Supplier verification
- Alibaba vs Made-in-China vs going direct to the factory — which should I actually use for sourcing?The platform matters less than two things the comparison usually hides: whether you know who you're actually dealing wit…
- My supplier has a Gold Supplier and Verified badge on Alibaba — does that mean they're safe?No — a Gold Supplier or Verified badge tells you the supplier paid for a membership and passed a basic check, not that t…
- How do I tell if my Alibaba supplier is an actual factory or a trading company — and does it matter?It matters — but not in the way most people assume. A trading company is not automatically worse than a factory; the rea…
- What's the best way to avoid getting scammed when importing products from China?Most China import losses aren't exotic scams, they're a handful of predictable failure points: paying the wrong entity, …
- How do I find a reliable sourcing agent in China, especially as a small importer or Amazon FBA seller?A reliable sourcing agent is defined less by their supplier list and more by how they get paid and whether their incenti…
- I found a supplier on Alibaba — how do I verify they're a real, legitimate factory before I pay a deposit or wire money?Before any money moves, verify three separate things: that the company legally exists and is allowed to make what you're…
- Is there an independent third party that can check or audit a Chinese supplier before I place an order?Yes, and the reason to use one comes back to a simple principle: you can't rely on the seller to vouch for the seller. I…
- My first order from China was great but the reorder quality dropped — why, and how do I prevent it?This is a known pattern called quality fade: the first order is built carefully to win you, then later runs quietly drif…
- Is ordering a sample before a bulk order worth the time and money, or just a delay?A sample is not a delay — it's the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy. The cost of one sample round is trivial next to t…
- A supplier quoted me 30% below everyone else — should I just place the order?A quote that sits 20–30% below the market is usually not a bargain — it's a signal. Before you order, find out where tha…
- My supplier emailed new bank account details at the last minute — is it safe to pay?Treat a last-minute change of bank details as a fraud alert until proven otherwise. This is the single most common way i…