What should an export packing specification cover?
Agree on a component-by-component packing plan before production finishes. List the slate, frame or cabinet, rails, legs, cloth and accessories separately, with package count, packed dimensions, gross weight, handling points and contents. Ask the supplier to identify which parts need moisture protection and which faces must never bear a forklift or strap load. Do not approve a packing method from a finished-table photo alone.
How should slate be protected during transit?
Approve a drawing or photos showing each slate piece restrained against movement, with protected edges and corners and separation from metal fittings. The exact crate construction and orientation depend on the slate configuration and route. Request pre-close photographs so the buyer can see the restraint, then ask for sealed-crate and container-loading photographs. Damage reports from players show why a slate claim can be expensive; they do not prove that any single crate design is universally safe.
What about solid-wood crates and pallets?
Ask whether the crate, pallet or blocking uses raw solid wood, engineered wood or another material. ISPM 15 is the international standard for treating and marking regulated raw-wood packaging; the IPPC explains that its scope covers wood used to support, protect or carry goods. Confirm the destination's current import rules with the forwarder or customs broker, and request legible treatment marks where required. Do not assume the pool table itself is certified because its transport crate has a mark.
Which documents should match the physical packages?
Request a packing list with package numbers, contents, dimensions, net and gross weight, plus matching labels on every crate. Tie the list to the commercial invoice, approved model, quantity and purchase-order revision. If optional cloth, ball sets, legs or electrical parts are packed separately, mark their crate numbers. A photo set of each numbered package helps receiving staff spot a missing or substituted item without opening every crate.
How should buyers inspect on arrival?
Before moving or opening packages, photograph the container seal, external crate condition, package numbers and any impact, water exposure or broken bands. Record visible exceptions with the carrier at delivery, then open systematically against the packing list and photograph concealed damage. Preserve packaging until the insurer, carrier and supplier have reviewed the evidence. Claim deadlines and responsibility depend on the agreed transport, insurance and sales terms, so confirm them in writing before dispatch.
What should go into an RFQ to the factory?
Send the table model and quantity, slate-piece configuration, destination and delivery route, expected container or shipment method, any local wood-packaging rule, unloading equipment and installation plan. Ask for the proposed crate drawing or photos, package list, weights, treatment evidence when applicable, loading photos, spare-parts arrangement and the written damage-reporting process. Quote product, packing and freight scopes separately so alternatives can be compared fairly.
What to include in your RFQ
For a comparable quotation, send the target billiard discipline or table model, destination country, expected order quantity, intended venue, required customization and preferred delivery window. Ask the supplier to separate the standard scope, optional items, spare parts, export packing and installation support.
Sources and buyer discussions reviewed
This guide is original factory-side guidance informed by official resources and recurring buyer questions. External links are provided for verification and context; they are not endorsements of Sundays Billiards.
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