Zimbabwe · Order & delivery guides
Keeping custom orders tied to an approved version
Custom work needs a dated specification or proof and a named approver. Keep the accepted version visible so production, payment and receipt all refer to the same item.
Create a production reference
Use a dimensioned drawing, material schedule, artwork file or sample reference appropriate to the work. A furniture, board or packaging enquiry may begin with a photo, but the supplier should state what is required for production. Identify who checks measurements and who approves the final version. This record does not replace a qualified design or material-suitability assessment.
For related background, read Ordering flexible packaging in Zimbabwe →
Agree how changes are handled
Ask the supplier for the actual terms governing preparation, production and later revisions. Do not assume a custom item has the same practical return options as an untouched stock item. If the buyer changes dimensions, finish or artwork, record a new version and obtain fresh approval. Keep any additional charge separate and explicit.
| Situation | Next action | What remains open |
|---|---|---|
| Design in discussion | Name the current drawing or artwork and unresolved decisions. | A draft sent for quotation is not necessarily production approval. |
| Final proof accepted | Record the approver and exact dated version. | Return subsequent changes for another explicit decision. |
| Finished item arrives | Compare dimensions or visible work with the accepted reference. | Document differences before further processing prevents an effective comparison. |
For the next decision, see Ordering boards and doors in Zimbabwe →
Inspect against the accepted reference
At receipt, compare the delivered work with the approved version and record visible discrepancies before further processing or installation. Merchant confirmation of payment establishes the financial event, while the merchant's delivery report and recipient's acknowledgement describe separate perspectives on the handover. Keep missing or disputed work open until the parties resolve it.
For a practical follow-up, use Order specification worksheet →
Illustrative example · synthetic
Putting the record into practice
A packaging buyer approves a proof and later changes the text. The order creates a new artwork version rather than overwriting the earlier approval. The supplier confirms which version will be produced, and the recipient checks that version at handover.
Keep this with the order
Before you proceed
- Production-ready reference identified.
- Measurement or artwork approver named.
- Change terms obtained.
- New versions explicitly accepted.
- Receipt compared with the final reference.
Sources & review
Reviewed 2026-09-06. Confirm current stock, prices, contact channels, fulfilment terms and branch details with the supplier before acting.
- PostOrder: Approved public product description
Reviewed 2026-09-06. Product boundary checked against source-controlled homepage and transaction components. No claim that a listed business uses PostOrder.
Checklists and examples are PostOrder's editorial tools. They do not establish a supplier's actual terms. How to report a correction.