Five real questions on references, quotations and multi-site delivery, answered on this date and archived here once the next day's set went live.
Yes — around major festival periods like Diwali, expect possible delays from logistics/transport slowdowns, supplier and factory holidays, and a seasonal spike in order volume across many industries at once. If a delivery deadline falls close to a major festival period, confirm the supplier's production and dispatch schedule around it specifically rather than assuming normal lead times apply.
Ask for 2-3 recent, specific client references in a similar category to your own order (same product type and roughly similar order size), and actually contact them rather than treating a reference list as sufficient on its own. A supplier confident in their work will usually provide contactable references; reluctance to do so for a significant order is worth noting.
Always get it in writing, even for a seemingly simple order — a written quotation should specify exact specifications, quantities, finish, pricing, payment terms and delivery timeline, all of which protect both sides if a dispute arises later. A verbal price is useful for initial budgeting only, not for placing an actual order.
Installation usually covers unpacking, assembly, and positioning the furniture in its final location, sometimes including basic wall-mounting for items like shelving. It typically doesn't include electrical work, built-in carpentry modifications, or site preparation (like levelling an uneven floor) unless specifically listed — confirm exactly what's included before assuming a quote's "installation" line covers everything.
Specify each delivery address, the quantity and item breakdown per site, and the sequence or timing for each leg clearly in the purchase order, since a multi-site delivery is more complex to coordinate than a single consignment. Confirm whether the quoted price already accounts for multiple delivery points or whether additional logistics charges apply per site.