EXW or DAP? Choosing Incoterms When You Buy Bed Bases From the EU
Two suppliers can quote wildly different prices for the same frame and both be right — if they're quoting on different Incoterms. Here's what changes between EXW and DAP.
Incoterms decide who arranges and pays for what, not just who owns the goods at a given point. Getting this wrong when comparing quotes is the easiest way to think you’ve found a better price when you’ve actually found a smaller scope of service.
The two Incoterms you’ll actually be offered
Buying bed bases from an EU manufacturer, you’ll typically see one of two terms: EXW (Ex Works) or DAP (Delivered At Place). EXW means the price covers the goods only, collected from the factory — everything after that is on you. DAP means the seller arranges and pays for transport through to your address. We quote on DAP; it’s worth knowing what EXW would have left out.
EXW: what you organise yourself, item by item
Under EXW, an ex works price is just the starting point. You’d need to separately organise and pay for: transport from the factory to a port or hub, freight to the UK, Polish export clearance, UK import clearance, and final delivery to your address — each potentially a different provider, each a separate cost and a separate point of failure. An EXW price looks lower in isolation because it’s quoting a smaller scope, not because the goods are cheaper.
DAP: what’s already in the freight price
Under DAP, the freight price already includes Polish export clearance, UK import clearance and delivery booking-in, in addition to the transport itself. The pallet arrives at your address as a single, quoted delivery, with the customs steps handled as part of that same freight cost rather than as separate charges you’d need to arrange. See delivery and terms for the full specification of what’s included and what isn’t — tail-lift delivery, waiting time and redelivery after a failed unload sit outside the standard price under either term.
Where DAP stops — you are still the importer of record
DAP moves the logistics work to the seller, but it doesn’t change who’s legally importing the goods. You remain the importer of record, which means you still need a GB EORI number and a UK VAT registration before your first delivery, regardless of which Incoterm you buy on. What DAP changes is who arranges the customs declaration and pays the freight forwarder — not who’s responsible for holding the right paperwork on the UK side. The customs mechanics — duty rate, VAT treatment, what an agent does with your shipment — are covered in full in our guide to importing furniture from the EU.
Comparing two quotes that aren’t on the same terms
If you’re comparing a quotation from us against another supplier, check the Incoterm before you compare the number. An EXW quote and a DAP quote for the same frames aren’t the same comparison — one is a starting price with the logistics still to organise and cost separately, the other is close to the full landed figure. The freight table below shows what DAP delivery adds on top of the ex works frame price, so you can see the full picture rather than comparing a partial one against a complete one.
Frames plus freight
The frame price is fixed. Freight depends on how many pallets you take and where they go, so it is shown as a range here and confirmed exactly with your quotation.
| Shipment | Frames | Freight, EUR | Freight, GBP | Per frame |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 pallet | 30 | €650.00–€800.00 | £572.00–£704.00 | £100.91–£105.31 |
| 2 pallets | 60 | €1,150.00–€1,400.00 | £1,012.00–£1,232.00 | £98.71–£102.37 |
| 3 pallets | 90 | €1,450.00–€1,700.00 | £1,276.00–£1,496.00 | £96.02–£98.46 |
| 4+ pallets | 120+ | On request | ||
Mixing sizes lowers the freight cost per frame, because the rate follows the total number of pallets rather than the size. Ask for a mixed load in your enquiry.
Freight estimates cover England and Wales mainland and include Polish export clearance, UK import clearance and delivery booking-in. The exact figure depends on quantity and delivery postcode and is confirmed with your quotation. Scotland, Northern Ireland, the islands and central London are priced separately. Prices exclude VAT. Invoiced in EUR; GBP is for guidance only, converted at €1 = £0.88 and reviewed quarterly (last reviewed 2026-08-26).
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