The questions buyers ask us most often before placing a first order, answered in full. If yours is not here, e-mail info@sfxtec.com and we will answer it the same working day.
Ordering and price
What is the minimum order?
One piece. Every line on this store is sold by the piece and there is no minimum order value — a single bolt, screw, nut or washer is a valid order.
How are prices shown?
Per piece, in US dollars, to four decimal places — small parts genuinely cost fractions of a cent, and rounding that away would misprice a 10,000-piece order. The price you see is the price that applies; there is no login to see a better one.
How do the volume discounts work?
They are applied automatically to the order value, with no code and no account needed. Orders of $100 or more take 5% off the whole order, $200 or more take 7.5%, and $300 or more take 10%. The discount is calculated in the cart, before payment.
Can I buy on account, or get an invoice?
Trade account holders can request a proforma invoice and net terms. Register with your company details and we verify them within one working day; invoicing options then appear in your account. The volume discount applies whether or not you hold an account.
Shipping
How quickly will my order be dispatched?
Stock items are picked and dispatched within 24 to 48 hours of cleared payment, Monday to Saturday. Made-to-drawing parts ship against the lead time stated on the quotation.
How much does shipping cost?
Freight is charged on every order — there is no free-shipping threshold and no flat rate. The cost is calculated automatically at checkout from the packed weight of your order and the delivery destination, so a bag of small parts is not charged at the rate of a heavy consignment. Oversized or very heavy parcels, from roughly 20 kg, are quoted separately and we contact you before charging more than the checkout amount.
How long does delivery take?
Transit after dispatch is typically 5–12 business days to Asia-Pacific, 7–20 to North America and Europe, and 10–25 to the rest of the world. Express courier, air parcel and postal services are all offered at checkout, so you choose the trade-off between cost and speed. Those are carrier estimates, not guarantees — customs inspection can add several days.
Who pays import duties and taxes?
Import duties, VAT and customs handling charges at destination are the customer’s responsibility and are not included in the price or the shipping charge. We declare goods accurately on the commercial invoice and can supply a certificate of origin for your customs broker.
Payment
What payment methods do you accept?
PayPal, card payments processed through PayPal, and bank transfer (wire / T/T). Card and PayPal payments are taken when the order is placed, and we never see or store your card details. For a bank transfer we issue a proforma invoice with our bank details and dispatch the goods once the transfer clears.
Parts and specification
Can you supply a part that is not in the catalogue?
Almost always. We produce small batches to drawing and to DIN, ISO, GB and JIS standards, so a size, grade or finish that is not listed can usually still be supplied. Send a PDF drawing, an Excel or CSV bill of materials, or a clear photograph with dimensions, and we will quote it — usually within one working day. If we cannot make it, we will usually be able to say who can.
Do you supply material certificates and test reports?
Yes, on request. Mill test certificates, test reports and declarations for the batch you were sent are available when the job calls for them — ask when you order, or quote the batch number from the carton label afterwards. We would rather supply a document you actually need than paper you have to file.
Can I order samples before a production run?
Yes — and because there is no minimum order, the simplest sample order is a normal order. For a production run of a custom part, sign off the drawing or the sample before production starts; after that, made-to-drawing work is final sale unless it fails the agreed specification.
If something goes wrong
What if an order arrives wrong or damaged?
Tell us as soon as it lands, with photographs and the batch number or packing-list reference. Where the fault is ours — wrong item, wrong grade, a dimensional or material defect — we replace the line or credit it in full and cover the return freight. There is no restocking fee.
Do you accept change-of-mind returns?
Fasteners are supplied to specification and sold by the piece, so we do not run a general change-of-mind returns window. If you are unsure whether a line is right for the job before ordering, ask us first — a question costs nothing and a wrong part costs a shipment.
Services
Can you dropship to my customers?
Yes. For approved trade partners we ship blind, with no invoice, no price list and your own packing slip inside the parcel.
Do you consolidate orders for export?
Yes. Mixed orders can be consolidated into one shipment, palletised and fumigated where the destination requires it, with the commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin supplied for customs clearance.