Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, and in most B2B robotics scenarios you should. Combining MOQ, lead time, customization scope, certification requirements, and target order stage in the first inquiry helps suppliers assess feasibility faster and respond with fewer assumptions.

This is especially important for OEM or project-based procurement, where pricing often depends on application details, destination market requirements, and whether the requirement is sample-stage, pilot-stage, or repeat-volume purchasing.

Many robotics suppliers prefer inquiry-based pricing because commercial terms often depend on quantity, specification, destination market, integration scope, and after-sales expectations. This is common for products such as industrial robots, precision reducers, automation solutions, and custom end-effectors.

Public pricing may still appear for some standardized items, but project-driven products usually require a supplier quotation rather than a fixed retail-style price tag.

No. Platform verification can help improve sourcing confidence, but buyers should still review technical fit, commercial terms, production capability, documentation quality, and communication responsiveness before placing an order.

For robotics sourcing, due diligence is especially important because small mismatches in interface, payload, precision, software compatibility, or export documentation can create major downstream problems.

Buyers should verify business identity, manufacturing or engineering capability, product consistency, technical documentation, export readiness, and after-sales responsiveness. If the product will be deployed in a production environment, it is also important to check sample quality, specification accuracy, quality-control process, and any reference projects that show similar use cases.

The stronger the verification discipline is before ordering, the lower the risk of delays, misalignment, or replacement issues later.

OEM and ODM evaluation should go beyond unit price. Buyers should confirm design ownership, tooling responsibility, engineering review process, validation checkpoints, revision control, packaging requirements, and how the supplier handles pilot production before scale-up.

For robotics and automation products, it is also useful to ask how the supplier manages component substitutions, firmware or software dependencies, and long-term parts continuity.

Support level varies by supplier. Some vendors can arrange freight coordination and export documentation directly, while others only prepare goods for pickup. Buyers should confirm packaging method, HS code support, invoice and packing list readiness, Incoterms, and whether the supplier has experience shipping to the target region.

For larger systems or fragile automation equipment, packaging and export handling should be treated as part of supplier evaluation rather than an afterthought.

Lead time should usually be split into at least two parts: production lead time and shipping lead time. Robotics products may also require additional time for testing, customization, calibration, export preparation, or sample approval before shipment.

Buyers should ask suppliers whether the quoted lead time reflects stock, production queue, final inspection, and shipment readiness, rather than relying on one combined estimate.

Ask whether key spare parts are available, how long replacement supply is expected to remain stable, what the replacement lead time looks like, and whether the supplier supports post-sale technical troubleshooting. This is especially important for actuators, reducers, controllers, sensors, grippers, and mobile robot components.

For project deployments, buyers may also want to confirm whether spare-part kits, documentation packages, or service agreements can be arranged in advance.

Payment terms depend on product type, order size, supplier policy, and project stage. Typical discussions may include deposit plus balance before shipment, milestone-based payment for custom work, sample-stage payment, or other negotiated arrangements tied to inspection and delivery terms.

Buyers should always confirm the commercial terms in writing together with specification, lead time, quality expectations, and shipment conditions.

Warranty support should be evaluated in practical terms, not only by duration. Buyers should clarify what is covered, what is excluded, how fault diagnosis is handled, who pays for replacement or transport in different scenarios, and how technical support is delivered after installation.

This matters even more for robotics systems and motion components, where integration environment and application stress can affect service outcomes.

No. Global Robot Market supports supplier discovery, category browsing, and inquiry-based sourcing workflows, but the final commercial responsibility remains with the buyer and supplier involved in the transaction.

Before placing an order, both sides should confirm technical requirements, quotation scope, delivery terms, documentation, payment conditions, warranty expectations, and any customization details in writing.