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 →What You Receive Before the Goods Ship
The balance payment normally falls due before the goods leave. Everything in this list exists so that decision is made on evidence rather than on trust, and so that a problem is found while it is still inexpensive to fix.
1. The confirmed specification sheet
Swipe the table sideways to see the full specification →
| What it names | Model, colour, finish, body, app version and firmware version |
|---|---|
| What else | Packaging, manual language and carton marking |
| What it does | Becomes the reference the batch is checked against |
| What to do with it | Compare it against your purchase order line by line |
2. Assembly photographs
Photographs from the production line, taken during assembly rather than staged afterwards. They show the batch exists and that the parts going into it are the ones specified.
- The body and the panel being assembled
- The electronics and the battery contacts
- The finish on a sample of units
- The units stacked before packing
3. A working video
A short video of a finished unit being operated: fingerprint, keypad, card or app, whichever the model uses, plus the mechanical key. This is the check that catches a firmware or wiring problem before the container is sealed.
4. Packing and carton marking photographs
Swipe the table sideways to see the full specification →
| Inner packing | The colour box, tray and manual as packed |
|---|---|
| Master carton | Quantity per carton, and the carton closed |
| Marking | Shipping marks and barcode against your artwork |
| Pallet or loose | How the cartons are presented for loading |
This is the last point at which a wrong barcode or a wrong manual language can be corrected at the factory rather than in your warehouse.
5. Document copies before the originals
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Form E or the relevant origin document
- Bill of lading draft
- Battery declaration if the goods contain a lithium battery
Draft documents are sent for you to check the consignee, the description and the values before the originals are issued. Correcting a bill of lading after issue is slow and sometimes expensive.
6. Who signs off, and what happens if something is wrong
Swipe the table sideways to see the full specification →
| Who checks | The person who raised the purchase order, against the specification sheet |
|---|---|
| If the finish is wrong | Corrected at the factory before dispatch |
| If the marking is wrong | Reprinted before loading |
| If a function fails | Diagnosed and fixed before the container is sealed |
| Third-party inspection | SGS, BV or TUV can be booked at the factory instead |
Where an inspection is booked, the report is issued before dispatch and the balance is normally settled after a passing report.
Ask for all six before the balance payment rather than after. Every one of them is cheaper to act on while the goods are still at the factory.
Buyer Questions
Three questions this guide usually raises.
On this topic
What should I check before paying the balance?
The confirmed specification sheet, assembly and packing photographs, a working video, the carton marking, and the draft documents. All six should arrive before you pay.
Can I book a third-party inspection?
Yes. SGS, BV or TUV can inspect at the factory, and the report is issued before dispatch so the balance can be settled against a passing report.
What if the carton marking is wrong?
It is reprinted before loading. That is precisely why the packing photographs are sent before dispatch rather than after.
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 →