Help Center
Everything you need to know about sourcing natural stone through Go2Stone Pro.
How Quoting Works
Our marketplace uses a quote-based purchasing flow. Here's how it works from start to finish.
- 1
Browse
Explore stones by type, color, finish, and thickness. View detailed photos and specifications for each bundle.
- 2
Add to Container
Add bundles to your container. Bundles are grouped by origin region so you can see how many containers each shipment will need.
- 3
Request Quotation
Choose your shipping terms (FOB, CIF, or DAP), set your timeline, and submit the request. Go2Stone reviews and prepares your proforma - typically within one business day.
- 4
Review Proforma
Go2Stone sends you a proforma invoice with final pricing, freight, and payment terms. You can accept, request changes, or cancel.
- 5
Order Confirmed
Once you accept the proforma, your bundles are reserved and pulled from live producer stock. You receive status updates as your order moves through dispatch preparation and shipping.
Shipping & Order Lifecycle
After your order is confirmed, it moves through these stages. Timelines vary by origin and destination.
Confirmed
Day 1Deposit paid · Bundles reserved
Your order is confirmed. Bundles are reserved exclusively for you. Payment terms (typically 100% before shipment) are stated on the signed proforma.
Dispatch Preparation
5–7 daysSlabs verified · Bandıl frames secured · ISPM-15 packing
Live, ready-to-load inventory means no production wait. Within 5 to 7 days of signed proforma, your slabs are pulled from the producer, verified against the proforma photos, secured on Bandıl frames in ISPM-15 wooden crating, and dispatched on inland transport to the origin port.
Loading
2–3 daysPacking list & commercial invoice issued
Bandıl frames are loaded into 20-foot containers at the producer or at a consolidation yard near the origin port. Container stuffing, Packing List, and Commercial Invoice are completed within 2–3 days, with vessel sailing on the next available departure. Total dispatch time from order confirmation to vessel sailing: roughly 7–10 days.
At Port / In Transit
2–7 weeksBill of Lading issued
Your containers are loaded onto a CMA CGM or MSC vessel and the Bill of Lading (B/L) is issued. Sea transit varies by origin and destination. Typical bands from Mediterranean origins: Europe 2–3 weeks, US East Coast 3–5 weeks, US West Coast 6–8 weeks, Middle East 1–2 weeks, Australia 7–10 weeks. Atlantic origins (Brazil, Mexico) follow different routes - exact transit time appears on your proforma. Real-time vessel position, ETA, and arrival notifications appear in your Go2Stone Pro dashboard on the order detail page; the B/L number is also shared directly if you want to cross-check on the carrier's website.
Customs Clearance
1–7 daysYour customs broker - every Incoterm
Destination customs clearance is always your responsibility, in every Incoterm Go2Stone offers (FOB, CIF, DAP). Your customs broker handles import duties, VAT, and clearance at the destination port - the cargo cannot move beyond customs without this step. Go2Stone handles export-side customs at the origin port and prepays ocean freight on CIF and DAP, but never the destination side.
Delivered
At destinationInspect before signing
Your order has arrived. For FOB and CIF, this means the destination port - you arrange inland delivery. For DAP, delivered to the address on your proforma.
Incoterms Explained
Incoterms define who pays for shipping, insurance, and customs. Choose the right one for your needs.
FOB
FOB - Free On Board
You arrange ocean freight and insurance from the origin port.
- Seller handles
- Go2Stone delivers slabs loaded onto the vessel at the origin port
- Buyer handles
- Arranges and pays for ocean freight, marine insurance, destination customs clearance, import duties, and inland delivery
- Best for
- Buyers with their own freight forwarder relationship who want to control freight cost and routing
CIF
CIF - Cost, Insurance & Freight
Go2Stone covers ocean freight and insurance to your destination port.
- Seller handles
- Books and pays for ocean freight (CMA CGM or MSC) and marine insurance to the destination port
- Buyer handles
- Handles destination customs clearance, import duties and VAT, and inland trucking from port
- Best for
- Buyers who want a single-proforma experience and freight at carrier-direct rates, but already have a customs broker
DAP
DAP - Delivered At Place
Go2Stone delivers to your warehouse or jobsite.
- Seller handles
- Handles ocean freight, marine insurance, export customs, and inland delivery to the address on your proforma
- Buyer handles
- Handles destination customs clearance, import duties and VAT, and site unloading
- Best for
- Buyers who want the most hands-off experience and a single counterparty for the full landed-cost number
Frequently Asked Questions
Trade Glossary
Key terms used throughout the platform.
Bundle (Bandıl)
Also known in stone trade as Bandıl. A stack of slabs cut from the same block, sold and shipped together on a wooden A-frame. Producers number bundles per block (e.g. Bundle 03 of Block A-12).
Slab
A single flat piece of stone cut from a block. Slabs within a bundle share the same veining and color characteristics.
Block
The raw stone block extracted from a quarry. One block produces multiple bundles after cutting on a gangsaw.
Bookmatch
Two adjacent slabs cut so the patterns mirror each other - used when veining or pattern continuity matters (kitchen islands, feature walls).
SKU
Unique stock identifier for a single bundle. Formatted like BDL-X7K2M4P9. Use it to reference a specific bundle in messages and quotations.
Surface Finish
How the slab surface is processed - polished, honed, leathered, brushed, etc. Affects look, feel, slip resistance, and price.
Selection
A quality grade within a stone type - e.g. Premium, Commercial, Economy. Higher selections have fewer veins, pits, or color variation.
Proforma Invoice
A preliminary invoice issued by Go2Stone before the order is confirmed. Details quantities, prices, shipping terms, and payment instructions. Not a final invoice; signing it converts to a binding order.
Container
Slab orders ship in 20-foot Standard containers - roughly 20–22 tonnes payload, 28 tonnes maximum gross. The 20ft format matches slab Bandıl-frame dimensions; 40-foot containers do not work for slab transport in stone trade.
Reservation
When you sign the proforma, the bundles are reserved exclusively for you and removed from the public catalog. Reservations expire if payment is not received within the agreed timeframe (typically stated on the proforma).
FOB - Free On Board
Go2Stone delivers your slabs loaded onto the vessel at the named origin port. From that moment, you handle ocean freight, marine insurance, customs clearance at destination, import duties, and inland delivery. Best when you have your own freight forwarder relationship.
CIF - Cost, Insurance & Freight
Go2Stone covers ocean freight and cargo insurance to your destination port - booked direct on CMA CGM or MSC at our negotiated rates, with no freight-forwarder commission added. The single proforma includes both the slabs and the freight, payable in one transfer to Stomaton. You handle: customs clearance at the destination port (your customs broker or in-house team), import duties and VAT, and inland delivery from port to your warehouse or jobsite. Recommended when you want one counterparty and one quote but already have a customs broker, or are willing to engage one.
DAP - Delivered at Place
Go2Stone delivers your slabs to a named destination (your warehouse or jobsite) with all freight, marine insurance, and export documentation prepaid. You handle only customs clearance, import duties and VAT at destination, and unloading at your site. The most hands-off option - closest to a single-counterparty experience.
Bill of Lading (B/L)
The shipping company's receipt and title document for your cargo. Issued when containers are loaded. Presenting the B/L at the destination port is required to release your goods.
Gangsaw
The multi-blade saw used to cut a quarry block into slabs simultaneously. The number of blades determines how many slabs are produced and at what thickness.
Square Metre (m²)
Standard unit for measuring and pricing stone. Bundle prices are quoted per m². Slab area is calculated as width × length ÷ 10,000 (if dimensions are in cm).
Origin Region
The geographic origin where your bundles are produced. Bundles from the same region share container loading and freight costs in your quotation.
Thickness (cm)
Standard slab thickness - typically 2 cm for flooring and wall cladding, or 3 cm for countertops and heavy-use surfaces. Always confirm with the producer; slight variation (±2 mm) is normal.