Shipping & payment
Trade terms, port to port
No surprises at the invoice stage. These are the terms we quote, the documents that travel with the goods, and how long each stage actually takes.
Incoterms we quote
| Term | Who pays freight | When we use it |
|---|---|---|
| EXW | Buyer, from our door | Buyers with their own China consolidation |
| FOB Ningbo / Shanghai | Buyer, from the port | Default term for most first orders |
| CIF | We arrange and include it | Buyers without a forwarder, destination port named |
| DDP | We arrange, duty included | Small parcel and e-commerce replenishment only; quoted case by case |
Payment
Standard
30% T/T deposit with the order, 70% before shipment against the inspection photos and documents. Bank charges at the buyer's side.
Alternatives
L/C at sight for larger orders, Trade Assurance on Alibaba for buyers who want platform escrow, PayPal or card for samples.
How long each stage takes
| Stage | Stock item | Custom / private label |
|---|---|---|
| Quote | 12 working hours | 1–3 days (needs artwork) |
| Sample | 3–7 days dispatch | 7–15 days |
| Production | 7–25 days | 25–40 days after sign-off |
| Inspection & documents | 2–3 days | 2–3 days |
| Sea freight (indicative) | Ningbo → US West Coast 14–20 days · → EU 28–35 days | Same |
Freight times vary by carrier, season and port congestion. We quote them as a range, never as a promise.
Packing and documents
Cartons are export-grade with a printed mark: your order number, SKU, quantity, gross and net weight, dimensions, destination and handling symbols. Inner boxes carry your barcode and warnings.
Every shipment leaves with a commercial invoice, packing list, HS 9503.00 classification, test report reference and a loading plan with CBM, so your forwarder can book before the goods are on the quay.
Freight per unit is a design decision. Flat-pack and nested designs often cut CBM by 20–35% versus an assembled box. Ask us for both carton options when you quote.
FAQ
Trade terms, port to port
Which port do you ship from?
Ningbo or Shanghai, whichever gives the better sailing for your destination and dates. Both are roughly three hours from the workshop by truck.
Can you ship to our forwarder in China?
Yes. We can deliver to a Shenzhen, Ningbo or Shanghai consolidation warehouse against your booking number.
Do you handle DDP?
For small replenishment and e-commerce orders, yes, quoted case by case. For container volumes we normally stay on FOB or CIF so you keep control of duty and clearance.
What happens if the shipment is late?
We tell you as soon as we know, with the reason and a revised date. Production delays caused by us are credited against the freight cost we quoted, in writing on the order.
Next step
Want the CBM and landed cost for a mixed order?
Send the SKUs and quantities. You get carton dimensions, CBM, gross weight and an indicative freight figure for your port.
