Buyer guide

Wooden trains for importers and distributors

A buying note for importers — gauge consistency, expansion packs, mixed-container planning, FOB terms and report status per model.

An importer buys a range, not a set: every model has to share a gauge reference, a connector logic and a loading plan. This page lists what to make the supplier state before any figure is quoted. The gauge and compatibility reference explains the checks behind the questions.

Why the range decision comes first

A distributor sells into shops that mix ranges, so one gauge and connector decision serves many end layouts. If the models share the gauge reference but not the connector, the failure lands at the shop counter: the refill does not join, or the second engine uncouples on a gradient.

The 40 mm rail-centre figure is a standard reference for common wooden railway systems, not a guarantee. Confirm it on a sample, and confirm the connector profile at the same time, because the connector is where mixed layouts usually fail.

The six specification questions

Question	What the supplier should state	Why it matters
Gauge	rail-centre distance and method	one decision covers the range
Connector	peg-and-slot, magnetic or hook	the join is where ranges fail
SKU roles	anchor, refill, replacement, add-on	decides what gets reordered
Carton	pcs per carton, packed size, gross weight	drives freight and loading maths
MOQ	per model, stocked or made to order	decides how thin the range starts
Report	model list and market covered	decides which markets sell first

Expansion packs are the reorder engine

An anchor set sells once; track packs, engines and carriages sell again. Ask for the expansion list with the set list, not after the first reorder.

Range role	Typical SKU	Reorder behaviour
Anchor	complete set	seasonal, replaced rather than repeated
Refill	track add-on pack	frequent, bought deep
Replacement	engine, carriage	steady, triggered by wear
Add-on	station, bridge, signal	planned, bundled with track
Accessory	figures, signs, scenery	small, mixed carton

A range without a track pack and a replacement engine leaves the shop with no route to reorder. The spare parts note covers the structure.

Mixed and full containers

Most first orders are mixed, and the loading plan is built from each model's carton record because carton count and volume decide the container, not unit count. Typical planning volumes are around 28 CBM for a 20GP and around 68 CBM for a 40HQ; both are nominal, and a stowage allowance comes off before a plan is accepted.

Container	When it fits	What decides it
20GP	first mixed order, thin depth	carton count and usable volume
40HQ	consolidated reorder	payload, floor load, door access
LCL	samples or accessory top-up	freight per CBM and handling

FOB, documents and the quote basis

Quotes are per model and per destination; FOB Ningbo or Shanghai is the usual basis, with EXW and CIF quoted when asked. Compare figures at the same Incoterm, packaging and report status, never the unit figure alone.

Per shipment, confirm the invoice and packing list, report status per model, label artwork for the market, and loading photos with the container number. The declaration of conformity is the importer's document in most markets; the supplier supports it with the report and technical file.

What only the seller can answer

Which models share one connector profile, and which only share the gauge reference.
Which SKUs are stocked for reorder and which are made to order, and at what reorder lead time.
Which carton dimensions are still provisional before production, and how far they can move.
Where a new piece mix or private-label box needs tooling, and who holds it on repeat orders.
Which report covers which model and market, and what has to be commissioned.
What the loading plan looks like for the exact mix, including container type and stowage allowance.

How to verify before the first order

Ask for a gauge and connector drawing per model family; without a drawing the spec is verbal.
Order one anchor set and one expansion pack, and assemble them on carpet and on a hard floor.
Pull every coupling under load and check that the magnet housing does not move.
Recalculate cartons from the quoted pcs per carton and packed size; never plan on units.
Match the model number on the report to the model number on the quotation.
Rebuild the loop several times and check the joins for play and rail spread.
Ask for loading photos before the doors close.

First order shape

Build the first container in this order: one or two anchor sets, two or three track packs, one engine and one carriage as replacements, one station or table, and an accessory mix. That gives the shop something to reorder on day one and a range to extend on the second order.

Per-model ranges and carton data sit on the model pages, with band-level figures on the benchmarks page. The wholesale page explains ordering, and the quote form starts from the model list and destination port.