Regular magnetic tile orders and customized projects should never share one generic delivery promise. A regular order can use the confirmed 3–7 day preparation window after order confirmation; custom packaging or product work needs its own scope, approvals and estimate, and neither figure includes international transport.
Separate the two timelines
Use “preparation,” “approval,” “production” and “transport” as separate fields. A regular order may move from confirmed SKU and quantity to preparation. A custom order can add artwork, proofing, sample approval, component changes and document review before production is even released.
| Route | First gate | What can reset the estimate | Buyer output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular model | SKU, quantity, packing and destination confirmed | SKU change, quantity change, unresolved packing or payment | Written preparation date and shipping hand-off |
| Custom packaging | Product route, dieline, artwork and languages defined | Artwork revisions, proof changes, packaging sample approval | Approved files and stage dates |
| Custom product route | Structure, components and feasibility confirmed | Engineering, tooling, sample changes or new evidence | Approved specification and development plan |
Build an approval-gate schedule
- Brief: product form, exact reference, quantity, market, channel, packaging and launch target.
- Feasibility: supplier confirms route, assumptions, exclusions, MOQ and sample stages.
- Artwork: dielines, barcode inputs, languages and print proof are approved.
- Sample: buyer records what the sample represents and sends one consolidated change list.
- Release: final product, quantity, payment, packing and document scope are written into the order record.
- Preparation or production: the agreed window starts only after its stated trigger.
- Transport: carton data, trade term, destination and freight plan are handled separately.
MagBlockPro's confirmed 3–7 day preparation statement applies to eligible regular orders after confirmation and excludes international transport. Custom timing is confirmed from the actual route; do not copy the regular figure onto a private-label brief.
Questions that make estimates comparable
- What exact event starts the clock?
- Which artwork, sample or payment approval is still outstanding?
- Does the estimate include packaging production, inspection or only factory preparation?
- What change would reset the estimate?
- Which carton and trade-term inputs are needed before freight is quoted?
Use the sample order process to document hand-offs, then compare delivery responsibility in the EXW, FOB and DDP guide.
Work backwards from the receiving date
If the stock needs to be on your shelf by a particular date, separate destination delivery, international transit, freight hand-off, preparation and buyer approvals. Obtain each interval from the responsible party. Leave unconfirmed durations marked pending rather than turning a target into a promise.
For a regular order, check availability for the exact SKU and quantity before using the general preparation statement. “In-stock” in a title describes an order route; it is not a claim that every catalog item is available today. For custom work, move the artwork and sample gates earlier in the plan and ask which gate can run in parallel with another.
SKU/route: [ ]. Quantity: [ ]. Packaging changes: [ ]. Destination: [ ]. Required receiving date: [ ]. Please confirm availability and list each stage with its start trigger, estimated duration, decision owner, exclusions and dependencies. Separate buyer approvals, preparation/production, freight hand-off and destination delivery. Flag which dates remain provisional and what change would reset them.
The custom-development page explains the supported project routes. This guide is a scheduling support page, not a second private-label costing guide: use the private-label scope article for cost inclusions.
FAQ
Does 3–7 days include shipping?
No. It is regular-order preparation after confirmation and excludes international transport.
Is custom packaging on the same timeline?
Not automatically. Artwork, proofs, samples, quantity and approvals need a project estimate.
What should a buyer ask for?
Ask for stage dates, dependencies, owner, assumptions, exclusions and the start trigger.
Request a schedule you can manage
Send the exact SKU or proposed route, quantity, market, packaging scope and target launch date. The next useful answer is a staged plan, not a headline promise.