Terms & Conditions of Sale
The terms on which we accept your enquiry, quote, place your order in production, ship the goods, and handle any complaint afterwards.
Last updated: [DATE] · Version [VERSION]
This is a structured draft. It has been drafted to match the commitments made elsewhere on this website — order minimums, quotation timing, where responsibility for production sits, who owns a mould, and how defects are handled — so that the site does not contradict itself. It still needs review by a lawyer qualified in the relevant jurisdictions, and items marked [CONFIRM] must be checked against how you actually trade.
We are a sourcing and production partner, not a factory. That is stated openly across this website, because it changes what you are buying and who bears responsibility at each stage. Section 5 sets out exactly what that means in practice. Read it before the rest.
1 · Who we are and what these terms cover
Foshan Hongcheng Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. (佛山市弘诚电子科技有限公司), trading as Hongcheng, is a phone case sourcing and production partner registered in Foshan, Guangdong, China. We arrange production through a network of partner factories across Guangdong and coordinate quoting, sampling, quality control, consolidation and shipping.
| Registered name | Foshan Hongcheng Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. |
| Registered address | [REGISTERED_ADDRESS] |
| Business licence no. | [LICENCE_NUMBER] |
| Commercial contact | sales@hongchengelec.com |
| Telephone / WhatsApp | +86 136 4030 5916 |
| Website | hongchengelec.com |
These terms apply to every quotation we issue, every order we accept, and every website you use to contact us. They are written in English because we trade internationally; if a translated version conflicts with this one, the English version prevails.
By asking for a quotation, or by placing an order, you confirm that you accept these terms. If you have your own supplier terms you need applied, tell us before we quote — we will either work with them or say clearly that we cannot.
2 · Quotations
A quotation is an offer to supply at the stated price, specification and lead time. It is not an offer capable of acceptance by conduct, and it is valid for the period stated on it.
2.1 What a quotation includes
Unless the quotation says otherwise in writing, a price covers goods in the specified colour and quantity, standard packaging, production, quality inspection, inland transport from the production plant, and export documentation. It does not cover shipping outside China, import duty, destination taxes, third-party testing you request later, or tooling costs — those are quoted separately.
2.2 What we will tell you before we quote
Where a figure could reasonably be read two ways, we state the basis. In particular: minimums are quoted per model and per colour, and the order total is a separate figure. A quotation for mixed models will show the per-model breakdown, because a single total would be ambiguous.
Our minimums sit below what most factories will accept for a single model. That is the main reason to work with us — and also the thing most easily misread. If a figure in a quotation can be read as applying per model or per order, this clause tells you to ask, and tells us to answer.
2.3 Changes after quotation
If specification, quantity, colour, packaging or destination changes after we have quoted, we may re-quote. Where a change reduces quantity below a minimum, or requires different tooling or a different production line, the price and lead time change. We will confirm any change to you in writing before proceeding.
3 · Orders
3.1 How an order is formed
An order is formed when we confirm acceptance in writing — by email or WhatsApp message that we identify as our order confirmation. A message from us acknowledging receipt of your enquiry is not an acceptance. This matters because production is arranged with partner plants on short lead times; we cannot treat an unconfirmed enquiry as an instruction to start.
3.2 Order minimums
Order minimums are set per model and per colour, and are set out in section 2 of our website, on our Mixed orders page, and in your quotation. The minimum quantity and the minimum total are two different figures and both must be met.
New mould development, custom colours and custom packaging carry their own minimums, quoted separately. We will not start work below a stated minimum without telling you first.
3.3 Payment
| Stage | Typical arrangement |
|---|---|
| Order confirmation | [CONFIRM — your actual deposit percentage and stage] |
| Before production start | [CONFIRM — deposit balance against sample or drawing approval] |
| Before shipment | [CONFIRM — balance against inspection pass and ready-to-ship notice] |
| Accepted methods | [CONFIRM — bank transfer, L/C at sight, or others you actually offer] |
| Bank charges | [CONFIRM — who bears sending and receiving fees] |
Production is arranged with partner plants once the agreed payment stage is received. Delays in payment move the production date accordingly, and we will tell you rather than absorb the delay silently.
We issue invoices for goods supplied. Please note we are a Chinese company: our standard invoice is a fapiao, which is what supports Chinese tax deduction and export declaration. Where your jurisdiction expects a VAT invoice in local format, tell us before payment so it can be arranged rather than discovered afterwards.
4 · Samples
Samples are supplied to let you approve specification, colour and finish before bulk production. A sample is a commercial product, not a free specification item.
| Sample cost | Charged, and stated in the quotation |
| Sample lead time | [CONFIRM — your stated range; must match the website figures] |
| Freight | Buyer's account, unless agreed otherwise |
| Refund | [CONFIRM — the condition under which sample cost is credited against the bulk order] |
Our website states that certain samples are refundable. That statement applies only under the conditions published on the Quality page, and it is the sample cost that is credited — never the freight.
A production sample is not a colour guarantee. Section 7.2 explains why, and what to do about it.
5 · Our role, and where responsibility sits
It is easy to skim. Please don't — it determines who is responsible when something goes wrong, and it is stated in the same terms across our website, our quotation and these conditions.
5.1 We are a sourcing and production partner
We do not own a manufacturing plant. We select partner factories, negotiate and manage production with them, inspect the output, and deliver consolidated goods to you. We do hold ourselves responsible to you for whether the goods meet the specification we agreed with you.
We say this plainly because you will meet suppliers who describe themselves as factories and are not. We would rather you understand what we are from the start than discover it during a dispute. If you require a single direct factory as a condition of purchase, tell us before you order — we will say immediately whether we can meet that requirement, rather than after you have committed.
5.2 What you are buying
You are buying from us goods that we have contracted, supervised and verified. You are not contracting with a factory directly, and you are not acquiring an interest in any factory. If you need direct factory contracting for regulatory, tax or supply-chain-security reasons, say so at the outset.
5.3 Our obligations to you
- Select partner plants capable of the specification agreed.
- Pass on your specification accurately, including drawings, Pantone references and artwork.
- Inspect production against the agreed criteria before shipment, including AQL sampling where agreed.
- Tell you honestly and promptly if a problem is found, rather than shipping it and mentioning it afterwards.
- Conceal nothing about the goods you receive.
5.4 The limits of what we can do
- You cannot attend production as of right. Visits and live video are arranged where they are practical, and refused where they are not. We will say which is which rather than promise access we cannot deliver.
- Consistency across models. Goods made at different plants in different batches will not be perfectly identical in colour or gloss. Section 7.2 sets out what this means in practice.
- Factory identification. Under most partner agreements we are bound by confidentiality towards the plant. We will tell you what a plant is capable of; we are not always able to name it.
5.5 What we need from you
- Approved drawings, or written acceptance that a sample is the specification.
- Current Pantone references where colour is critical — Pantone values shift; an old reference is not a reference.
- Artwork in vector format where printing is involved, and confirmation that you hold the right to print it.
- Timely approval of samples, proofs and production updates. Our lead times assume prompt responses.
6 · Intellectual property and tooling
6.1 Ownership of tooling
Unless we agree otherwise in writing, a mould developed for your order belongs to the factory that made it — not to you, and not to us. Our Light customisation page says this, and it is repeated here because it affects what happens if our relationship ends.
If you want ownership of the mould, you must say so before production starts, and the cost difference has to be agreed in the quotation. If ownership is not agreed in writing, our position is that the mould remains with the plant.
6.2 Use of your designs
You retain ownership of your designs, artwork, logos and trade dress. You grant us a limited licence to use them for the purpose of quoting, sampling and producing your order, and for nothing else. We do not add your designs to our catalogue, use them for other customers, or publish them without your written permission.
6.3 What you must not ask us to copy
You confirm that you hold the rights necessary to have the goods you have ordered made, and that the production of them does not infringe the rights of others. This covers registered designs, trade marks, copyright and protected product features.
We will not assist with producing goods that copy a registered design or reproduce a protected trade mark or artwork. We can work from a competitor's product where the purpose is to explain a structural feature or a functional requirement you want met. We cannot reproduce a protected surface pattern, ornamentation or brand element.
If you ask us to proceed with something in this paragraph, we will decline, and we will tell you why rather than quietly not quote.
6.4 Names and trade marks used on goods
If your order includes printing your brand, you warrant that you are authorised to use it in the markets you sell into. Where the printed design constitutes a registered trade mark, you are responsible for the consequences of supplying it without authority — this is why we ask for evidence before printing registered marks. [CONFIRM your current evidence requirement.]
7 · Product conformity and acceptance
7.1 Conformity
Goods are deemed accepted unless you notify us of a defect within [CONFIRM — number] days of receipt at the delivery address, describing the defect with photographs. Notification after that period does not oblige us to remedy the defect or to bear the costs described in section 8.
7.2 Colour and finish tolerances
Good-looking parts from different plants, different materials and different batches will not match perfectly. The following are normal and are not defects:
| Variation | Why it occurs |
|---|---|
| Small colour difference between models in one order | Different plants, different raw material batches |
| Difference in gloss or surface sheen across models | Different tooling and finishing equipment |
| Minor marks, small blemishes, slight edge finish variation | Normal production tolerances |
| Colour difference between a sample and the bulk order | Samples are single pieces; bulk runs are longer cycles |
For colour-critical work the correct procedure is sealed golden sample plus written approval, not a screen colour or a photograph. Our Quality page describes this, and the same rule applies here.
7.3 Inspection
Unless the quotation says otherwise, goods are inspected against the agreed specification using AQL sampling. [CONFIRM your stated AQL level.] A pre-shipment inspection reduces the risk of defects reaching you; it does not certify the goods as defect-free. Defects discoverable only by dismantling goods or testing them in use fall outside inspection scope.
7.4 Safety and regulatory responsibility
We will provide material information we actually hold, and test reports from the producing plant for the batch supplied. Where you require certification for a specific market or a specific retailer, that requirement must be stated before production. Certification is a market-and-product question, not a default that applies to a product category.
Ordinary phone cases are not within the scope of CE marking. If any supplier tells you a phone case is "CE certified", ask which directive and which standard. Materials such as TPU and PC are commonly assessed against REACH and RoHS material requirements — that is a different claim from product certification, and we do not present one as the other.
8 · Claims, remedies and liability
8.1 What we will do about defects
Where goods do not conform to the agreed specification and you have notified us within the period in section 7.1, our normal remedy is one of the following, at our option after investigation:
- Repair or replacement, where the goods are repairable or replaceable.
- Credit against a future order, for the value of the defective goods.
- A commercial discount agreed in writing.
We do not normally refund the original goods value once they have been shipped and the defect is a manufacturing fault. [CONFIRM your position on refunds before publishing.]
8.2 Inspections and re-inspection
Where goods are inspected by us or by an independent inspector before shipment, and you identify a defect afterwards, you must let us photograph or inspect the goods and the packaging as received. Claims on goods that have been repacked, assembled, sold on, or are no longer in the state they were shipped cannot be assessed fairly and may not be accepted.
8.3 Consequential loss
We are not liable for indirect or consequential loss, including lost profit, lost sales, lost market opportunity, customer claims against you, or loss of data — arising from our performance or non-performance of this agreement. Nothing in these terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud, or for anything else that cannot lawfully be limited.
8.4 Limit of liability
Our total liability under or in connection with an order is limited to [CONFIRM — the amount or basis you choose]. This does not apply to your payment obligations. [Confirm the cap is enforceable in your target markets.]
9 · Delivery, title and risk
9.1 Incoterms
Delivery terms are agreed per order using Incoterms 2020 rules, named in the quotation — typically EXW, FOB, CIF or DDP. The Incoterm named in the quotation governs. Where none is stated, goods are supplied EXW from the consolidation point and risk passes there.
9.2 Lead times
Lead times run from the date the agreed payment stage is received and all artwork and approvals are confirmed — not from the date of your enquiry. Lead times published on this website are typical working ranges, not guarantees; actual dates are confirmed per order.
9.3 Title and risk
Title passes to you when we receive payment in full for the goods. Risk passes according to the Incoterm agreed. Where credit is agreed, title passes at the point specified in that credit arrangement.
9.4 Consolidation and multi-model orders
Where your order spans more than one production plant, goods are consolidated into as few shipments as the order allows. Different models may therefore arrive in separate cartons, on separate pallets, or on separate vessels. This is inherent to mixed-model ordering and is not a split shipment. Where it materially matters for your customs clearance or your retail launch, tell us before production so it can be planned.
10 · Force majeure
Neither party is liable for failure to perform caused by events beyond reasonable control, including natural disaster, epidemic, war, civil unrest, strike, port closure, container shortage, power rationing, government action, epidemic control measures, or failure of a sub-supplier where the same event affects us.
Where a force majeure event affects an order, we will notify you promptly with what we know, what the effect on the date is likely to be, and your options — including cancelling the affected portion and refunding what you paid for it.
10.1 Sub-supplier failure
Where a partner factory becomes unable to complete your order, we will tell you and offer alternatives: substitute plant at equivalent specification, delay, or cancellation with refund of the amount paid for what cannot be delivered. We do not silently move your order to a different plant and let you find out at inspection.
11 · Compliance with law
We comply with applicable law in the jurisdiction where we are established, including export control and sanctions screening.
We require you to confirm, and you warrant, that your order is not for a purpose prohibited by law, that goods will not be resold in breach of applicable restrictions, and that goods will be placed on the market in accordance with the law of the destination market. Where the law of your market requires a responsible person, importer, or a declaration that we cannot make on your behalf, that remains your responsibility to arrange before the goods are placed on the market.
[CONFIRM with your lawyer whether you need an EU authorised representative or a nominated person under GPSR, and reflect that in section 7.4.]
12 · Confidentiality
Each party keeps the other's confidential information confidential and uses it only for the order in question. This covers drawings, designs, prices, tooling specifications, customer names and volumes.
This obligation continues for five years after the order completes, except for information that becomes public through no breach of this agreement. [CONFIRM the period you want.]
13 · Anti-bribery and supplier integrity
We do not offer or accept bribes, kickbacks or improper inducements in connection with any order. This obligation applies to our staff and to anyone acting for us in relation to your order.
14 · Liability you may pass to your customers
Our products are B2B wholesale goods. If you resell them, you become the party responsible to your own customers for safety, labelling, instructions and regulatory claims in the market you sell into. We supply you with the product information we actually hold so you can meet those obligations; we cannot assess your market, your customers or your channel.
15 · Changes to these terms
We may update these terms. The version that applies to your order is the version published at the date your order was confirmed. We will not apply a change retrospectively to an order already accepted.
16 · Governing law and disputes
16.1 Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the People's Republic of China. The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods does not apply. [CONFIRM this is the intended governing law and that it is enforceable against your likely customers.]
16.2 Dispute resolution
Please raise any issue with the person handling your order first — most disputes are a misunderstanding about a specification or a tolerance, and are resolved fastest that way. Where we cannot agree, the matter may be referred to arbitration in accordance with the rules of [CONFIRM — arbitration body, seat and language].
Nothing in this clause prevents either party from seeking urgent injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.
17 · General
- Entire agreement. These terms, together with the accepted quotation and any specification we have both signed, form the whole agreement. Earlier emails are superseded.
- Severability. If a provision is unenforceable, the rest remains in force.
- No waiver. A delay in enforcing a right is not a waiver of it.
- Assignment. Neither party may assign this agreement without the other's written consent, except to a successor of substantially the whole business.
- Third parties. No one other than the parties has any right to enforce these terms.
- Notices. Notices are valid by email to the addresses used for the order, or by WhatsApp where that is how the order has been conducted. Email notice is deemed received on the next business day.
- Website content. The website, including product pages, guides and comparison tables, is general commercial information. It does not form part of an order and it is not a technical specification. Where a page and a signed quotation differ, the quotation governs.
Our website carries indicative prices and typical lead-time ranges so you can assess us quickly. Binding terms are the quotation and these conditions. This is the correct structure — but it means published figures must still be honest, because buyers rely on them when deciding whether to enquire at all.
18 · Contact
| Company | Foshan Hongcheng Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. |
| sales@hongchengelec.com | |
| Telephone / WhatsApp | +86 136 4030 5916 |
| Website | hongchengelec.com |
If any part of these terms does not reflect how your business actually operates, ask us and we will correct it. A policy that describes a process you do not follow is worse than no policy.
Items marked [CONFIRM] number eleven. Each one is a decision only you can make — deposit structure, sample credit, acceptance window, liability cap, arbitration seat, confidentiality period. A lawyer should also check enforceability in your target markets, and section 7.4 should reflect whatever EU obligations actually apply to you. Do not publish this page as drafted.