How to Place a First Smart Lock Order Without Wasting a Quarter
The sequence that turns a first order into a repeat programme.
Read the article →Comparing Smart Lock Suppliers on the Same Basis
Most supplier comparisons fail before the numbers are looked at. Two quotations for the same lock at different prices are usually two different specifications on two different trade terms, and the difference is in the terms rather than in the supplier.
Put both quotations on the same basis first
Swipe the table sideways to see the full specification →
| Specification | Material, finish, body, app version and packaging matched line by line |
|---|---|
| Trade term | EXW, FOB, CIF or DDP - and whether duty and VAT are inside the DDP figure |
| Quantity | The same order quantity, because the price breaks differ |
| Currency | Converted at the same date, not at two different rates |
| Payment terms | A deposit percentage is a financing cost, not a price |
The nine dimensions worth comparing
- What the price includes: unit only, or packaging and documentation as well
- Certification scope: which model the certificate actually names
- App ecosystem: Tuya or TTLock, and whether active unlock is included
- MOQ: the real minimum for your specification, including the packaging
- Lead time: samples, trial and bulk, and what starts the clock
- Customisation depth: marking only, or packaging and non-standard bodies
- Quality evidence: inspection records and first-article procedure
- After-sales: response commitment and where spare parts come from
- Trade support: whether the supplier will ship to a forwarder or handle DDP
What each dimension actually tells you
Swipe the table sideways to see the full specification →
| Certification naming the model | Whether the document is usable for your market filing |
|---|---|
| App ecosystem and version | Whether the product does what the end user was promised |
| Real MOQ including packaging | Whether a first order can be small enough to be a test |
| What starts the lead-time clock | Whether an early artwork decision actually saves time |
| Inspection records | Whether a defect could ever be traced to a cause |
| Response commitment by severity | What happens in the first two hours of a problem |
Where a lower price is genuinely better
- A simpler packaging specification, where the market does not need a retail box
- Lock-only supply where you already hold body stock
- A higher quantity, where the price break is real rather than a rounding of the same number
- A trade term that shifts work to you, where you already have an import setup
Those are real savings. A lower price for a different material, a different app version or a different trade term is not a saving; it is a different product.
Questions that separate a factory from a trader
Swipe the table sideways to see the full specification →
| Which parts do you make in house? | A factory can name the stages it owns |
|---|---|
| Show me the incoming inspection records | Records exist or they do not |
| Who measures the first article, against which document? | A procedure, or a blank |
| How is the firmware version recorded? | A system, or a memory |
| Which certificate names this model? | A scope, or a list of standards |
Ask the same nine questions of every supplier and write the answers side by side. The comparison becomes obvious once the answers are in the same format.
Buyer Questions
Three questions this guide usually raises.
On this topic
How do I compare two quotations properly?
Match the specification, the trade term, the quantity and the currency first. Until those four are the same, the prices are not comparable.
Is a lower unit price always better?
Only on the same specification and the same term. A lower price for a different material, app version or trade term is a different product, not a saving.
How do I tell a factory from a trader?
Ask which parts are made in house and ask to see the in-process inspection records. A trader can describe a process but cannot produce dated sheets.
Related Reading
How to Measure a Door for a Smart Lock: A Photo Guide
Five photos and three numbers are usually enough to confirm the fit.
Read the article →OEM Packaging for Smart Locks: From Artwork to Sealed Carton
The packaging is the part buyers underestimate, and the part that cannot be changed once it is printed.
Read the article →