Yes, some Rajkot makers will produce a larger order, hold the finished stock and ship it to you in smaller call-offs, but usually only once the full order is paid or a large part of it is. It suits buyers who want a lower price per piece from a bigger run without carrying all the stock in their own warehouse.
The arrangement depends on trust and on a clear written agreement. Without one, it is easy to end up arguing about what is yours and what condition it is in.
Why makers agree, and why some do not
Makers like a large confirmed order because it fills their workshop and lets them buy metal at better rates. They are less keen on storing finished goods that take space, tie up money if unpaid and may tarnish if kept badly. Small workshops often have little secure storage, so the offer is more common from established units.
What to agree in writing
- Ownership: once paid, the stock is yours, stored by the maker on your behalf and not to be sold to anyone else.
- Storage: sealed anti-tarnish bags, silica gel, a dry room and your packed cartons kept apart from other stock.
- Counts: a stock statement after every call-off and a full count at agreed intervals.
- Call-off notice: how many days the maker needs to pack and ship each call-off.
- Time limit: how long the maker will hold stock, and what happens to anything left at the end.
- Risk: who bears loss or damage while the stock sits at the factory, and whether it is insured.
Watch the finish over time
Plated jewellery does not improve on a shelf. Badly stored brass and alloy pieces can tarnish or develop spots within months, especially in humid weather. Ask for pieces to be bagged and sealed straight after plating and quality check, and have a sample from each call-off checked before it ships, not only the first.
If storage will run past several months, consider holding unplated or partly finished stock and plating each call-off fresh. It costs a little more in handling but avoids shipping tired stock.
Alternatives
If the maker will not hold stock, a bonded or third-party warehouse near the port can, or a sourcing agent can hold sealed cartons for you. Another option is a blanket order: you commit to a yearly volume at a fixed price and release production in batches, so the maker never holds finished goods for long.
What this means for a buyer
Treat stock held in Rajkot as your inventory and check it as you would your own warehouse. Creston & Co works for buyers only, for a fixed fee agreed in writing. We count held stock, check its finish before each call-off and supervise the packing of every shipment. Start with a free sourcing review.