Answer 10 questions about your China supplier. Find out which red flags are hiding before you send any money.
No sign-up needed. Takes 2 minutes.
1. Did the supplier contact you first (not the other way around)?
⚠ Unsolicited outreach is a common red flag. Legitimate factories rarely cold-contact foreign buyers.
2. Do you have a verified factory address in China?
⚠ A legitimate factory always has a verifiable physical address. No address = major red flag.
3. Have you verified the supplier on Alibaba or via a third-party audit?
⚠ Suppliers only reachable via WeChat with no Alibaba presence are high-risk.
4. What payment method did they request?
⚠ Never pay to a personal account. Always verify the company name on bank details matches the supplier's business license.
5. Did they provide a detailed, itemized quotation?
⚠ A missing breakdown hides markup and gives you no way to negotiate. Payment before quote is never acceptable.
6. Do they claim to be a factory but quote very small MOQs (under 50 units)?
⚠ Factories rarely accept very small MOQs. This often means you are dealing with a trading company with a large markup.
7. Did they provide product certifications relevant to your market?
⚠ Always ask for actual certificate files, not just claims. Many suppliers share expired or fake certs.
8. Have you seen actual product photos — not stock images?
⚠ Real factories will share production photos or video calls. Refusal is a significant warning sign.
9. Did they pressure you to decide quickly or pay a deposit immediately?
⚠ Urgency is a manipulation tactic. Legitimate suppliers understand buyers need time to evaluate.
10. Are you planning to skip a pre-shipment inspection?
⚠ Skipping pre-shipment inspection is one of the most costly mistakes first-time buyers make. A $250 inspection can prevent a $10,000 loss.
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