Where your quantity sits against the 1/5/10/25/50/100/250/500/1000/2500 break points (just under a break is the expensive place to be)
Hardware grade and mechanism quality, economy vs commercial retractable and frame material
Graphic size, material, and print method
Whether hardware and graphic are bundled or sold separately
Check before signing
An economy mechanism quoted where commercial reuse is expected
Graphic and hardware bundled so you cannot tell what each costs
A proprietary frame that locks you into one vendor's replacement graphics
Carry bags or cases added as extras
Negotiation levers
Buy commercial hardware once and reorder only graphics for future shows
Unbundle graphic from hardware to compare each
Standardize on a common frame system across the team
About fabric banner printing pricing
Priced per unit with quantity breaks. Vendors quote steps at 1 / 5 / 10 / 25 / 50 / 100 / 250 / 500 / 1000 / 2500 units, and the per-unit rate drops at each break.
Should I buy new hardware every show?
No. Commercial-grade hardware is reusable for years. Buy the frame once and reorder only the printed graphic, which is the cheaper part.
Why do retractable banner quotes vary so much?
Mechanism grade. An economy unit and a commercial one look alike on paper but the cheap one fails sooner. Pin the hardware grade before comparing.