ANSWERS, WITHOUT THE SALES SCRIPT.
The questions serious ceramic buyers ask before the first purchase order — answered the way we answer them on calls, with the numbers stated as typical where they are typical.
MOQ & PAYMENT
What is your minimum order quantity?+
Stock lines typically start at 500 pieces per item. Custom development — new molds, custom glazes — typically runs 1,000–3,000 pieces per item, driven by mold and glaze setup. These are typical figures; the final MOQ is confirmed per SKU in your quote.
Can I mix several SKUs in one order?+
Yes — container programs can consolidate mixed SKUs across dinnerware and teaware. Each item still carries its own MOQ, and mixed loads are planned so carton counts and packing stay within what the kiln line can run consistently.
What are your payment terms?+
Payment terms are set out order by order in the Proforma Invoice (PI) — we do not publish fixed terms on this site. Your quote and the PI together define price validity, quantity, lead time, Incoterms and payment.
SAMPLES
Can I get samples before mass production?+
Always — sampling is a mandatory gate in our process, not an option. Golden samples are approved against written criteria, then signed and stored, so the mass run is checked against the exact piece you approved.
How are samples shipped and charged?+
Samples move by air courier DDP — duties handled on our side, so nothing is collected at your door. Sample and courier costs are quoted per request before you commit; there are no surprise invoices afterwards.
PRODUCTION & LEAD TIME
How long does production take?+
It depends on the item, glaze and quantity — a 28-piece underglaze set and a single mug model do not share a schedule. Sampling comes first; the production window is then stated in your quote and fixed in the PI. We give dates we can hold, not dates that win the inquiry.
When do I get a firm delivery date?+
At PI stage. The PI carries the production schedule, the written packaging standard and the shipping window, so the date you plan against is a documented one — not a verbal estimate.
What transit times should I plan for?+
Typical windows, marked as typical: air freight to the US about 5–10 days and to Europe about 7–15 days; US sea express 15–25 days; China–Europe rail 18–35 days at roughly a third of air cost. Samples and pilot orders move by air; reorders move by sea or rail.
COMPLIANCE & TESTING
Which food-contact standard applies to my market?+
The destination decides: the US works to FDA 21 CFR 109.16; the EU to EC 84/500/EEC with the CE marking and Declaration of Conformity obligations added by 2005/31/EC; Germany adds LFGB testing, widely treated as the strictest benchmark; California adds Prop 65. Tell us the market and we build the program to the matching standard.
What do the FDA limits mean for my items?+
FDA 21 CFR 109.16 sets lead action levels by item type — 3.0 µg/mL for flatware, 2.0 for small hollowware, 0.5 for cups and mugs, measured in a 4% acetic acid leach — with cadmium levels enforced under CPG 545.400. We quote against the levels that apply to your exact items, not to an average.
Do you hold certifications?+
We do not hang certificates on a wall. Third-party lab migration test reports are available on request, per standard and per batch. Programs are specified so compliance is designed in: high-fired bodies and underglaze or sealed-color decoration structurally lower lead and cadmium migration risk.
PACKAGING & SHIPPING
How do you pack ceramics for transit?+
To a written fragile-grade standard: each piece wrapped in honeycomb paper or bubble wrap, air-pillow cushioning inside five-layer export cartons. Marketplace-bound sets are packed individually and drop-tested through 125 cm on face, edge and corner. Sea freight travels on pallets with EPE corner protection and IPPC-compliant wooden crates or fumigation-free plywood boxes.
What happens if pieces arrive broken?+
Badly protected ceramics break at roughly 5–8% in transit according to industry and insurer data — which is why packaging here is a written standard, not an afterthought. Every quote includes a damage allowance and claim terms; the exact ratio is set in the SLA when we sign.
Can you deliver DDP with duties paid?+
Yes — with the numbers shown. US-bound programs run DDP with duties prepaid; the de minimis shortcut ended on 29 August 2025, so every parcel clears properly. Into the EU, the unified 79.0% anti-dumping duty (Regulation (EU) 2026/274, applicable since 7 February 2026) is stated explicitly, in or out of the price. UK orders use the company-specific rate channel (13.1–36.1%).
ASK US THE HARD VERSION OF YOUR QUESTION.
If the honest answer is that a program is not worth running, you will get that answer too — usually within 24 hours.