Buyer questions · Procurement answers
FAQ
Clear starting points for international buyers planning custom casework, selected furniture packages and commercial interior projects.
01 · Before quotation
Make the first review useful.
A useful first review separates confirmed scope from open decisions, so early pricing does not hide assumptions.
What should be included in a custom casework RFQ?
Share available plans, elevations, schedules or BOQ, quantities, finish direction, hardware expectations, destination market, delivery window and the quotation basis required. Mark unresolved items as open rather than allowing different suppliers to price different assumptions.
Can MARFA develop furniture from a concept image?
Yes, a concept image can establish visual intent and start a feasibility review. Reliable pricing and production still require dimensions, construction decisions, material standards, interfaces and approved drawings; reference images should never be treated as complete manufacturing information.
What if the drawings or quantities are incomplete?
Send the current revision and identify missing rooms, quantities or decisions. The first response can then separate budget allowances from confirmed scope and issue a clarification list before a production quotation is prepared.
Can custom casework and ready-made furniture be quoted together?
They can be coordinated under one project brief, but they should remain separate schedules because engineering, sampling, minimum quantities, packing and approval routes differ. This makes the commercial comparison and installation handoff much clearer.
02 · Commercial & sampling
Compare like with like.
Price, sample and timing discussions become more reliable when inclusions, exclusions and approval gates are written into the same scope.
How should buyers compare quotations from different furniture suppliers?
Compare the same drawing revision, quantities, material build-up, hardware, finish standard, testing, packing, freight basis and installation responsibility. A lower total may simply exclude shop drawings, samples, special packaging, destination charges or site services.
What are the minimum order quantities?
MOQ varies by product category, finish, hardware and packing method. Send the product mix and quantities, and we will confirm the most practical order structure in the written quotation.
Are samples or first articles charged?
Finish samples, mock-ups and first articles may involve material, tooling, freight or development cost. The quotation should state what is included, whether any amount is credited to production, who approves the sample and what happens if the specification changes afterward.
How are lead time and payment terms confirmed?
Both are project-specific and should be stated in the formal quotation. The production clock should begin only after the agreed deposit, approved drawings, confirmed finishes and released materials; payment milestones should distinguish samples, production, inspection and shipment release.
03 · Engineering & materials
Resolve interfaces before production.
Most expensive corrections begin where cabinetry meets architecture, appliances, stone, lighting, services or another trade.
Who prepares and approves the shop drawings?
The responsible supplier can develop manufacturing drawings from the issued design information, but the approval route must be agreed. The buyer, designer and relevant trades should verify dimensions, appearance, interfaces and revision status before production release.
Can materials be substituted to meet budget or performance targets?
Alternatives can be proposed, but they should be compared by substrate, visible finish, durability, emissions or compliance needs, cleaning conditions and availability. No substitution should enter production until the changed specification and sample are approved in writing.
Can buyers specify preferred hardware brands?
Yes. State the required brand, series, finish, function and performance level. If an equivalent is allowed, define the acceptance criteria and require the proposed alternative to be identified in the quotation and approved before ordering.
How should site dimensions and installation tolerances be handled?
Identify who measures, when dimensions are frozen and which clearances or fillers absorb site variation. Critical interfaces with walls, floors, ceilings, appliances, stone and MEP services should be verified before drawings are released.
04 · Quality, export & after-sales
Make approval and handoff inspectable.
A clear evidence plan protects the buyer at production, packing, shipment and post-delivery stages.
How are finish and quality expectations controlled?
Define an approved physical reference, key dimensions, functional checks, workmanship limits and the evidence required at each inspection point. Colour and grain should be reviewed under an agreed lighting condition, especially when several batches or materials must coordinate.
What should a sample or first-article approval confirm?
Confirm appearance, construction, dimensions, hardware operation, interfaces, labels and packing method. Record the approved reference and any accepted deviation so the production batch can be checked against one controlled standard.
What should export packing and shipment records include?
Agree protection, moisture considerations, carton or crate construction, labels, room or zone references, handling marks and loading sequence. Shipment-release records should connect package IDs to the packing list and the approved project scope.
What compliance documents and after-sales evidence should buyers request?
Verify that every report or certificate matches the supplying entity, product, model, material, destination and validity claimed. For shortages, transit damage or quality claims, agree the reporting window and retain package labels, quantities, photographs, videos and inspection records so the cause and remedy can be assessed.