Smart Lock Buyer FAQ: Eight Questions That Decide an Order

Buyer Guide · Published 2026-10-06

Eighteen questions come up again and again. Eight of them decide whether an order succeeds, so they are answered here in full. The shorter versions, with the rest of the list, are on the FAQ page.

Will the lock actually fit my door?

This is the question that decides the order, and it is answered by a measurement rather than by a catalogue. Send a photo of the door edge with a ruler against it and we confirm the mortise body, the backset, the door thickness and the handing.

Most models fit 35-55 mm and mortise models can be configured for 40-120 mm. Where a door has already been cut, a non-standard body may be needed, and that is engineered from the measurement rather than refused.

What is the real minimum order?

One carton (20 pcs) for smart padlocks and 30 sets for smart door locks, with mixed models accepted inside one trial order.

Printed packaging usually sets a higher practical minimum than the lock itself, so tell us the quantity and we will say what is achievable at that level.

Does the app unlock the lock, or only ask it to?

Active unlock opens the lock from the phone without touching it, and Tuya Bluetooth and TTLock versions support it. The older Tuya Wi-Fi generation is request-based: the lock is pressed first and the app confirms.

State the requirement in writing on the enquiry and test it on the sample. This is the most common and most expensive misunderstanding in the category.

How do I test before committing to a bulk order?

Order a sample. Samples ship in 3-7 days, the sample cost is refundable against the first bulk order, and a working video is sent before dispatch.

Fit the sample to a real door or locker, not a bench, and run it for a few days so the battery behaviour shows.

Can I put my brand on it, and what does that change?

Logo, colour box, manual language and master carton marking are all built from your artwork, and a digital proof is approved before anything is printed.

Printing is the one part of the order that cannot be adjusted later, which is why the proof is approved in writing first.

Which documents will I receive?

Form E and other origin documents, commercial invoice, packing list and B/L are issued in house, together with CE, FCC, RoHS and REACH copies for the models ordered.

Tell us the destination and whether you need the pack for customs or for a marketplace listing, because they are not always the same set.

What happens if units arrive faulty?

Electronic parts carry a 12-month warranty. Send the batch number and photos or video of the fault.

For a batch problem we send a written root-cause answer and then replacement parts, a credit or a swap in the next shipment. Goods are rarely returned to China, which is why claims are settled by replacement rather than by return.

How long will it take?

Samples 3-7 days, trial orders 10-15 days and bulk orders 20-35 days, counted from the later of the deposit and the approved sample or artwork.

Rush production can be arranged where a project date is fixed, and shipping time is confirmed against your forwarder schedule.