Deposits
How to Check a Chinese Supplier Before Payment
Review company, product, quote, account, sample terms, and unclear supplier replies before the next payment conversation.
Practical Buyer Guides
Guides for Better China Supplier Decisions.
Practical China supplier communication guides for overseas buyers before samples, deposits, tooling fees, and bulk orders.
Not a formal audit. Not legal due diligence. Not quality inspection. Not a supplier reliability guarantee.
Start with the decision in front of you
Use the guide that matches the next step, then send one unclear written reply to Supplier Reply Review.
| Decision | Start here | What to clarify |
|---|---|---|
| Before a deposit | Payment communication checks | Company, product, quote, account, and open terms |
| Before a sample | Sample questions | Sample type, fees, timing, shipping, and bulk differences |
| Comparing quotations | Quotation comparison | Like-for-like scope, exclusions, timing, and payment terms |
| Reply still unclear | Supplier Reply Review | Confirmed information, missing information, and next questions |
Before Payment & Supplier Risk
Organize the information that matters before a deposit, tooling payment, or first order.
Checklist
China Supplier Information Checklist Before Payment
Organize supplier names, quote scope, sample terms, payment details, and open questions in one written record.
First Order
China Supplier Red Flags Before Your First Order
Recognize vague replies, mismatched payment accounts, unrealistic prices, and other information gaps that need clarification.
Tooling
What to Check Before Sending Tooling Money to a Chinese Factory
Clarify tooling scope, ownership, sample basis, payment terms, and the written commitments needed before sending money.
Documents
Documents a Chinese Supplier Should Provide Before Payment
Use a practical document list to identify what has been provided and what still needs written confirmation.
Risk Reduction
How to Reduce Risk on Your First Order from China
Build a clearer order basis around product scope, samples, payment details, production conditions, and follow-up questions.
Samples & First Orders
Define what a sample represents, what remains open, and what should be confirmed before larger production.
Sample Questions
Questions to Ask a Chinese Supplier Before Ordering Samples
Cover materials, packaging, customization, MOQ, lead time, and the differences between a sample and a bulk order.
Sample to Bulk
What Should Be Written in a Sample Order Before Bulk Production?
Set a clearer sample basis before moving to bulk production, including what the sample does and does not represent.
Sample Request
Sample Order Email Template for Chinese Suppliers
Structure a sample inquiry with specifications, sample requirements, costs, timing, and practical questions.
Before Ordering
Questions Before Ordering From a Chinese Supplier
Confirm MOQ, quotation scope, payment terms, customization, packaging, lead time, and production conditions.
Quotations & RFQ
Compare written assumptions before treating quoted prices as directly comparable.
Quotation Scope
How to Compare Chinese Supplier Quotations Beyond Price
Compare product scope, MOQ, packaging, sample terms, lead time, payment terms, and unclear assumptions before comparing price.
Supplier Comparison
How to Compare Chinese Suppliers
Compare product fit, communication, quotations, samples, payment details, and production information on one basis.
RFQ Template
RFQ Template for Chinese Suppliers
Prepare product details, specifications, quantity, customization, packaging, timeline, and shipping requirements.
Factory Identity
Use available company, workshop, product, and communication context to decide what to ask next.
Factory Context
How to Check If a Chinese Factory Is Real
Use workshop evidence, product control, business-license context, video calls, and reply consistency as information to clarify.
Supplier Role
Is Your Chinese Supplier a Factory or Trading Company?
Review product focus, in-house processes, workshop evidence, technical replies, and responsibility boundaries.
Video Calls
Chinese Factory Video Call Checklist for Overseas Buyers
Use a focused checklist for workshop, sample room, packing area, labels, production flow, and product-specific context.
Certificates & Platform Risks
Read platform labels and documents as information that needs context, not as a substitute for product and supplier communication.
Platforms
Alibaba vs Made-in-China: What Platform Information Can and Cannot Tell You
Compare the available platform information while keeping product scope, communication, and next questions in view.
Supplier Badges
Should You Trust Alibaba Supplier Badges?
Understand what a platform badge may show, what it does not confirm, and which details still need clarification.
Certificates
How to Check CE, UL, and RoHS Certificates From Chinese Suppliers
Read certificate details in context and identify the product, document, and scope questions that still need answers.
Boundary Reminder
These guides help buyers read visible supplier information and ask better next-step questions.
What these guides are not
Not formal audit, not legal due diligence, not quality inspection, and not a supplier reliability guarantee.
Light CTA
Send one supplier reply if you need a practical review before samples, deposits, tooling fees, or a first bulk order.
Need a second look at a supplier reply?
Gewuji can help review visible supplier information, unclear points, and next-step questions before samples, deposits, or larger orders.
This is not a formal factory audit, legal due diligence, quality inspection, or supplier reliability guarantee.