Shipping & Logistics Policy
1. Overview
Fortune Sourcings, the trading brand of Fortune Imports and Exports (India) ("Company"), coordinates end-to-end international logistics for sourcing projects, including furniture, décor, lighting, industrial materials, and interiors sourced primarily from China. The Company's role in respect of shipping and logistics is that of a facilitator and coordinator only; the Company is not a carrier, freight forwarder, or logistics operator in its own right, and engages independent third-party service providers for all physical transportation of Goods.
2. Shipping & Delivery Process — Indicative Only
The stages and durations below are indicative estimates, subject in each case to Section 2.1.
| Stage | Description | Approx. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Factory Production | Manufacturing as per BOQ and approved designs | 25–60 days |
| Inspection & Packaging | QC inspection, secure export packaging | 3–7 days |
| Shipping | Sea Freight / Air Freight / Express | 7–35 days |
| Customs Clearance | Import clearance at destination | 3–10 days |
| Local Delivery | Transport from port to client site | 2–7 days |
2.1 Non-binding timelines
Total indicative duration: approximately 45–90 days, depending on shipping method, order volume, and destination. All timelines stated in this Policy, in any quotation, or in any communication from the Company are non-binding estimates only, provided in good faith based on ordinarily prevailing conditions. They do not constitute a guaranteed delivery date, and time shall not be of the essence in respect of any delivery timeline, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any quotation, invoice, or communication, unless the Company expressly and specifically agrees to a guaranteed delivery date in a signed writing referencing this clause.
3. Shipping Modes
| Mode | Use Case | Transit Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sea Freight (LCL/FCL) | Large/heavy orders | 20–35 days |
| Air Freight | Samples or urgent items | 5–10 days |
| Express Courier | Small parcels or documents | 3–7 days |
3.1 Carrier selection
The Company shall select the shipping mode and carrier in its reasonable discretion, having regard to cost, availability, and the Client's stated priorities, but the final selection of carrier, vessel, route, and schedule rests with the Company and its logistics partners, and the Company does not guarantee the availability of any particular mode, carrier, or schedule.
4. Costs & Responsibilities
Service Charge: as per the fee slab agreed in the Client's signed Service Agreement or Service & Payment Policy (typically 5%–8% of Total Order Value depending on order size), which is earned upon commencement of the Company's coordination services and is non-refundable regardless of subsequent shipping delay, damage, or dispute.
Shipping Costs: charged strictly on an as-actuals basis, and are subject to change without prior notice due to fluctuations in freight rates, fuel surcharges, currency exchange rates, or carrier pricing; the Company shall not be liable for any such fluctuation, and the Client shall bear the full incremental cost.
Client Responsibilities: all customs duties, import taxes, port handling fees, demurrage, detention charges, and any other statutory or port-levied charges, whether anticipated or not, are to be borne entirely by the Client.
Company Responsibilities: reasonable coordination of shipping, QC inspection coordination, insurance coordination (where applicable per Section 6), and delivery scheduling, performed on a best-efforts basis and subject to the limitations of liability set out in the Company's Terms of Engagement.
Any additional cost arising from a change in shipping mode, route, destination, or schedule requested by the Client shall be borne entirely by the Client, together with an administrative coordination fee to be determined by the Company.
5. Documentation & Tracking
Clients will ordinarily receive the Bill of Lading / Airway Bill, container or tracking number, and estimated delivery dates, and weekly status updates until the Goods reach the destination port. However, the accuracy and timeliness of such updates depend on information provided by third-party carriers and customs authorities, and the Company shall not be liable for any delay, inaccuracy, or omission in such information. The Company (or its logistics partner) shall be entitled to withhold release of shipping documents, including the original Bill of Lading, until full and final payment of all amounts due from the Client (including the Company's service fee) has been received, notwithstanding that the Goods may have already been shipped or may have arrived at the destination port. Any demurrage, detention, storage, or other charges accruing as a result of such withholding shall be borne entirely by the Client and shall not be a ground for any claim against the Company.
6. Insurance
Cargo insurance is included only where the shipment is expressly quoted and confirmed on CIF or DDP Incoterms; in all other cases (including EXW, FOB, FCA, or similar), the Client is solely responsible for arranging its own independent cargo insurance, and the Company strongly recommends that the Client do so. Where the Client does not arrange independent insurance under EXW/FOB terms and has not confirmed CIF/DDP coverage in writing, the Client expressly waives any claim against the Company for loss, theft, or damage to the Goods in transit, and acknowledges that it bears the entire risk of loss. Where insurance is included under CIF/DDP terms, coverage is subject entirely to the insurer's policy terms, conditions, exclusions, and claim procedures, over which the Company has no control, and the Company's role is limited to facilitating the claim process on a best-efforts basis; the Company does not guarantee the outcome or timeline of any insurance claim.
7. Force Majeure & Delays
The Company shall not be liable for any delay, loss, or additional cost arising from events beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to: natural disasters and Acts of God; government restrictions, sanctions, or policy changes; strikes, lockouts, or labour disputes; port congestion, vessel unavailability, or carrier schedule changes; customs delays or inspections; political unrest, war, or pandemics; and any failure or delay of a third-party carrier, customs broker, or port authority. Revised timelines, where available, will be communicated to the Client, but no compensation, discount, or liability shall arise from any such delay.
8. Delivery Confirmation & Deemed Acceptance
Delivery shall be deemed complete upon the Goods arriving at the agreed delivery address and being signed for by the Client or any person present at the address who reasonably appears to be authorised to accept delivery on the Client's behalf, whether or not such person holds actual authority. The Client shall inspect the outer condition of the shipment at the time of delivery and note any visible external damage on the delivery receipt; failure to do so shall constitute a waiver of any claim for external transport damage, without prejudice to the Client's rights, if any, for concealed damage discovered upon unpacking and reported strictly in accordance with the Return, Refund & Cancellation Policy.
9. Warehousing, Storage & Demurrage
Where the Client is not ready to receive the Goods on arrival (whether due to site readiness, documentation delay, or non-payment), temporary storage may be arranged at the Company's discretion, entirely at the Client's cost, calculated on a CBM and per-day basis at rates prevailing at the relevant warehouse. Any demurrage, detention, or port storage charges levied by the shipping line, port authority, or customs authority as a result of delayed clearance or collection shall be borne entirely by the Client, in addition to warehousing charges, and the Company shall have a lien over the Goods until all such charges are paid in full.
10. Limitation of Liability
The Company's liability in connection with shipping and logistics coordination is subject in all respects to the Limitation of Liability clause of the Company's Terms of Engagement, including the aggregate liability cap and time-bar on claims set out therein. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall not be liable for any loss, theft, damage, or delay caused by any third-party carrier, freight forwarder, customs authority, or port operator, whether or not selected or recommended by the Company.
11. Dispute Resolution
Any dispute relating to shipping or logistics shall be resolved in accordance with the Dispute Resolution clause of the Company's Terms of Engagement (mandatory arbitration, sole arbitrator appointed by the Company, seat and venue at Siliguri, West Bengal, India).
12. Contact
Fortune Imports and Exports (India) · hello@fortunesourcings.com · +91 96929 69221 · Monday–Saturday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM IST.
