Booking & Payments
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Quote vs Order vs Booking: What Each Term Actually Means

Three words used constantly through the process, each marking a genuinely different point — and a different level of commitment.

Quote
No commitment yet
Order
Payment obligation confirmed
Booking
Cargosender's action, after your order

Three Stages, Not Three Names for the Same Thing

Cargosender's Terms and Conditions use these three words with real, distinct meaning, even though everyday conversation often blurs them together. Getting the distinction right matters because it tells you exactly how much you're committed to at each stage — and exactly which stage a page like the Flexible booking guide or the booking-mistake guide is actually talking about.

The Three Stages in Order

1

Quote

The service and price shown to you before you commit to anything. Choosing envelope, package or pallet and entering your route produces a quote — no payment obligation exists yet at this stage.

2

Order

Per §2.1.1, once you proceed with payment and it succeeds (or your payment obligation is otherwise confirmed), the order is considered placed. This is the commitment point — cancellation from here on follows §2.4's non-refundable-unless-Flexible-booking rule.

3

Booking

After your order is placed, Cargosender then proceeds with booking the logistics service with the selected logistics provider. This is Cargosender's own action, done on your behalf, after your order exists — not something you do directly.

What Each Stage Actually Locks In

Quote — you, browsing options

Locks in nothing — no payment obligation exists yet.

Order — you, by paying or confirming payment

Locks in the price and details you submitted; cancellation from here on follows §2.4.

Booking — Cargosender, with the logistics provider

Locks in the actual logistics service, reserved with the provider on your behalf.

Why the Distinction Matters in Practice

"Can I still change my quote?" and "Can I still change my order?" are different questions with different answers, because they're different stages. A quote can simply be re-run with different details, at no cost, since nothing has been committed. An order is a different matter — changing it after payment runs into the same non-refundable default described in the Flexible booking guide.

Similarly, "my booking hasn't been confirmed" usually means the order stage has completed but Cargosender hasn't yet finished booking the logistics service with the provider — a short gap in the process, not a sign that something has gone wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a quote the same as an order?

No — a quote is the price and service shown before you commit to anything. An order exists once you've paid or your payment obligation is confirmed, per Cargosender's terms.

Who does the 'booking' — me or Cargosender?

Cargosender does. Once your order is placed, Cargosender proceeds with booking the logistics service with the selected provider on your behalf — it's Cargosender's action, not a separate step you perform.

Can I change my quote without any cost?

Yes — a quote carries no payment obligation, so re-running it with different details costs nothing. It's the order stage, after payment, where changes run into the terms' cancellation and refund rules.

Keep Reading

Start With a Quote

No commitment yet — see the price and service options for your route.

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