AVELOR / Furniture & Interiors

Buying furniture internationally: your quotation checklist

When buying furniture internationally, compare the complete written quotation, not only the furniture price. Confirm the exact pieces, destination, delivery scope and responsibilities before committing. AVELOR welcomes enquiries for the United States, Europe and Middle East; destination availability and services are confirmed individually.

Make the furniture specification unambiguous

Start with collection links and an item list. Include quantities, selected finishes and upholstery references. Request overall and packed dimensions, materials, assembly information and photographs showing the agreed configuration. Identify which options are confirmed and which still need an answer. Keep one dated specification alongside the quotation so a later change does not become an assumption.

Describe your destination precisely

Provide the country, city and postcode, followed by the building type and delivery access. A quote for a port, warehouse or street-level entrance is different from a quote that includes carrying pieces into a room. State the floor, lift availability, stairs and narrow turns. This furniture-delivery measurement guide provides a useful reference for checking access. Measurements should also be reviewed against the packing and handling arrangement proposed for your pieces.

Ask what each price includes

Request separate confirmation of packaging, international transport, insurance, customs clearance, local delivery, unloading, assembly and removal of packaging where relevant. Ask who arranges each service and which charges remain payable locally. A low initial figure is difficult to compare with a more complete quote until both use the same scope.

Where a quotation uses Incoterms, ask for the named rule, version and named place. The International Chamber of Commerce explains how these rules allocate costs, responsibilities and risk. They do not replace the rest of the sales agreement. Ask the seller or your appointed shipping adviser to explain the term used in your actual quotation.

Check destination requirements with the relevant authority

The United States, European countries and Middle Eastern countries do not form one customs area. Requirements depend on the destination and shipment. For US personal imports, US Customs and Border Protection publishes furniture-import guidance. For other destinations, consult the destination customs authority or your appointed customs broker. Obtain current advice for your shipment rather than applying another customer's experience or an online estimate.

Separate production, transit and local delivery dates

Ask which stage a quoted timeframe covers and what starts it: payment, final specification approval or another agreed milestone. Identify the delivery estimate and the conditions that could change it. If your project has a fixed handover date, include it in the first enquiry and ask whether it can be supported. Do not treat a photograph of a collection as evidence of stock availability.

Prepare for receiving the furniture

Agree who will receive the delivery, how packages will be identified and what to do if damage is visible or a component is missing. Keep the quotation, approved specification, packing documents and delivery records together. Read the specific damage-reporting and warranty procedure supplied for the order before delivery takes place.

Your international enquiry brief

Collection, items, quantities and selected references.
Destination country, city, postcode and building access.
Delivery scope required and services to price separately.
Desired date and any immovable project deadline.
Questions about currency, payment stages and quotation validity.
Documents, customs responsibilities and local charges to confirm.

Common questions

Is shipping included in the displayed collection?

The website is an enquiry catalogue. The written quotation must state pricing and delivery inclusions for your destination.

Can a trade buyer use this checklist?

Yes. Add your room schedule or resale assortment, quantities and technical requirements using our trade procurement guide.

Explore the classical furniture collections, read our order process and send your destination and shortlist.

Continue planning

By AVELOR · Published 24 October 2026. General planning guidance; the agreed specification and quotation determine the pieces, options and services included in your order.