This is a really layered question.

First the operations component. Keep it simple but that’s just how do you get from A-Z and if you’re sending stuff overseas you have two clear options: 1. Have them build the whole product, or 2. Have them build certain components and assemble it locally.

There are pros and cons to either. For a real world example, all those companies that make scooters and bikes for bike share? Most of them contract with factories in China to make their stuff cheap because you can pay people absolutely garbage wages that you simply cannot pay in the US or Australia. Companies don’t send stuff overseas to be built because it’s their only option, it’s just way cheaper since you’re not paying for the same labor costs. Anyway, the stuff comes back to the US or wherever and they just pop the box open and start using it. That’s advantageous because you still have to pay for domestic labor. BUT, there are drawbacks like how long will it take? If you save a ton of money on manufacturing but have to spend that money locally trying to get it out the door, you messed up.

As for the quality discussion? You get what you pay for. If you pay as little as possible for your product, don’t be surprised if it is kind of shit. I’ve seen bad welds, stripped screws, stuff not built to spec. It’s really common in the cheap mass-manufacturing factories. Part of it is these factories shift gears to build different things very quickly from time to time so you don’t have a team that has the institutional knowledge of the product PLUS if your quality control and design team can’t communicate effectively with the manufacturer that also makes it hard. Alternatively if you pay top dollar you can and should expect higher quality.

Hopefully that gets you started. If you have follow ups post them but narrow your question down a bit to help us all out.

If you’re on the west coast Saia does LTL and I had a good experience with them. Not sure if they are the cheapest.

Would need to know what your company does/sells, but based on what you have said it sounds like the client gets a discounted product that they then get to use on an ongoing basis. I’m with the C-suite. This doesn’t sound like a win.

Now I’m not in sales, but my thinking is if they like the product, buy it. Why would/should you give them a discount other than they’re “huge.” Because “huge” clients have money. Otherwise (imo) they’re just clients. A question I would ask if I were in your shoes is “why do they want to buy our shit this way?” Because once you know that you may be able to find a middle ground and make a sale.

Do the work for your bosses and try to balance their concerns with the client wants.