Straight answers on stainless grades, container capacity, minimum orders, verifying a factory, and the documents an import needs — from what we do every week, not from a brochure.
The difference is nickel: grade 304 contains around 8% nickel, which gives it high corrosion resistance, while 430 contains none and is less resistant and cheaper. In a humid bathroom, and with mineral-rich water, 430 develops surface rust spotting over time while 304 holds up. The difference is invisible on delivery, so we ask for the grade in writing on the quotation and verify it at inspection.
There is no fixed number, because the count is calculated by volume rather than by unit. A standard 40-foot container holds around 67 cubic metres and a High Cube around 76. Divide the available volume by the packed volume of one set and deduct 5 to 10% for stowage loss. We calculate the exact count once sizes and packing are fixed with the factory.
It varies with the shipping line and whether the service is direct or via transhipment, and schedules shift seasonally. So we do not quote a fixed figure in advance: we confirm the expected transit with the line itself at booking, put it in writing in the shipment confirmation, and then track the container to arrival. Any number given before booking is an estimate, not a commitment.
It differs by factory and by item, and there is no single rule across the Turkish market. Some factories accept small quantities of stock items; others set a minimum per colour or size because they produce to order. The approach we most often use is consolidating items from several factories into one container, so you can try an item in a small quantity without committing to a full container for it.
Ask for a copy of the tax certificate (Vergi Levhası), check the company's tax number, and confirm the bank account name matches the company name on the certificate exactly. Then arrange a site visit, or someone to visit on your behalf, because the difference between a real factory and a trader reselling does not show in correspondence. We do not shortlist a factory we have not visited ourselves.
LCL means your goods occupy part of a container shared with other shipments, and you pay for the volume you use rather than for a full container. It suits small orders and testing a new item before committing to volume. The trade-offs are a higher cost per cubic metre, a longer transit because of consolidation and deconsolidation, and more handling of the goods.
The core documents are usually a commercial invoice, a packing list, a bill of lading, a certificate of origin, and a conformity certificate through the SABER platform for items that require one. Requirements differ by item and are updated periodically, so we review them per item before shortlisting a factory rather than after payment. Customs clearance itself goes through your broker in Saudi Arabia.
Yes, and it is among the things we do most. We collect the goods from each factory, consolidate them in one warehouse, inspect them together, then load a single container with one packing list. The benefit is that you can test several items or diversify your purchase without committing to a full container per factory, and you save on freight compared with separate shipments.
In our case: a percentage agreed in writing before work begins, calculated on the value of the goods at the factory. The factory price you see in the offer is its actual price, and we add no hidden margin to it. This differs from a trader who buys on their own account and resells to you at a higher price without you ever seeing the original factory price.
Moisture-resistant MDF is made with resins that reduce water absorption and swelling, and is identified commercially by the green tint through the core of the board. Standard MDF absorbs humidity and swells at the edges and cut lines, which is the first point to fail in a bathroom unit. The price difference is far smaller than the cost of replacing the unit, so we specify the type in the purchase order and check it at inspection.
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