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 →How to Place a First Smart Lock Order Without Wasting a Quarter
Most first smart lock orders fail for the same few reasons: the fit was never checked, the app version was not specified, or the packaging was agreed verbally. The sequence below removes all three.
Step 1 — Define the application, not the model
Say what the lock is used on: an apartment entry door, a hotel guest room, a gym locker, a yard gate. A supplier who knows the application can steer you away from a model that will fail at it.
Step 2 — Send the measurements with the enquiry
- Door thickness, backset and handing for a door lock.
- Mortise body code or a photo of the door edge.
- Shackle size and environment for a padlock.
Step 3 — Specify the app behaviour in writing
State whether the lock must unlock actively from the phone or whether pressing the lock first is acceptable. This one line prevents the most common complaint in the category.
Step 4 — Test the sample properly
- Fit it to a real door or locker, not to a bench.
- Test every unlock method and the app, including from outside Bluetooth range if you are adding a gateway.
- Test the battery behaviour for at least a few days.
- Check the packaging against the artwork you approved.
Step 5 — Confirm the commercial terms in writing
Swipe the table sideways to see the full specification →
| MOQ | 1 carton (20 pcs) padlocks / 30 sets door locks |
|---|---|
| Samples | 3-7 days, refundable against the first bulk order |
| Trial order | 10-15 days |
| Bulk order | 20-35 days |
| Warranty | 12-month warranty on electronic parts |
| Documents | Form E, invoice, packing list and B/L |
Step 6 — Agree the update rhythm
Ask for photos or a video at the assembly and packing stages, and for packing and shipping-mark photos before dispatch. A supplier who does this by default is a supplier who will not surprise you.
Start your first order with a trial quantity
One carton of padlocks or thirty door lock sets is enough to test the fit, the app, the packaging and the paperwork.
Related Reading
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 →How to Evaluate a Smart Lock Supplier: Nine Questions
Nine questions, asked in this order, tell you more than any catalogue or price list.
Read the article →