Questions clients ask before they order
Where this page and the PI for your order differ, the PI applies.
What does FBM Furniture do?
FBM Furniture is the furniture sourcing line of FBM Sourcing Limited. We manage the complete furniture package for overseas commercial projects — sourced from the factories that run the production lines, then drawings, production follow-up, quality control, consolidation into full containers, loading, export documents and after-sales. One company for the whole package.
Are you a factory, a trading company or a sourcing agent — and whose side are you on?
We are a sourcing agent, working on your side. We do not manufacture, run a showroom or sell a range. We choose the factory for your project against your drawings, and if the factory falls short it is our job to make it right. All quotations, invoices and shipping documents you receive are issued by FBM Sourcing — you deal with us, and we carry the responsibility. For suppliers you nominate, we charge a 5% commission; for products we source for you, we quote a direct price.
Who are your clients?
Companies buying furniture for a project: FF&E contractors, developers and hotel owners, general contractors, interior design and construction companies, and furniture distributors — with an FF&E schedule, drawings or a product list, and volumes that ship in full containers. Our clients are companies, not private individuals furnishing a single home. Our main markets are North America and Australia; we have also shipped orders for clients in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Middle East and the Bahamas.
What is your minimum order?
A full container. Product groups of the same project can share containers, and we consolidate goods from several factories into full containers. We do not ship loose cargo, shared containers, or e-commerce single units.
We already have suppliers in China. Can you manage those orders — and what does the 5% cover?
Yes — that is our second model. You keep your supplier; we manage the order for a 5% commission, which covers specification and PI check, drawing coordination, production follow-up, quality control, consolidation into full containers, loading and export documents. The supplier’s charge for delivering the goods from its premises to the loading point is added to your order at cost. After-sales is not included: claims fall under the supplier’s own warranty, and we can help you coordinate. For products we source for you, we quote a direct price instead.
Do you have a catalogue or a price list?
No. We are not a supplier with a range, so there is no price list. We quote against your specification: send your FF&E schedule or product list and we price it line by line.
What do you need from us to quote?
An FF&E schedule or product list, room by room, with quantities, plus drawings for any custom pieces; the specification or a reference photo or link for each item; your fabric and finish selections; and where your project is, so we check the standards your market requires. The more precise your list, the more precise our match.
Can we order samples first?
Yes, for large orders. Samples are charged at twice the bulk unit price, one unit price refunded when the bulk order is placed, and couriered to you for approval before production, courier at your cost.
Can you run the project remotely if we cannot travel?
Yes. For company clients with a defined specification we work from your list and drawings, send photos and video of shortlisted products, courier samples and fabric and finish swatches, and walk you through selections on video calls.
Who inspects the goods?
Our own QC team, once bulk production is finished and before shipment: quantities, dimensions, finish, fabric and foam, hardware and packing, checked against the signed-off specification. Any item below standard is recorded in the inspection report. You receive the report with photos and video before shipment, then a loading report. Your own project team is welcome to attend the inspection with us.
How long does it take?
Custom products: after the deposit allow one to two months for shop drawings, material lists and finish samples, then about two months of production — three to four months in total — plus sea freight, which depends on destination. Non-custom products: about two months from deposit to shipment. All dates are estimates.
What are the payment terms?
The deposit is stated on your PI, and the balance including sea freight is paid before shipment. Payments go only to the company account named on your PI — never to an individual, never to a factory. We do not change bank details by e-mail; if you receive such a message, video-call us before sending anything.
Can we contact the factories directly?
Suppliers you nominated yourself — of course: they are your relationships, and we manage the order. Factories we source for you — no, all communication runs through us, by design. We contract with the factory in our own name, and that contract is what protects you. We can take you to the factories.
What warranty do products carry, and what if something arrives damaged?
Every product we source carries a warranty period stated on the PI. Within warranty we replace free of charge (replacement supplied ex-works China, you pay the freight) or compensate. Transit damage: report it within 3 working days of arrival with photos and video so a claim can be raised with the carrier, insurer or factory.
How does FBM Furniture relate to FBM Sourcing?
FBM Furniture is the furniture sourcing line of FBM Sourcing Limited. If your project also needs building materials — doors and windows, cabinets, tiles and stone, sanitary ware, lighting — the same company sources them at fbmsourcing.com.
Which price terms do you quote?
Our standard price term is EXW, with C&F on request and DDP for certain markets such as the United States. Sea freight is quoted before shipment.
Can we use our own freight forwarder?
Yes. We arrange container loading, sea freight and documents, normally with our own forwarder, and send a loading report so unloading is easy. If you nominate a forwarder, we book with it.
Who checks compliance, and when?
Compliance is checked before we quote: the first step in choosing a factory is checking that it holds the test reports or certifications for that specific product in your market. Your specifier or certifier decides what applies to your project. Our compliance page shows examples by market.
Do you provide drawings and installation support?
For custom pieces, the factory prepares shop drawings and a material list, and nothing goes into production until you have signed them off. We provide detailed drawings and instructions for installation; we do not normally send staff to site.
Can we start with one product group?
Many clients start with one category. We share examples of previous quotations to show the price range; further sourcing work requires an upfront sourcing fee, fully credited toward your first order.
Still have a question?
Introduce your project and send the schedule first, then a video call, then the details.