A first order is mostly waiting, and most of the waiting is predictable. Knowing the sequence is what stops a container missing its window.
Published 17 October 2026 · Sabo Furniture, Foshan
A first order is mostly waiting, and most of the waiting is predictable. Knowing the sequence — sample, deposit, production, documents, sailing — is what stops a container missing its window.
| Stage | What happens | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Enquiry to quote | Specification confirmed, price and trade term returned | 1–3 days |
| Sample | One chair produced and shipped; you inspect the weld, cushion and stacking | Depends on freight to you |
| Deposit | 30% by T/T — this starts the production clock | 1–3 days to land |
| Production | Standard orders | 15 working days |
| Documents | Invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 2–5 days after loading |
| Transit | Sea freight to your port | Varies by destination |
Production starts from the deposit landing, not from the PO. That single detail is the most common reason a first order runs late.
A photograph cannot tell you whether the weld has been dressed, whether the cushion compresses under a hand, or whether the chairs stack without rubbing. Those three things decide whether the fleet survives a season, and all three need a physical chair.
We quote samples separately and discuss the cost against your first bulk order. Buyers who skip the sample usually end up paying for a second specification exercise later.
Three things: a colour outside the standard range, a custom fabric, and a quantity far above the normal run. Standard colours on a standard model genuinely run in 15 working days; anything bespoke is quoted with its own date.
If your event date is fixed, work backwards from the sailing, not from the production date. Production is the part we control; transit is not.
Invoice, packing list and bill of lading under your nominated term are standard. Certificates of origin, test reports and fumigation certificates are available but take time — ask at the quoting stage so they are prepared while the goods are still on the line.
15 working days from deposit for standard orders. Colours outside the standard range, or a custom fabric, can extend that — the date is confirmed at the order stage, not from the catalogue.
Yes, samples are quoted separately. The cost is discussed against your first bulk order, so a serious buyer is not paying twice for the same chair.
30% deposit and 70% before shipment, by T/T. For a first order the deposit is what triggers production, so the clock starts when it lands, not when the PO is issued.
Commercial invoice, packing list, and the bill of lading under your nominated trade term (FOB, CIF or EXW). If your broker needs a certificate of origin or a test report, ask at the quoting stage, not after the container is loaded.
All buying guides — thirteen articles on sizing, pricing, importing and specifying.
