The questions that actually matter
- How do you price — cost plus a stated fee, or a margin buried in line items?
- What happens when an item isn't available: do you propose alternatives, or substitute and tell us on the invoice?
- Is the cold chain logged, and can we see it?
- Which islands do you cover directly, and which through third parties?
- Who do we speak to at 06:00 on charter day when something is missing?
Local supplier vs sourcing agent
| Local supplier | Sourcing agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | One island, deep local knowledge | Whole itinerary, one contact |
| Range | Limited to what that island stocks | Local plus imported through hubs |
| Admin | One relationship per port, one invoice per port | One brief, one invoice |
| Best for | Simple top-ups in a single port | Multi-island charters and full briefs |
Red flags
- No written quote before buying.
- Refusal to name suppliers or explain where product comes from.
- Silent substitutions discovered at unpacking.
- A price that only appears after delivery.
- No answer outside office hours during charter season.
How Ychtly works
We are a sourcing agent, not a warehouse. One brief covers the whole itinerary, we buy through vetted local suppliers in each port, quote before we purchase, propose alternatives rather than substituting silently, log the cold chain, and send one invoice. If we can't deliver what you asked for, you hear it at brief — not at the gangway.
Frequently asked
Is a sourcing agent more expensive than buying direct?
Not usually across a multi-island charter. Volume buying, duty planning and consolidated freight typically offset the service fee — and the admin load drops to one invoice.
Do you disclose supplier pricing?
You get a quote covering provisions and service before we buy, and an invoice that reconciles against it line by line.
What happens if something isn't available?
We come back with alternatives and a recommendation. Nothing is substituted without the chef or interior agreeing to it.
Which Caribbean islands do you cover?
The full charter circuit from Turks & Caicos and Puerto Rico down through the Leewards and Windwards to Grenada, plus Barbados and the Grenadines.