Loose, set, or bundle of 100? Here’s how to read quantities and variants on a product page
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
5 min reading time
Why sometimes one box arrives and sometimes a hundred: how to extract the unit of packaging, variants, and the price per item from a product title before checkout.
There are two common order mistakes. In the first, someone expects a stack of boxes and finds only one box at their doorstep. In the second, someone expects a single envelope to send something and finds an outer box with a hundred units in the hallway. In both cases, the product page was accurate—it was simply overlooked.
Packaging materials, office supplies, and party items are sold in varying units: per piece, per set, per bundle, per outer box. Additionally, many titles contain a number that doesn't refer to the quantity at all. Below, we explain what to look for, with examples from our own product range.
The unit of packaging is usually in the title
Ideally, the product title ends with what you receive. Compare these two:
The price helps you verify if you're reading it correctly. Eighteen euros for one A6-sized mailer box would be strange; eighteen euros for a hundred pieces—approximately eighteen cents per box—is consistent with the cost of cardboard. If the price and your assumption don't match, reread the title.
The same applies within a single product group. A set of 6 rolls of tape costs €21.00, and an outer box with 36 rolls costs €108.00. These are not two different products in quality, but two different quantities.
A number in the title is not always a quantity
This is the pitfall that causes most mistakes. Look at what the number counts:
A size or dimension. "C6 Envelope White 114x162mm 50 pieces" (€4.00) contains two number sequences: 114 x 162 mm is the size, 50 pieces is the quantity.
Something else entirely. For "Name Candles Birthday - 100 Names" (€1.00), the number refers to the range of names available, not the number of candles in your order. For such titles, the product page itself is always definitive.
Rule of thumb: if the number is accompanied by "pieces," "set of," "bundle," or "box," it's a quantity. If it's accompanied by "colours," "models," "sizes," "names," or "variants," it's a choice.
For these types of products, you select the variant from the dropdown menu before clicking "order." If no selection is made, you might receive the standard variant—and that's exactly where disappointment begins. So, check that the variant in your shopping cart is the one you intended, not just the product name.
Calculate the unit price before comparing
Once you know the unit, comparison becomes fair. A few examples:
That last column is the only number you can use to compare two offers side-by-side. Without that conversion, you're comparing packaging, not prices.
Four checks before you checkout
Read the title to the end. The unit is almost always at the end.
Test the price against your assumption. If it seems absurdly cheap or expensive per piece, you're misreading the unit.
Check the variant in your shopping cart. Colour, size, and model are listed there, not just the product name.
Look at the total quantity. Two bundles of 100 is 200 pieces—that's a cupboard full, not a drawer.
And if it still goes wrong
If you have ordered an incorrect quantity or variant, report it as soon as possible and in any case before you open the packaging. State your order number, what you expected and what you received, and include a photo of the delivered item. An unopened, undamaged bundle is almost always easier to process than an opened box.
If you can't figure it out on a product page—for example, whether a price is per piece or per bundle? Email info@verpakkingdeals.nl. Better one question beforehand than a return afterward.
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