Fitment is checked before price becomes useful
A low price is not useful if the part does not fit the vehicle. This is especially true for Chinese export vehicles, where the same public model name may cover different markets, production years and EPC references.
PartSail treats fitment confirmation as part of the RFQ workflow, not as an afterthought. The goal is to reduce wrong parts before the distributor commits to a sample order or bulk shipment.
Step 1: identify the vehicle context
The first check is the vehicle, not the part price. We look for:
- -Brand and market model name.
- -Destination country or sales market.
- -Model year or production period.
- -VIN or EPC code when available.
- -Left-hand or right-hand drive where relevant.
This matters because a vehicle sold under one familiar name may map to a different EPC model code depending on market. A distributor may call it by the local sales name, while the catalogue uses an internal code.
Step 2: connect the part evidence
Next, the part itself needs evidence. The strongest evidence is an OEM number from the original part or EPC. If the OEM number is missing, photos and measurements become more important.
Useful evidence includes:
- -OEM or OE number.
- -Interchange number.
- -Old part photo.
- -Mounting position and axle position.
- -Product dimensions or connector shape.
For an uncertain request, PartSail may ask for another image before quoting. This is not delay for its own sake. It protects the buyer from receiving a cheaper but wrong product.
Step 3: check product coverage
After the vehicle and number are clear, the request can be matched against available product coverage. That may include product images, specs, quality options, brand references, cross references and previous fitment notes.
This is where product categories and OEM Cross Reference support the quote. They give the buyer a public way to understand what type of part is being discussed before the full RFQ is reviewed.
Step 4: separate confirmed items from uncertain items
A bulk list often includes both clean and unclear lines. We prefer to separate them instead of forcing every item into one price table.
- -Confirmed items can move to pricing.
- -Probably correct items can be quoted with a fitment note.
- -Unclear items should ask for VIN, photo, sample or EPC evidence.
- -Blocked items should not be priced until the missing detail is resolved.
This makes the quote more honest. It also helps the distributor explain risk to their own customers.
When to use this workflow
Use this workflow when:
- -You are quoting a new Chinese export model.
- -The OEM number is unclear or has multiple versions.
- -The part affects safety, such as brake or steering components.
- -The order will be repeated or stocked.
- -The destination market has certification or packaging requirements.
If the request is simple and the OEM number is already verified, the process is fast. If the request is uncertain, the extra confirmation is cheaper than a returned shipment.
Send the list early
You do not need to finish all research before contacting PartSail. Send the list through Bulk RFQ, include the evidence you already have, and mark uncertain lines clearly. The sourcing team can then tell you which lines are quote-ready and which need more data.