Carbide insert samples from SENTHAI are usually free in small quantities for qualified B2B buyers, with freight paid by the buyer; larger sample sets, custom geometries and pre-production batches are quoted and paid, and freight terms follow the agreed Incoterm. The split depends on insert type, quantity, whether the sample is catalog or drawing-specific, and your account status. This page sets out the policy we apply in practice, so your procurement team can plan cost and timing before requesting samples.
What counts as a “sample”
We treat a sample as a small quantity of inserts or edge assemblies supplied so a buyer can verify fit, hardness, brazing quality or wear behaviour before a production order. It is not a free trial of a full cutting edge programme. The classification below drives whether the sample is free or paid.
- Catalog sample: standard insert sizes and grades already in our tooling, typically 1–5 pieces.
- Drawing-specific sample: insert geometry, hole layout or carbide grade matched to your drawing or OEM part number.
- Pre-production batch: quantities above a sample threshold, used for field trials or line trials.
- Edge assembly sample: a complete cutting edge with inserts fitted, rather than loose inserts.
Free samples: when we absorb the cost
Free inserts are normally limited to catalog items and to buyers who have identified a real application, such as a distributor evaluating a new line or a fleet team trialling a replacement insert. We do not send free samples to unidentified or consumer addresses. Typical conditions:
- Quantity within a small range per part number, decided case by case.
- Standard catalog geometry and a grade we already produce.
- Buyer provides application details: plow model, blade size, surface type and expected season length.
- Buyer covers freight unless otherwise agreed in writing.
- Sample request linked to a realistic follow-on volume or an active quotation.
Free does not mean unconditional. If a sample is free, we still record it against your account so that repeat requests are handled consistently.
Paid samples: when a charge applies
Paid sampling applies where the sample carries real tooling, setup or material cost, or where the quantity exceeds what we would send for evaluation. In these cases the sample is quoted like a small order. Charges typically apply to:
- Custom insert geometry, non-standard hole patterns or special chamfers.
- Non-catalog carbide grades or hardness ranges.
- Sample quantities above the free threshold.
- Complete edge assemblies with inserts fitted and hardware included.
- Repeat samples of the same part after an earlier free sample.
Where a mold or fixture is required for a drawing-specific insert, the tooling cost is quoted separately and is not waived by a sample request. Whether tooling is credited against a later production order depends on the quotation terms. All prices, MOQ, tooling charges and lead times are subject to a formal quotation.
Who pays freight
Freight on samples is normally paid by the buyer, because sample shipments are small, frequent and often urgent, and because prepaid freight on samples is difficult to reconcile against production terms. The table below shows how we usually handle it. Final freight terms are confirmed in the quotation.
| Sample scenario | Insert cost | Freight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalog insert, small quantity, new B2B enquiry | Usually free | Buyer | Courier account or prepaid; depends on destination |
| Catalog insert, larger evaluation set | Quoted | Buyer, or per Incoterm | Quantity threshold set in quotation |
| Drawing-specific insert | Quoted, tooling separate | Buyer, or per Incoterm | Tooling cost confirmed before sampling |
| Edge assembly with inserts fitted | Quoted | Per Incoterm | Packing and weight affect freight |
| Repeat sample, same part number | Usually quoted | Buyer | Handled as a small order |
If you nominate your own courier account, we ship on your account number and you pay freight directly. If we arrange freight, it is added to the sample invoice or quoted separately. Check the drawing and hole layout on the carbide inserts product page before ordering, because a sample returned for a dimensional mismatch still incurs freight both ways.
What this means commercially
Sample policy is a small part of total cost, but it interacts with MOQ, lead time and specification risk. A free catalog sample can confirm grade and fit quickly, while a paid drawing-specific sample protects both sides from committing tooling before the geometry is agreed. For planning purposes:
- Supply: catalog samples usually ship from existing stock; drawing-specific samples depend on raw material and machining slots.
- MOQ: sample quantities sit below normal MOQ and do not establish a supply commitment; production MOQ is quoted separately.
- Lead time: catalog samples are typically shorter; custom samples depend on tooling and scheduling.
- Total cost: weigh sample freight and any tooling charge against the cost of a wrong first production batch.
- Specification risk: the sample is the reference part; confirm drawing revision, hole layout and grade in writing before approval.
For public tenders, sample and cutting edge costs often need to be read alongside bid tabulations. Our note on reading public bid tabulations for cutting edges explains how line items and freight are commonly presented.
Requesting a sample without delays
Most sample delays come from incomplete requests rather than from production. A clear request lets us confirm free or paid status and freight in one reply. Include the following in your enquiry:
- Part number or drawing, with revision number.
- Insert type, grade and quantity required.
- Plow model, blade size and operating conditions.
- Delivery address and preferred freight account or Incoterm.
- Target date and the production volume the sample supports.
- Any inspection or documentation requirement.
Send the same information for repeat samples so we can match the earlier record. Sample approval should be documented; a written approval of the sample becomes the reference for the production order. Full details of insert types and dimensions are on the carbide inserts page.
Quick summary
Small catalog insert samples are usually free for qualified B2B buyers, with freight paid by the buyer; custom, larger or repeat samples are quoted and paid, and freight follows the agreed Incoterm. All prices, MOQ, tooling and lead times are subject to a formal quotation. Confirm drawing revision and hole layout before approving any sample.
Sources checked on 2026-11-13: SENTHAI Tools internal sample handling practice; quotation terms for drawing-specific inserts; standard freight terms by Incoterm.
Three more perspectives
Workshop
From the shop floor, a sample is only useful if it matches the drawing exactly. Hole spacing, chamfer and insert seating matter more than the grade label. Ask for the drawing revision with the sample and check it before fitting.
Purchasing
Treat sample freight and any tooling charge as part of the first-order cost, not as overhead. Record whether the sample was free or invoiced, because that affects how the follow-on quotation is compared across suppliers.
Field
Field trials depend on surface, load and season length, so insert life varies widely. A sample that performs well in one fleet may behave differently in another; agree the trial conditions before drawing conclusions.
Limits
This page describes our general sample practice and is not a quotation, price list or warranty. It does not cover consumer orders, retail returns, or applications outside snow plow cutting edges. Free or paid status, freight terms, MOQ, tooling charges and lead times are confirmed only in a formal quotation, and sample performance depends on operating conditions.
