140 mm offered as an alternative, random lengths, smooth or rustic |
| Price per square metre | Rp 1,600,000 ex warehouse | Rp 985,000 ex works (smooth), Rp 1,025,000 (rustic) |
| 400 square metres | Rp 640,000,000 before tax and transport | Rp 394,000,000 before tax and transport |
| Lead time | About 6 working weeks, no stock | Made to order, 1 to 1.5 months, completion stated as late December |
| Documentation | Not stated, to be requested before order | SVLK certification and reclaimed origin documentation matched to the batch |
| Terms | 70 percent deposit, full payment before release, valid 7 days | Indicative, validity not stated |
The recommendation we gave
Neither supplier can put material on site by the date requested. Supplier A is the only quotation that meets the specified profile and minimum length, and is the closer of the two on programme. Supplier B is Rp 246,000,000 lower on the timber before tax, with stronger documentation, but the board is 18 mm in random lengths and completion falls later. If the profile and the date lead, Supplier A. If budget leads and the decking can move, Supplier B, subject to the designer accepting the 18 mm board.
Why this matters
Two reputable suppliers, the same material, a 38 percent spread in price and a different answer on documentation. Without the comparison you take the first quote. With it you choose, and you know what the choice costs.