The alternative supplier quotes in a different currency

The replacement price uses a different unit

A hypothetical contractor whose local supplier account is on hold finds an overseas supplier offering the required goods. The quotation shows dollars, but accounts assumes Australian dollars without checking. Before comparing the offer or promising a deposit, confirm the currency and complete payment terms. Similar-looking numbers can describe very different cash commitments.

Identify the currency explicitly

Ask the supplier to state the currency for the goods, deposit and remaining balance, including any separately quoted charges. Keep the written confirmation with the offer. Do not infer currency solely from a symbol, website location or earlier conversation. If different parts of the proposal use different currencies, show them separately rather than adding the numbers directly.

Read the payment terms

Business.gov.au recommends clear contractual payment arrangements and obligations. Confirm when amounts fall due and how the quoted price and payment terms operate. This article does not recommend a currency product or determine import, tax or customs obligations. Obtain appropriate advice about the actual transaction before relying on an overseas purchase to resolve the supply problem.

Source: business.gov.au: Prepare a contract

Use a labelled conversion assumption

In the hypothetical example, ask the accountant or payment provider to help estimate the Australian-dollar cash required using an identified date and rate basis. Include known provider charges separately and mark unresolved costs. Do not treat a planning conversion as a guaranteed future settlement rate. The amount required may need updating before the actual payment is made.

Compare the complete delivery option

Check freight, delivery timing and other relevant charges with the appropriate providers and advisers. Keep the approved product specification unchanged unless a separate change is properly assessed. A foreign-currency quote that appears cheaper may still require earlier payment or a longer delivery period. Show those dependencies alongside the price rather than comparing the goods figure alone.

Approve the transaction on understood terms

Give purchasing and accounts the confirmed currency, payment schedule and approved funding assumptions. Verify payment instructions through established checks before transferring funds. CRP can help assess the cash effect of replacing a stopped supplier. The useful outcome is an understandable Australian-dollar funding plan for the actual offer, rather than a local purchasing decision based on an ambiguous currency symbol.