Shipping Policy
Our prices cover delivery to your designated China port. The international leg — freight, customs and duties — is arranged by you or quoted by us on request.
Last updated · 19 August 2026Sample Lead Time
Ex-works Zhongshan, China
Bulk Production
Depends on order quantity & finish
China Port Delivery
Included in every price
Freight Quote
On request, or arrange your own
1. What Your Price Includes
Every product price on staylighting.com includes domestic transport from our factory in Zhongshan to your designated China port (e.g. Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Ningbo) — packing, palletising and domestic freight are covered.
Not included: international freight, export/import customs clearance, duties, taxes and any destination fees. These are either arranged by you (via your own freight forwarder) or quoted by us — see Section 3.
In short: you pay for the goods delivered to a Chinese port; everything beyond that point is a separate, transparent conversation.
2. Production Lead Times
All fixtures are made-to-order in our Zhongshan facility. Production lead time is calculated from the date your payment clears, not from the order date.
| Order Type | Lead Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sample (1 unit) | 5–7 working days | Brass or copper finish in stock; custom finishes +2 days |
| Small order (2–10 units) | 10–18 working days | Most standard SKUs ready within 2 weeks |
| Bulk order (10–50 units) | 20–35 working days | Most common range for project orders |
| Large order (50–200 units) | 30–45 working days | Includes multiple QC rounds |
| Project / OEM (200+ units) | 45–75 working days | Schedule locked at PO confirmation |
Critical dates: If your hotel opening, restaurant launch or shipping milestone has a fixed date, tell us before ordering. We will confirm feasibility within 24 hours and add a buffer of at least 7 working days to the freight transit estimate.
3. The International Leg — Your Choice
Once your goods reach the designated China port, you choose how the international leg is handled:
3.1 We quote freight & customs for you
- Select "Yes — please quote freight & customs for me" at checkout and leave your destination + notes.
- After payment, we prepare a detailed freight quote (origin charges, ocean/air/express leg, destination charges, duty estimate) and confirm the total with you before dispatch.
- You pay the freight separately once the quote is confirmed — product payment and freight payment are kept transparent.
3.2 You arrange your own freight
- Select "No — I will arrange my own freight" at checkout.
- We deliver to the designated China port (included in the price) and hand over to your nominated forwarder — we provide the commercial invoice, packing list and all export documentation.
- This is the most cost-efficient option if you have a regular forwarder or a consolidated shipment.
3.3 Modes we typically quote
- Express courier (DHL · FedEx · UPS): samples and urgent orders under 100 kg — 3–7 business days door-to-door.
- Air freight: 100–500 kg, time-sensitive — 7–12 business days to most airports.
- Sea freight: 500 kg+ or project volumes — 18–35 days to major ports, best cost per kg.
4. Incoterms 2020
| Term | Included (our side) | Your responsibility | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Included | Production + QC + domestic delivery to designated China port | International freight, customs, duty, destination delivery | Every order by default |
| EXW | Production + QC at our factory | Pickup, freight, import, duty, delivery | Buyers with own freight forwarder collecting at factory |
| FOB | Production + delivery to port + export loading | Ocean freight, insurance, import, duty | Most common for sea freight |
| CIF / DAP | Production + freight to your destination port/address | Import clearance, duty | Quoted on request for larger orders |
Default: every web price is our "Included" term — delivered to the designated China port. Any international term (FOB, CIF, DAP, DDP) is quoted on request per order.
5. Transit Time Estimates (International Leg)
| Region | Express | Air | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA West Coast (LA, SF, Seattle) | 3–5 days | 5–8 days | 18–24 days |
| USA East Coast (NY, MIA, ATL) | 3–5 days | 5–8 days | 26–32 days |
| EU (DE, NL, FR, IT, ES) | 4–6 days | 5–7 days | 28–35 days |
| United Kingdom | 4–6 days | 5–7 days | 30–38 days |
| Middle East (UAE, SA, QA) | 3–5 days | 5–8 days | 22–28 days |
| Australia / New Zealand | 4–6 days | 6–9 days | 25–32 days |
| Canada (Toronto, Vancouver) | 3–5 days | 5–8 days | 26–32 days |
Estimates include consolidation, customs and typical port handling. Actual times depend on the carrier, season and route.
6. Freight Quotes
We provide a freight quote within 24 hours of your request, in writing, with a full breakdown (origin charge, ocean/air/express leg, destination charge, fuel and duty estimate where requested). No freight markup — we pass carrier rates through transparently.
Need a quick estimate before ordering? Use the enquiry form on our Buying Guide page with your country, quantity and target date.
7. Customs, Duties & Import Taxes
You are the importer of record in your country and are responsible for customs clearance unless we agree otherwise in writing. You pay any applicable import duty, VAT/GST and broker fees. We provide:
- Commercial invoice and packing list (with HS codes on request).
- Export documentation from China.
- CE / RoHS / CCC / FCC / UL test reports on request.
Note on duty rates: US Section 301 tariffs currently apply a 7.5%–25% additional tariff on Chinese-origin lighting fixtures (depending on HS code). EU lighting is typically 3.7% MFN duty. If you select our freight assistance, we include the latest duty estimates in your quote.
8. Packaging & Insurance
- Every fixture is packed with foam corners, shrink-wrap and reinforced cartons; chandeliers and crystal items use custom wooden crates for sea freight.
- Insurance is not included by default. We can arrange marine/air insurance at 0.3–0.5% of the declared value — confirm at quote stage.
9. Delivery Issues & Claims
- Transit times are estimates, not guarantees. Force majeure (port congestion, strikes, customs delays, weather) may extend them; we keep you informed.
- Damage: note any damage on the delivery receipt before signing (mark "subject to inspection" or "damaged cartons"), photograph it, and report to us within 48 hours — we then file the carrier claim. Concealed damage reported after 7 days may not be claimable.
- Missing items: compare the packing list on arrival; report shortages within 48 hours.
10. Questions?
Contact us at [email protected] or through the contact / RFQ form — we reply within one business day.