Calculate the remaining cost headroom, not just the difference between garment prices. The model below is an illustration prepared on October 19, 2026, not a supplier quotation, observed average bill or tariff estimate.
Illustrative one-suit comparison
| Cash-cost component | Assumed amount |
|---|---|
| Vietnamese garment quote, assumed to include applicable local tax | US$1,000 |
| Separate fitting/service fee | US$100 |
| Shipping | US$80 |
| Payment and FX charges | US$30 |
| Buyer-selected US alteration allowance | US$150 |
| Incremental travel | US$0 |
| US import duties, taxes and clearance charges | D — unresolved |
| Vietnam option: modeled delivered cost | US$1,360 + D |
| Assumed comparable US option, all-in cash quote | US$1,800 |
| Remaining cost advantage before additional problems | US$440 − D |
Source: analyst-selected assumptions and arithmetic, October 19, 2026. None of the fee allowances is a measured niche average, and the domestic option must genuinely match the buyer’s requirements before the comparison is meaningful.
Two stress tests make the decision clearer:
- One additional US$400 correction: modeled overseas cost becomes US$1,760 + D. It exceeds the assumed domestic alternative when unresolved import charges exceed US$40.
- US$500 of additional travel instead: modeled overseas cost becomes US$1,860 + D, already above the domestic alternative before import charges.
These are scenarios, not estimated failure probabilities. Keep executive time in a separate column and do not charge the entire cost of an already-planned business trip to the suit.
Recommended purchasing discipline: commission a pilot before authorizing several garments. Treat a package discount as a reduction in price—not as evidence that the fitting risk has been resolved.