We get the same questions from almost every new US buyer. They are good questions. Here are straight answers.

1. "How do I know the color will match the sample?"

You don't — unless the supplier proves it. Natural stone varies from block to block, so the only real protection is a dry lay: your tiles laid out in shipping order and photographed before the container is packed. Ask for this. If a supplier won't do it, that tells you something.

We do a dry lay on every container order and send photos before loading. You approve, then we seal.

2. "What does the price actually include?"

Our quotes are FOB — the price covers the goods, export packing, and delivery onto the vessel at Shanghai or Tianjin port. Ocean freight, US-side charges, and duties are yours to arrange or ours to quote separately. Either way, get the split in writing before you pay a deposit. "All-in" quotes that don't itemize freight are where surprises hide.

3. "How long does it really take?"

A typical container order runs 4–6 weeks from deposit to vessel departure: material selection and cutting, QC and dry lay, packing, then booking the sailing. Custom sizes or large mosaics can take longer. If someone promises 2 weeks for a full container of cut-to-size marble, ask what corners they plan to cut.

4. "What if tiles arrive broken or wrong?"

Breakage happens in ocean freight — the question is who handles it. Standard practice: we pack to export standard (fumigated wooden crates or pallets, foam between layers), and we photograph the loaded container. If damage is from our packing, we make it right with replacement material on the next shipment. If it's a freight-handling issue, the packing photos are your evidence for the claim. Insure the shipment. It costs little and settles arguments.

5. "Can I get samples first?"

Yes, and you should. A small box of actual material beats a hundred photos — color, texture, and finish are things you need to touch. Samples are charged at a nominal rate plus courier; we deduct the sample cost from your first order. Order the sample in the same finish you plan to buy. Polished and honed versions of the same stone can look like different materials.

6. "What's the minimum order?"

One full container is the most economical — freight per square foot drops sharply at full-container volume. That said, mixed containers (two or three products in one box) are common and we do them regularly. For anything smaller than a container, ask us; sometimes we can consolidate, sometimes air courier of samples is the honest answer.

7. "How do I pay, and is it safe?"

Standard terms in this trade are T/T: deposit to start production, balance against shipping documents. The deposit commits us to buy your block and start cutting; the balance is due when the goods are on the water and documents are in your hands. Never pay 100% upfront to a supplier you haven't worked with. And always verify bank details through a known contact — wire fraud targeting importers is real and ongoing.

That's it. No pitch. If you have an eighth question, send it over — if it's a good one, we'll add it to this page.

— The Sino-Marble Team, Shijiazhuang, China