International sourcing · Cost comparison
Rehab Equipment: Direct Import vs Local Distributor
Compare offers using the same equipment scope and delivery basis—not only the headline product price.
Updated by RehabIntl:
Quick answer
Direct import is not automatically cheaper than buying from a local rehabilitation equipment distributor. Compare the same model and accessory scope at the same delivery point, then add the costs and responsibilities not included in each offer. A RehabIntl quotation is one input to that comparison, not proof of the lowest total cost.
Compare a real model, not two different bundles
For example, use the KF-JZB-1 body-weight-support gait trainer as a defined enquiry line when reviewing an overseas offer. Specify the support configuration and harness scope; do not compare a base trainer with another offer that includes additional equipment or local services.
Our KF-XLC-D/PT-2 electric height-adjustable PT table provides another example: electrical configuration, controls and upholstery need to be aligned before comparing unit prices. Browse our therapy tables and beds to identify the exact version you want quoted.
A worksheet for the cost of importing rehabilitation equipment
| Cost or responsibility | Direct-import offer | Local-distributor offer |
|---|---|---|
| Same model, quantity and accessories | Quoted amount / scope: _____ | Quoted amount / scope: _____ |
| Packing and freight to named point | Included / excluded / pending: _____ | Included / excluded / pending: _____ |
| Destination handling and local charges | Local estimate / payer: _____ | Included or local estimate: _____ |
| Assembly, installation and training | Provider / price / exclusions: _____ | Provider / price / exclusions: _____ |
| Warranty handling and replacement parts | Written process / freight responsibility: _____ | Written process / service scope: _____ |
| Unpriced items and timing assumptions | _____ | _____ |
Do not fill a blank cell with zero. Ask who provides the missing service, obtain a cost basis and keep any uncertainty visible. A local offer may include work that an overseas equipment quote excludes; the reverse may also apply.
How should you request a budget price for a gait trainer?
Send RehabIntl the KF-JZB-1 configuration, quantity and destination, and ask for equipment and freight estimates separately. State whether any treadmill is required rather than assuming it is part of the trainer package. For hospital budgeting, record the quote date and what remains preliminary.
When negotiating, discuss defined quantities, selected accessories and delivery scope. A lower headline price is not a saving if it removes an item or service your clinic still needs. Confirm local import and tax treatment with the appropriate local specialists; this worksheet supplies no country-specific ruling.
Build a landed-cost comparison
| Cost or risk area | Direct import question | Local distributor question |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment scope | Are models and accessories exactly specified? | Is the quoted item the same configuration? |
| Delivery and landing | Which Incoterm, freight, insurance, duties, and destination charges apply? | Which delivery, unloading, and local transport items are included? |
| Documents and compliance | Which documents are supplied and what must the buyer verify locally? | What local documentation or support is included? |
| Service and timing | Who handles installation, parts, warranty handling, and delays? | What service response, inventory, and installation boundary is offered? |
How to compare regional supplier quotations
Prices can differ because the offered configuration, freight distance, currency, volume, production schedule, documentation scope, and service boundary differ. Ask every supplier to quote the same written specification. If negotiating, negotiate a defined scope: quantities, phased order, accessory bundle, packing, payment milestones, or delivery term—not an undefined “best price.”
For body-weight-support gait trainer budgeting
- State the exact support configuration, treadmill inclusion or exclusion, and accessories.
- Request dimensions, packing data, delivery term, and destination-specific freight estimate separately.
- Do not use a generic online price as a hospital budget commitment; configuration and logistics materially affect the total.
Buyer FAQ
Is importing from Asia always cheaper?
No. Compare total landed cost, timing, verification work, service scope, and risk allocation—not only the ex-factory or unit price.
Can I ask suppliers for a rough budget figure?
Yes, but label it as a preliminary planning estimate and require a later quotation with exact models, quantities, accessories, destination, and delivery terms.