Finding a supplier in China is easy. Finding a reliable one is the single biggest decision in your import journey — get it wrong and you lose money, time, and customers. This is the process I use every day as a sourcing agent in Guangzhou.
Where buyers actually find suppliers
There are four main channels, each with different trade-offs:
- Alibaba.com — the default starting point. Huge selection, but listings mix real factories with trading companies. Good for discovery, never trust it for final vetting.
- 1688.com — Alibaba’s domestic site. Lower prices (no export markup), but Mandarin-only and requires a China payment method. Best used with an agent.
- Made-in-China.com & Global Sources — more factory-verified than Alibaba, narrower selection. Global Sources skews toward vetted exhibitors.
- Canton Fair & trade shows — you meet the factory face to face. Slower, but the trust signal is unmatched.
The 6 questions that separate real factories from middlemen
Before you pay a cent, ask these. A genuine factory answers them easily; a trading company dodges.
- Can you send a video walkthrough of your production line? Trading companies can’t — they don’t have one.
- What’s your main product, and what’s your monthly capacity? A real factory specializes. “We make everything” is a red flag.
- Who are your existing overseas clients? They won’t name names, but should describe countries and product lines.
- What certifications do you hold for my destination market? CE, FCC, FDA, UL — a real factory knows exactly which apply.
- What’s your MOQ and can you explain why? MOQ is usually tied to a machine setup or material minimum. A vague answer means they’re reselling.
- Can I order a paid sample from your current stock, not a custom-made one? A stock sample shows what they actually ship. A custom sample can hide production quality.
Red flags that should stop you immediately
- Prices 30%+ below the market average — there’s always a catch (recycled materials, smaller specs, or a scam).
- The “factory” can’t answer technical questions and forwards you to “a colleague.”
- Payment demands 100% upfront via Western Union or personal account.
- No business license number, or a license that doesn’t match the company name.
- Stock photos only, no photos of their own workshop.
The step most buyers skip: verifying before the big order
Even a good-looking supplier can ship a bad batch. The fix is simple and cheap: order a paid sample, then run a pre-shipment inspection (AQL standard) with photos and video before the balance payment. A $99 inspection saves a $9,000 mistake.
Want this handled for you? Tell Bean what you want to source — first consultation and an initial supplier shortlist are always free.
