How to import furniture hardware from China: a step-by-step guide
Buying hinges, slides and kitchen fittings directly from a factory in China is straightforward once you know the order of steps and the terms involved. This guide walks through a first order from inquiry to delivery, using WEITE's published terms as the worked example.
A first order at a glance
- Inquiry and price list within 12 business hours.
- Free samples of standard models, freight paid by the buyer and credited against the first order.
- Minimum order: one carton per order number; no container minimum.
- Payment: T/T 30% deposit, 70% against a copy of the bill of lading.
- Lead time from deposit: stock items 7 to 15 days, made-to-order 25 to 35 days, private label 35 to 45 days.
In this guide
1. Shortlist and inquiry
Start with the products your customers already buy and the models that sell most in your market. Send the supplier model numbers, variants (overlay, length, colour) and rough quantities. A clear list gets a clear price; a vague request gets a generic catalogue. WEITE replies within 12 business hours, Monday to Saturday, with a dealer price list in your currency on request.
2. Samples
Never order in volume without testing samples. WEITE sends standard models free, 1 to 2 pieces per model and up to 5 models; you pay the express freight, which is credited against your first order. When samples arrive:
- Fit them on your own doors, drawers and cabinets, with the drilling and board thickness your customers use.
- Open and close them many times; feel the soft-close and listen for noise.
- Compare finish and weight with what you sell today.
- Ask for test reports. WEITE tests in its own CNAS testing centre: soft-close hinges and slides to 50,000 open-close cycles, titanium-finish plating to 96 hours neutral salt spray, and SGS reports are available.
3. Quotation and trade terms
The price depends on where the supplier's responsibility ends. The three terms you will meet most often:
| Term | What it means | WEITE offers |
|---|---|---|
| EXW (Ex Works) | You collect the goods at the factory and arrange everything from there. | EXW at the Foshan factory |
| FOB (Free On Board) | The supplier delivers to the port of loading and clears export; you pay the sea freight and everything after. | FOB Guangzhou (Nansha) or Shenzhen (Shekou) |
| CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) | The supplier also pays freight and insurance to your port; you handle import clearance. | Quoted on request |
FOB is the usual choice for distributors with their own freight forwarder; CIF suits buyers who want one price to their port.
4. Minimum order and mixing
Factories pack by the carton, so the minimum is usually one carton per item. At WEITE that is one carton per order number: hinges 100 or 200 pieces, slides 10 or 15 pairs, connectors 1,000 per bag, kitchen pull-outs one set per carton. There is no container minimum. Small orders ship LCL (shared container), by express or by air; larger ones in a full container, and mixing all twelve product categories in one container is normal.
5. Payment
The standard term is T/T, a bank transfer: 30% deposit to start production, 70% balance against a copy of the bill of lading, the shipping document that proves the goods are on board. For orders above USD 50,000 WEITE also accepts an L/C at sight.
6. Production and lead time
Lead time is counted from the deposit. Stock items ship first, in 7 to 15 days; made-to-order items take 25 to 35 days; private-label orders 35 to 45 days. If an order mixes both, ask whether stock items should wait for the rest or ship separately.
7. Shipping and documents
Before shipment, tell the supplier which documents your customs broker needs and any marking rules in your country, such as language on the carton. Your broker will know the import duty and the documents for your market; agree them before production so cartons are packed and marked correctly the first time.
8. After delivery
Check cartons on arrival and report any defect with photos and order numbers. WEITE gives a two-year warranty from shipment against manufacturing defects; defective parts are replaced free with your next shipment. Obsidian kitchen frames carry a ten-year no-rust warranty.
Checking a supplier
- Do they make it? Ask what is produced in-house and visit if you can. WEITE's showroom is in Shunde, Foshan, about two hours from Guangzhou airport; the production base is in Jinli, Zhaoqing.
- Do they test it? Ask for cycle and salt-spray results and who tested them.
- Are order numbers stable? A fixed order number per variant makes reorders and your own catalogue simple.
- Can they grow with you? Check the range you may need later, and whether private label is possible.
Questions buyers ask
What is the minimum order when importing cabinet hardware from WEITE?
One carton per order number, for example 100 or 200 hinges or 10 to 15 pairs of slides. There is no container minimum and products from all categories can be mixed.
Which payment terms are usual?
T/T with a 30% deposit and the 70% balance against a copy of the bill of lading. WEITE accepts an L/C at sight for orders above USD 50,000.
How long does delivery take?
Counted from the deposit: stock items 7 to 15 days, made-to-order 25 to 35 days, private label 35 to 45 days, plus sea or air transit to your port.
Which port does WEITE ship from?
FOB Guangzhou (Nansha) or Shenzhen (Shekou), or EXW at the Foshan factory. CIF is quoted on request.
Are samples free?
Standard models are free, 1 to 2 pieces per model and up to 5 models. The buyer pays the express freight, which is credited against the first order.
Ready to start?
Send us your model list and target market. We reply within 12 business hours with a dealer price list and sample options.