Buying 5 metre sliding door direct from factory in China???

yamcookie · Jul 20, 2013 12:00 am

I know I'll probably be fielding a lot of criticism - but how I'm having difficulty justifying spending an extra $5k+ to have a large exterior sliding door manufactured in Australia. Also, I suspect that some companies just import the completed windows from china anyway. Many of the chinese factories that have provided quotes so far, have the Standards Mark Licence (manufactured to AS 2047:1999 - Windows in buildings) they also work on a rating system like ebay, so they have more credibility that just a website. I have also been quoted very reasonable shipping rates from china. I understand that post sale and installation any warranty offered would be difficult to get them to uphold. however, I'm still not completely put off! I'd really like to know if others have imported their own large windows and doors direct from a factory in China?

Danois · Jul 20, 2013 2:22 am

The problem I foresee is not necessarily one of quality, but that an importer can share shipping between many windows/doors, and in the size you want, the shipping might come up a bit more than peanuts. And, further, what do you do if the door turns up cracked from the shipping? Will you have to ship it back to get a new one?

I mean, if you did your entire house, shipping it from overseas, even from Europe might be worth it, considering there'd be quite a few things in the container. Shipping a single window or door, I think I'd pass and buy somewhat locally (i.e. in Australia, buy from an Australian company, in Europe from a European country etc.).

I mean, even blemishes might need you to return it, and before you get another, you have at least paid twice for shipping, and perhaps three times the already expensive shipping.

I will import passivhaus windows and doors from Germany or Austria when I get that far, but first of all, it's impossible to get those in Australia, and secondly, there will be enough items to make shipping reasonable overall.

ECOECO · Jul 20, 2013 7:40 am

yamcookie

I know I'll probably be fielding a lot of criticism - but how I'm having difficulty justifying spending an extra $5k+ to have a large exterior sliding door manufactured in Australia. Also, I suspect that some companies just import the completed windows from china anyway. Many of the chinese factories that have provided quotes so far, have the Standards Mark Licence (manufactured to AS 2047:1999 - Windows in buildings) they also work on a rating system like ebay, so they have more credibility that just a website. I have also been quoted very reasonable shipping rates from china. I understand that post sale and installation any warranty offered would be difficult to get them to uphold. however, I'm still not completely put off! I'd really like to know if others have imported their own large windows and doors direct from a factory in China?

Yes, we design and import all of our windows and doors from China, we design everything, have everything tested, and control our factories, control the freight, that's why the AWA says our aluminium window is number 1. It is not easy, and took us about 3 years to perfect it. They may be tested to standards (do they have a NATA certificate?), and there are more than one, where a single representative window/door is physically tested - if you could look through the test lab in Dandenong that I use, you would see a lot of doctored products that some importers try on, to get their products to pass - the lab is NATA accredited and very stringent, they don't allow this stuff. But your supplier may be fine, then the quality is another issue, all window companies make mistakes, some more than others, how would you fix a leaking window or door? Then there is the freight, as Danois says, what if it is damaged in freight? I have seen whole containers of stuff wrecked...

IMO, it's a gamble, so think twice, buy it locally, take $1,000 to the casino, see if you can win the savings you may have missed.

Shop around, your $5,000 figure would buy our BIFOLD door (with installation), a sliding door would be less than half.

Ed

yamcookie · Jul 20, 2013 10:16 am

thanks for that - yes, the smaller panels are so much cheaper - but unfortunately - I cannot talk my partner into going that way. I am also wondering now, if I may be able to just get the frame manufactured in china, then have the glass installed by a glazier here... it would reduce the weight and perhaps the risk of some of the damage - and i could then be confiedent in the quality of the glass. Perhaps will try to field the enquiry and see if that could be an option. Thanks for your useful points - yes a massive gamble...... however, I've taken risks all my life

I wouldn't mind paying extra to purchase it locally - if the quote came in between a locally manufactured window and an privately imported window - but that obviously isn'y possible - with the importers asking the same prices.

ECOECO · Jul 20, 2013 10:38 am

yamcookie

thanks for that - yes, the smaller panels are so much cheaper - but unfortunately - I cannot talk my partner into going that way. I am also wondering now, if I may be able to just get the frame manufactured in china, then have the glass installed by a glazier here... it would reduce the weight and perhaps the risk of some of the damage - and i could then be confiedent in the quality of the glass. Perhaps will try to field the enquiry and see if that could be an option. Thanks for your useful points - yes a massive gamble...... however, I've taken risks all my life

I wouldn't mind paying extra to purchase it locally - if the quote came in between a locally manufactured window and an privately imported window - but that obviously isn'y possible - with the importers asking the same prices.

It is labour that costs in Australia, so having the glazing done here will be expensive. I ordered some replacement glass locally for a window broken on site, it was severely scratched, but it was easily replaced under warranty, but, it is not always the glass that can be a problem, think seals, think powdercoat, think assembly quality. Even poor quality in Australia has heavy labour costs. I just gave you prices well below the $5,000 and that was for double glazed. Shop around... it's not a massive gamble if you can afford it. Let us know how you go...

Ed