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 →How to Evaluate a Smart Lock Supplier: Nine Questions
Most supplier evaluations fail because they ask about price first and capability never. These nine questions are ordered so that each answer makes the next one easier to judge, and every one of them has a checkable answer.
1. Show me your incoming material and in-process inspection records
Ask for the actual records, not a description of the process. A factory that runs incoming checks has sheets with dates, batch numbers and the values measured.
Swipe the table sideways to see the full specification →
| What to ask for | Incoming inspection sheets and in-process check records |
|---|---|
| Good answer | Dated records with batch numbers and measured values |
| Weak answer | A description of the process with no records attached |
| Why it matters | Records are the only way a defect can be traced later |
2. How is the first article checked on a new specification?
The first assembled unit of a new specification should be measured against the confirmed drawing before the run continues. Ask what happens if it fails.
- Who measures it, and against which document
- Whether the result is written down and kept
- What happens to the units already assembled if it fails
- Whether photographs of the first article are sent to the buyer
3. How do you record which version I am buying?
Most disputes are version disputes. Ask how the firmware, the app version and the hardware revision are recorded, and where you can see them.
Swipe the table sideways to see the full specification →
| Recorded at quote | Firmware, app version, hardware revision on the quotation |
|---|---|
| Recorded on the sample | The same three, on the sample you keep |
| Recorded at production | Batch number tied to the confirmed specification |
| Changed later | Only with written approval against the approved sample |
4. Does the MOQ on your website apply to my order?
Website MOQ is usually the smallest order the line will take, not the smallest order you can place. Ask what the real minimum is for the specification you want, including the packaging.
Packaging is often the hidden threshold: a printed colour box has a print run minimum that is higher than the product minimum.
5. Who pays freight, insurance and clearance?
| EXW | Buyer collects at the factory | Lowest unit price, most buyer work |
|---|---|---|
| FOB | Seller to the ship | The most common basis for buyers with a forwarder |
| CIF | Seller to the destination port | Includes freight and insurance |
| DDP | Seller to the buyer's address | Includes clearance and duties |
Compare quotations on the same term. A low EXW price and a high DDP price may be the same number once freight and duty are added.
6. What happens when the goods arrive wrong?
The answer should describe a sequence, not a promise. Ask what evidence is needed and what the remedies are.
- A written root-cause answer, with the batch traced
- Replacement parts, a credit, or a swap in the next shipment
- Who pays the freight on the replacement
- What is done to stop the same fault recurring
7. Which parts do you make, and which do you buy in?
Almost nobody makes everything. What matters is whether the supplier knows the difference, and whether the bought-in parts are inspected on arrival.
Swipe the table sideways to see the full specification →
| Made in house | Bodies, panels, assembly, testing, packing |
|---|---|
| Bought in | Boards, sensors, batteries, springs, packaging |
| The question that matters | Which of those are inspected on arrival, and how |
8. Can you send a sample before I commit to a bulk order?
Yes is the only useful answer, and the follow-up is whether the sample cost is refundable against the bulk order. Samples ship in 3-7 days from a confirmed specification.
9. Which certifications apply to the model I am ordering?
Ask for the certificate numbers and the model they cover, not for a list of standards the company holds in general.
- Whether the certificate names this model or the family
- Whether it is a product approval or a management-system certificate
- Whether the report can be released for your own market filing
- Which markets the certificate does not cover
A management-system certificate such as ISO 9001 says how the factory is run. It is not a product approval, and a supplier who blurs the two has not answered the question.
Buyer Questions
Three questions this guide usually raises.
On this topic
How do I tell a factory from a trading company?
Ask which parts are made in house and ask to see the in-process records. A trading company can describe a process but cannot produce dated inspection sheets.
Should I visit the factory?
A live video walkthrough answers most of it, and third-party inspection by SGS, BV or TUV can be booked at the factory before shipment.
Is a lower price worth switching supplier for?
Only against the same specification and the same trade term. Compare line items rather than totals, because material, body, app version and packaging all move the number.
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 →