YIWU & CHINA SOURCING
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COMMON QUESTIONS / BEFORE YOU SOURCE
Before you place the next order.
Straight answers to questions buyers often ask when planning a sourcing project.
HomeFAQ
GETTING STARTED
Products, samples and quantities.
Send a product reference, estimated quantity and destination market. If you have a target material, packaging format or required arrival date, include those too. A complete brief makes supplier quotes easier to compare.
Yes. Sample availability, cost and timing depend on the product and customisation. Confirm those details before ordering. Keep a record of the approved sample for production and inspection.
There is no single MOQ across all categories. Product design, material, colour, print method and packaging each affect it. We ask suppliers to explain those requirements for your specific brief.
DEFINING THE SCOPE
Fees, existing suppliers and checks.
The scope depends on the products, number of suppliers and tasks required. Product cost, service fees, inspection, testing, storage and transport should be listed clearly in a project quotation.
Selected support can be scoped around suppliers you already use, such as order follow-up, inspection coordination or consolidation. Tell us which tasks you need and who has final approval.
Requirements depend on the product and destination. Identify applicable requirements before ordering and arrange specialist document review or testing when needed. A visual inspection does not replace compliance testing.
PLANNING THE ORDER
Timing and expectations.
Timing depends on sampling, customisation, production, inspection and transport. Agree milestones after the brief and supplier options are confirmed; an estimated production period is not a guaranteed arrival date.
No. Pricing and quality depend on the agreed specification and execution. We focus on comparable quotations, documented approvals and inspection findings that support your buying decision.
PRODUCTS & CUSTOMISATION
From a reference to an approved version.
They show sourcing directions for an inquiry. Exact availability, supplier options, minimum quantities and lead times are confirmed for the requested version and order. Share a reference rather than assuming every pictured item is ready to ship.
A mixed assortment can be reviewed. Record quantities by item, size and colour so supplier minimums and packing requirements can be checked. Consolidating cargo does not make separate production minimums disappear.
A reference can explain the style, function or construction you have in mind. You must have the necessary rights for any protected brand, artwork or design used in your order. Supplier proposals should distinguish alternatives and your approved original brand application.
That can be considered with a complete component list and assembly scope. Approve each component and the fully packed set. Agree how shortages, damaged items, substitutions and leftover packing materials will be counted and handled.
The product and printed packaging may use different production processes and suppliers. Ask for each minimum separately, along with setup costs and options using existing formats. Do not assume the minimum printed on a product quote includes every custom pack.
QUALITY & CHANGES
Keep the approval and evidence together.
Record supplier, model, specification, colour, decoration, packing and revision or approval date. Note any unresolved deviations. If the physical sample is approved only for one feature, state that limit rather than treating it as full production approval.
No. Visual or functional checks, laboratory tests and document review answer different questions. Identify the exact product, intended use and destination, then agree the required specialist work separately before the order is committed.
Request the exact proposed change and its effect on use, appearance, cost, documents and timing. The authorised buyer should approve or reject it in writing. A message describing an alternative as equivalent does not establish that it meets the same requirements.
The authorised decision maker must assess the issue under the agreed acceptance rules and commercial arrangements. Record any approved deviation, affected quantity and conditions. A report should make open matters visible rather than implying unconditional acceptance.
CONSOLIDATION & HANDOVER
Know which milestone has actually been reached.
No. Receiving cartons and checking visible condition is different from inspecting the products inside. Specify product inspection, repacking or assembly separately and retain the relevant findings and approval records.
Review the affected SKUs, quantity and schedule, then decide whether to wait, split, omit or approve an alternative. Confirm cost and timing implications before changing the shipment scope. Keep the outstanding order visible after any partial shipment.
The actual scope determines the records, but a reconciled SKU and carton list, measurements, cargo identification and approved shipment instructions are useful starting points. Transport and destination-specific documentation should be confirmed with the relevant provider.
Not necessarily. Dimensions, weight, cargo type, destination, route and market conditions affect the offer. Check validity and exclusions, then review the final quote against the actual packed cargo before booking.
LET’S MOVE YOUR IDEAS FORWARD
Ready to source your next range?
Send a product photo or link, quantity and destination. We’ll work through the sourcing, branding and shipment questions with you.