If you import sanitary ware in volume, freight is not a line item you can ignore — it is where margin is quietly lost. A pedestal basin is awkward: tall, top-heavy, dense, and unforgiving of rough handling. This article explains how we pack, load, and protect solid surface pedestal sinks for ocean freight from our South China production region, and what to do if a unit arrives damaged despite it.
Why packaging is the whole battle
Solid surface is denser than most sanitary materials (roughly 2.0–2.2 g/cm³), so a single pedestal basin typically weighs 25–40 kg depending on model. Density is good for feel and durability, but it means a dropped unit carries real impact energy. The packing system has one job: keep that mass from meeting a hard surface, in any orientation, through multiple handlings between our dock and your site.
We do not treat packaging as an afterthought or a cost to trim. For a 200-room shipment, a few percentage points of breakage can erase the savings of a better unit price.
The crate build
Every basin is packed as a single unit:
- The basin sits in a custom-cut corrugated carton lined with EPP / polyethylene foam at all contact faces — rim, basin interior, and pedestal ends.
- The carton is then reinforced with a wooden frame or, for consolidated orders, a full wooden crate. The wood keeps the carton from being crushed when stacked or when adjacent cargo shifts.
- Corner posts and internal dunnage hold the unit centered so it cannot rattle inside the box.
- Each carton is banded and clearly marked with orientation arrows, model code, and handling labels.
For less-than-container (LCL) or mixed shipments, individual crates are built tougher because they share space with unrelated cargo. For full-container (FCL) orders, the same single-unit protection applies, with the crate engineered for stacked loading.
Container loading
Bathroom sinks move in 40HQ containers as a rule. The exact piece count depends on the models in the order — basin dimensions and whether you are mixing pedestal heights — so we quote pieces-per-container per order rather than publishing a single fixed number. As a planning figure, a 40HQ holds a meaningful volume of pedestals; your actual count comes from the specific mix.
Loading practice:
- Units stand or lie per their carton orientation marks; we do not override the arrow.
- Heavy, uniform cartons are block-stacked and braced with inflatable dunnage or plywood bulkheads so nothing shifts in transit.
- A load plan is prepared before stuffing so weight is distributed and the container door is secured against movement.
Damage-rate control before the crate closes
Most breakage is decided before the container is sealed, not at sea. Our controls:
- In-line and pre-crating inspection. Our own QC team is on site at the production facility and inspects every unit before crating — checking for cracks, edge chips, finish defects, and dimensional accuracy.
- Photo records. Key stages are photographed: unit acceptance, packed carton, and loaded container. These become your evidence if a claim arises.
- Dedicated casting capacity. Production slots are reserved for our orders, which lets us control batch quality rather than competing for spot capacity.
- Factory visibility. Buyers are welcome to visit the facility in person or by live video. Seeing the line and the packing bench settles more doubts than any spec sheet.
We are candid about our model: we are not a factory in the sense of owning the building. We work with a partner production facility and run our own inspection and packing discipline on top of it. That separation is exactly why the on-site QC step matters, and why we can stand behind the count that leaves our dock.
Transit and what you are buying
For B2B orders we quote FOB (Free On Board) at the load port. Ocean transit to the U.S. West Coast runs roughly 2–4 weeks depending on the carrier and season; add time for the East Coast or Europe. We can arrange onward freight, but the standard wholesale term keeps the buyer in control of the forwarding.
For B2C retail orders on our site, units are quoted EXW — door-to-door DDP (freight + duties included) available on request — by consolidated sea freight plus final-mile delivery — have your forwarder cost the specific lane rather than working from a generic per-unit figure. That is a different motion from bulk FOB and is priced accordingly.
If a unit arrives damaged
A clear claim protects everyone. Steps:
- Note it on the delivery receipt. If the carton shows crush or puncture, write "damaged carton" before you sign. Concealed damage is harder to recover.
- Photograph immediately. Carton condition, the unit, the defect, and the container number / seal. Do this before moving the goods into storage.
- Notify us within the claim window stated in your order terms (commonly a few business days of delivery). Late notice complicates recovery.
- We review the photo record from pre-crating. If the unit left sound and arrived broken, we file or support the claim per the Incoterm and insurance in place, and arrange a replacement or credit.
The single most common failure is a buyer who signs clean, stores the carton for two weeks, then opens it. At that point the carrier is out of the loop and recovery is slow or impossible. Open and inspect on arrival.
Freight cost components (planning table)
| Component | Who typically owns it (FOB) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Inland China trucking to port | Seller | Included to FOB point |
| Export clearance | Seller | Standard |
| Ocean freight | Buyer / forwarder | Quoted separately |
| Insurance | Buyer (recommended) | Add for full protection |
| Destination port + delivery | Buyer | Your freight forwarder |
| Duties / tariffs | Buyer | Confirm HS classification with broker |
Frequently asked questions
How many pedestal sinks fit in a 40HQ? It depends on the models and whether you mix sizes; we provide the exact piece count on each quote rather than a fixed figure.
Do you insure the shipment? Under FOB the buyer normally arranges insurance. We strongly recommend it and will supply packing and weight data to support the policy.
What if the carton looks fine but the basin is cracked? Photograph the unit and carton on opening, note it promptly, and we will compare against our pre-crating records to resolve the claim.
Can I watch the packing? Yes. Factory visits in person or by live video are welcome, including the crating bench.
Is DDP available for wholesale? DDP is our B2C model. Wholesale is quoted FOB so buyers keep control of freight and customs; we can introduce forwarding partners if needed.
Talk to us about your shipment
Send your model list, quantities, and destination port and we will return packing data, pieces per 40HQ, and an FOB quote — plus a look at the crating process by video if you want it.
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