Hi Grace,
Thanks for your email.
For luxury goods of jewelry industry, the peak season and off peak season tend to be 2.5-3 times capacity different all times. This has been like that for more than 20 years and we do not expect the trend could change in short period. As a manufacturer, we start making product by your order so we will try to adapt and find the ways/solutions to maintain the business economy balance through out the year. A close strategic business buying partner realize this unavoidable issue and cooperate with manufacturer on the lead times and back up orders. Thus, we usually agree a separate lead time in peak season August – December for longer (50-60 days) and off-peak season January – July for (35-45 days) and with flexibility in date adjustment as well as multiple shipping schedules allow per week. We understand you have less flexibility in the lead time discussion and limited (one) shipping schedules per week due to your recent compulsory late penalty charge enforcement. Therefore, in order to avoid future disagreement on delivery dates during peak and off-peak seasons, a standard LT 60 days is necessary and sufficient for shipment plan and preparation of your QA and shipping document requirements.
Let me know if you have any questions.