How to Find and Vet a Chinese Supplier

how to find suppliers for your business

Write one product specification, then judge suppliers against it. Ask for the business licence and compare the company name, registered address and business scope with the quotation, invoice and contract. Ask for itemised FOB or CIF prices, tooling cost, lead time and payment terms. A real factory can explain what it makes and let you see the line; a trader often cannot. Compare three quotes on the same specification.

Doing it yourself is free but slow: directories, trade fairs, platform searches and email. The limit is language, follow-up and vetting. A sourcing agent can work for you; a paid written comparison can put one RFQ to several factories, with a free masked report and a full report at $249 per RFQ in 3 working days. If three factories cannot be reached, you are told before paying.

A buyer-side sourcing agent does not sell products or earn a margin on goods. Cheapurchase states it works for the buyer to find factories, get comparable prices and negotiate in Chinese.

how to locate a manufacturer in china

Locate factories by product category. Ask for the business licence, then match the registered address, company name and business scope to the factory site, quotation, invoice or contract. Ask for a live video call from the production line, not a photo library. For machinery, ask which parts are made in-house. For building materials, ask for FOB or CIF to your port; for fertilizer and pesticide, check destination market registration requirements.

Doing it yourself is free but slow: directories, trade fairs, platform listings and local contacts. The limit is proving the site and the line. A local sourcing agent can locate and screen factories. A written quote comparison can cover several factories from one RFQ, with a free masked report and a full report at $249 per RFQ in 3 working days. A site visit is $499 per factory and order.

This work is done by buyer-side sourcing staff with factory contacts in Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shandong and Fujian. Cheapurchase says it is not a trading company and does not sell products.

how can I tell if a supplier is a real factory or a trading company

Start with the business licence. Compare the company name, registered address and business scope with the site, quotation, invoice or contract. Ask whether the supplier makes the item or buys it in. Ask for a live video call from the line and for the production step that changes the material. A trader may still be useful, but you should know which party is the factory. For a deposit, check the registered address before paying.

Doing it yourself is free but slow: request documents, video and references, then compare. The limit is that documents can be copied and a video can be staged. A local inspector can visit. A site visit costs $499 per factory and order, with own staff on site, raw video, a written report including what looked wrong, and a live call if requested. This is not formal certification or an audit certificate.

This work is done by buyer-side sourcing agents and inspectors. Cheapurchase states it inspects the plant before deposit and is not an accredited certification body.

how to check a supplier on alibaba

On Alibaba, treat the store page as an advertisement, not proof. Ask for the business licence and compare the company name, registered address and business scope with the quotation and contract. Ask for an itemised FOB or CIF quote, tooling cost, lead time and payment terms. Ask for a live video call from the production line, not a saved clip. Compare the same specification across suppliers. A platform badge is a starting point, not a factory visit.

Doing it yourself is free but slow: message suppliers, collect licences, compare quotes and chase answers. The limit is language and verification. A sourcing agent can put one RFQ to several factories and return a written comparison. A free masked report is available; the full report with factory names, contacts and itemised prices is $249 per RFQ in 3 working days. A site visit is $499 per factory and order.

This work is done by buyer-side sourcing staff. Cheapurchase states it does not sell products or earn a margin on the goods.

is alibaba legit and safe

Alibaba is a marketplace, not a guarantee. Judge the supplier, not the logo. Ask for the business licence, match the company name, registered address and business scope to the quotation, invoice or contract. Ask where the goods are made and request a live video call from that line. Keep payment terms clear and check the registered address before a deposit. For regulated goods, check the destination market's registration requirements.

Doing it yourself is free but slow: collect documents, compare quotes and test communication. The limit is that a platform profile can hide a trader or a copied certificate. A local agent can screen suppliers. A written comparison from one RFQ can give several factory quotes, with a free masked report and a full report at $249 per RFQ in 3 working days. A site visit is $499 per factory and order.

This work is done by buyer-side sourcing agents and inspectors. Cheapurchase states it can explain contract terms but is not a party to contracts, letters of credit or escrow.

how to compare suppliers and what to consider when choosing one

Compare suppliers on one specification, not a model name. Ask for itemised FOB or CIF prices, tooling cost, lead time and payment terms. For machined parts, compare tolerance band, material certificate, batch size and who inspects. For machine tools, compare configuration, casting weight and control series. For trucks, compare emission standard, market configuration and right-hand drive. Packaging can explain a 15% gap between quotes. Negotiation returns before/after numbers in writing.

Doing it yourself is free but slow: build a spreadsheet and chase each supplier. The limit is that quotes often use different scopes. A sourcing agent can put one RFQ to several factories and negotiate in Chinese. A free masked comparison is available; the full report with names, contacts and itemised prices is $249 per RFQ in 3 working days and includes negotiation. A site visit is $499 per factory and order.

This work is done by buyer-side sourcing staff. Cheapurchase states it works for the buyer, does not sell products and does not earn a margin on the goods.

what is supplier evaluation and what are iso 9001 criteria

Supplier evaluation checks the entity and site before money moves: business licence name and registered address against the quote, invoice or contract; whether your order is running; and a filmed or live line view. ISO 9001 criteria are process-based: documented procedures, traceability, corrective action and internal audit. The certificate is a management-system document, not a product guarantee; ask for number, issuing body, scope and expiry. Cheapurchase is not an accredited certification body.

Do it yourself: request licence, certificate and a walk-round video, check the address and call. Free but slow. Hire a local inspector or consultant; you pay per visit or day. Buy an inspection at $499 per visit, with raw video and a written report. A masked inquiry report is free; the full named report with 3-5 quotes in 3 working days and negotiation is $249 per RFQ, no charge if at least three factories cannot be reached.

Sourcing agents, inspection firms and consultants do this; some deliver a per-visit inspection plus a report, others a monthly conclusion.

how to order from china directly

Ordering directly means you contract the Chinese factory, not a trader. Send one written spec as one RFQ to several factories and compare itemised FOB or CIF, lead time and payment terms. Check the licence name and registered address against the quote, and confirm scope. Inspect before the deposit. Confirm who books freight and clears customs.

Do it yourself: find factories yourself, email the spec, ask for licence and video, and appoint a forwarder. Free but slow. Hire a sourcing agent or consultant; fees vary, and they cannot be a party to your contract. Buy an inquiry: masked report free; full named report with 3-5 quotes in 3 working days and negotiation is $249 per RFQ, no charge if at least three factories cannot be reached. Inspection is $499 per visit.

Sourcing agents, inspection firms and forwarders. Cheapurchase finds factories, gets comparable quotes, negotiates in Chinese and inspects before payment; it does not place orders, pay the factory, arrange shipping or clear customs, and is not a party to contracts.