Project orders

Custom Vanity Project Orders: Frequently Asked Questions

A project order for a hotel, apartment block or other multi-unit build runs on a different process than a catalog purchase. These are the questions that come up most often once a buyer moves from browsing to specifying.

Published September 22, 2026Last updated September 22, 2026

The short answer

Quick Reference

Point 01: A project order is normally preceded by an approved drawing and a physical reference sample, not a catalog selection alone.
Point 02: Sample cost and lead time can be requested in the same RFQ as the bulk quote, avoiding a separate round of correspondence.
Point 03: Production is subject to current production schedule, typically 45 to 60 days, and should be reconfirmed for the specific order rather than assumed from a previous project.
Point 04: A sample fee is commonly credited against the first bulk order once it proceeds; the buyer covers sample freight.
Point 05: Room-type consistency across a multi-unit project should be locked at the drawing and sample stage, not discovered at delivery.

Project vanity shown as a repeatable bathroom specification

Start here

A Project Order Is a Specification, Not a Selection

A catalog order picks an existing configuration. A project order specifies one: dimensions, finish, hardware, drawer layout and often quantity are fixed to match a room type that will be repeated across a building, and every unit needs to match every other unit of the same type. That difference is why the process below exists — it is designed to catch a mismatch on a drawing, where it is cheap to fix, rather than on delivery, where it is not.

Specification precedes selection, not the other way around
Consistency across repeated room types is the main technical risk
Most of the process below exists to catch problems before production starts

Before the Order

Comparison of wall-mounted, floor-standing and double-sink project vanities

An RFQ can be sent with dimensions and specifications still being finalized, and a target price or range if one exists, since that lets a supplier respond directly rather than guessing. Before production is confirmed, though, two things should be locked: an approved drawing showing every dimension and hardware detail, and a signed physical reference sample where finish or color is part of the specification. On a repeat-room project, settling on one or two standard configurations early, rather than sizing every room individually, keeps the drawing count manageable and keeps every "Type A" bathroom actually identical.

RFQ can go out before final dimensions are locked
An approved drawing precedes production, not just an order confirmation
A physical reference sample matters most where finish or color is specified

Sample Policy

Cabinet surfaces finished by hand during manufacture

WNS Global's standard approach is that the buyer covers sample freight, and the sample cost is credited against the first bulk order once that order proceeds. Requesting the sample cost and lead time inside the same RFQ as the bulk quote avoids a separate round of correspondence later, and gives a single reference document for both the pilot piece and the full order.

Timeline and Payment

Production is subject to current production schedule, typically 45 to 60 days, and this should be reconfirmed for the specific order and quantity rather than assumed from a previous project or a different supplier's stated lead time. Payment structures for China-sourced project orders generally follow the T/T, L/C and D/P conventions covered in our payment terms guide; specific terms for a given order should be confirmed directly rather than assumed from general industry practice.

Common questions

Project Order Questions

Answers to the checks buyers most often make before using this guide for a project or sourcing decision.

What counts as a project order rather than a regular order?

A project order specifies a configuration for a specific job — dimensions, finish, hardware and often quantity are fixed to a room type that repeats across a building, rather than selecting an existing catalog item.

Do I need a final drawing before requesting a quote?

Not necessarily. An RFQ can go out with dimensions still being finalized. Production, though, should not start until a drawing showing every dimension and hardware detail has been approved.

Is a physical sample required, or is a rendering enough?

A physical reference sample is recommended whenever finish or color is part of the specification, since neither a rendering nor a photo reliably represents the actual material and finish.

Who pays for samples?

The buyer covers sample freight. The sample cost is commonly credited against the first bulk order once that order proceeds.

How long does production take once an order is confirmed?

Production is subject to current production schedule, typically 45 to 60 days, and should be reconfirmed for the specific order and quantity rather than assumed from a previous project.

Can every unit in a multi-room project be identical?

Yes, if the configuration is locked at the drawing and sample stage. Consistency across repeat rooms is a specification and production decision, not something to leave to chance.

What happens if I need to change the spec after the order is placed?

A change is far easier and cheaper to make before production starts than after. Confirm the drawing and sample fully before giving the go-ahead to produce.

What payment terms apply to a project order?

Project orders generally follow the same T/T, L/C and D/P conventions used across China sourcing. Specific terms should be confirmed directly for the order rather than assumed.

Round mirror and shelf detail of a project bathroom vanity

In short

Lock the Drawing and Sample Before Production

A project order runs on an approved drawing, a signed reference sample, a confirmed timeline and an agreed payment structure — in that order, before bulk production starts. Settling these upfront is what keeps every unit in a repeat-room project actually consistent.

Drawing and sample approval precede production, not follow it
Sample fees are typically creditable against the first bulk order
Lead time is confirmed per order, not assumed from a past project

Verification sources

Official Sources and Further Reading

Delivery, risk, insurance, payment and timing must be written into the signed sales contract and confirmed for the named place, product scope and order date. Incoterms® rules do not set a universal freight price, production lead time or payment policy.

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