Ready stock tiles in Morbi are finished tiles already boxed and waiting, which means a short lead time but a fixed quantity, shade and grade. A stock lot from India is usually a batch left over from production, and export surplus tiles are goods made for an order that was cancelled or rejected.
Stock buying can suit a one-off project or a quick top-up. It rarely suits a range you plan to reorder, because the shade is not guaranteed to be repeated.
What is the difference between ready stock and surplus?
Ready stock is a deliberate choice by the factory to hold popular designs and sizes, and it is usually graded and packed as a normal product. Surplus is different: it exists because something did not go to plan, such as an over-production, a buyer's change of mind, or tiles that missed a customer's specification.
Always ask why a lot is available. A good explanation is a cancelled order or a design that was discontinued. A poor one is that the tiles failed quality checks and were sold on at a lower grade without telling you.
When does buying stock make sense?
Stock lots fit these situations:
- A project that needs a single quantity once, with no later reorder.
- A short deadline where the normal production time would be too long; see tile production lead time in Morbi.
- A trial of a new market, where you want to test demand before committing to a custom run.
- A buyer who can accept some mix of shades and has a use for lower grades.
What are the risks of stock and surplus?
The main risk is a lot that does not match itself. Stock may combine several production runs, each with a slightly different shade or size. Our guide to avoiding mixed grades in a tile shipment explains how to prevent it.
The second risk is grade. A lot sold as premium may include standard or commercial tiles, as explained in tile grades: premium, standard and commercial. Third, there is no repeat: if you need more later, the design may no longer be made. Lastly, the lot may be old, with damaged cartons or the wrong markings for your market.
How do you buy a stock lot safely?
Do not buy from photographs. Ask for the shade and calibre numbers on the cartons, the production dates and the factory's test reports for the lot. Have the actual lot inspected and sampled at random from several pallets, not just the top ones.
Confirm the exact quantity in boxes and square metres, and ask the factory to reserve the lot against your name. Seal the specification in a proforma invoice, and release the balance only after inspection. Checking tile grade at the factory lists what to look for.
Ask who actually made the tiles. Some sellers of stock are traders who bought from several factories; see trader or manufacturer.
Next step
If you need to match the tiles with later purchases, buy a little extra from the same lot. Because stock is not made again to order, a second purchase months later is unlikely to match the shade, so the first purchase must cover wastage, cuts and spare boxes for repairs.
We can check whether a stock lot is what the seller says it is, inspect it on site and supervise loading. Book a free sourcing review, or see what we source.