Buyer's Guide
Sourcing Floor Tiles from a B2B Exporter: What Importers Should Ask
A good exporter does more than ship boxes — they handle documentation, consolidation and the questions you don't know to ask until something goes wrong. Here's what to confirm upfront.
Documentation to ask for before you order
At minimum, expect a commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and a pre-shipment quality report. Some destination markets add their own requirements — ask your customs broker what's needed for your country rather than assuming the exporter's default paperwork covers it.
Sample requests and lead times
Request physical samples for any size or finish you haven't ordered before — catalogue photos don't show glaze variation accurately. Sample shipping typically takes a few days longer than you'd expect by air, so build that into your timeline if you're working to a project deadline.
Export-readiness: licensing and compliance
Confirm the exporter holds a valid IEC (Import Export Code) and, where relevant, any destination-specific compliance your customs broker flags. This is a basic check but worth doing explicitly rather than assuming.
Choosing an Incoterm
FOB and CIF are the two most common choices for a first order — see our FOB vs CIF guide for which usually makes more sense depending on whether you'd rather control the shipping leg yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
What documents come with a floor tile export shipment?
At minimum a commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and a pre-shipment quality report. Some markets require additional destination-specific paperwork.
How long does it take to get samples?
Sample shipping usually takes a few days longer than standard air freight estimates suggest — build in buffer time if you're working to a deadline.
Which Incoterm should a first-time importer choose?
FOB and CIF are the two most common starting points. See our FOB vs CIF guide for how to decide based on how much of the shipping leg you want to control yourself.