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Guide

Essential Questions to Ask Chinese Suppliers

Essential questions organized by procurement stage: before sourcing, during RFQ, quotation, production, and delivery. Never miss a critical question when vetting Chinese suppliers.

Stage 1

Before Sourcing — Initial Vetting Questions

Ask these questions before you invest time in a potential supplier relationship.

Many companies on Alibaba claim to be factories but are actually trading companies. Ask for a video tour or live video call to verify. Both models can work — but you need to know who you're dealing with.
Check business license registration date. A factory with 10+ years of experience typically has more stable processes. But newer factories may be more flexible on MOQ and pricing.
ISO 9001 for quality management is standard. Ask about product-specific certifications relevant to your target market — CE, UL, FDA, RoHS, REACH, etc. Verify validity dates.
Export experience to your country means the factory understands your market's documentation, packaging, and compliance requirements. Ask for references from clients in your region.
Reputable factories should be able to provide 2-3 client references. Contact them directly to verify the factory's reliability, quality, and communication.
Always ask about MOQ for your specific product. Some factories have different MOQs for standard products vs. custom orders. Confirm whether MOQ is per SKU or per order.
A factory specializing in electronics may not be suitable for furniture. Ensure their core competencies match your product category. Ask for product catalogs or case studies.
A live video tour is the best way to verify factory legitimacy. Walk through the production floor, QC area, and warehouse. Ask to see specific machinery relevant to your product.
Stage 2

During RFQ & Negotiation

Once you've shortlisted suppliers, these questions will help you compare quotes accurately.

Request a breakdown: raw materials, labor, overhead, packaging, and profit. This helps you compare quotes fairly and identify where savings can be made.
Standard terms: 30% T/T deposit, 70% balance before shipment. Be wary of factories demanding 50%+ deposits. L/C is an option for larger orders but involves bank fees.
Clarify: sample cost (free or paid?), shipping cost (who pays?), turnaround time for samples, number of revisions included, and whether the sample cost is refundable with bulk orders.
Ask about their revision process. Minor changes may be included; major changes may incur additional costs and timeline adjustments. Get this in writing before you start.
Confirm whether the price includes: packaging, testing, documentation, insurance, and shipping to port. Clarify the Incoterm (FOB, CIF, EXW, DDP) to avoid surprises.
Get a detailed timeline: sample preparation, mold/tooling (if needed), mass production, quality control, and shipping. Ask about their current capacity and how they handle rush orders.
Stage 3

Quality Control Questions

These questions will help you understand how thoroughly the factory manages quality.

Look for: incoming material inspection, in-process inspection at key stages, final inspection before packaging. Ask what AQL level they follow and who performs the inspections.
Factories confident in their quality welcome third-party inspections. If a factory resists, it's a red flag. We recommend in-line inspections at 50% and pre-shipment inspections.
Get it in writing: re-inspection policy, who pays for re-inspection, timeline for rework, and consequences for repeated failures. Clear terms protect both parties.
Professional factories classify defects as critical, major, or minor. Ask for their specific criteria for your product type. AQL sampling standards should be agreed upon upfront.
Ask about in-house testing capabilities and whether they use third-party labs (SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek) for verification. Some tests require specialized equipment.
Stage 4

Production & Shipping Questions

Ask these before production starts to avoid delays and misunderstandings.

Ask for a detailed Gantt chart or production schedule with milestones. Regular progress reports (photos/videos) should be part of the agreement.
Discuss: communication protocol for delays, penalty clauses for late delivery (if applicable), and contingency plans. Better to discuss before problems arise.
Clarify: inner packaging, outer carton specifications, palletization, labeling, and marking. Poor packaging is one of the most common causes of damage during shipping.
Discuss options: sea freight (FCL vs LCL), air freight, express courier (DHL, FedEx), or rail. Each has different cost, speed, and minimum volume requirements.
Standard documents: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin. Additional documents may be needed depending on your product and destination country.
Ask about: warranty period, defect claim process, replacement policy, and technical support. A factory confident in their products will stand behind them.

Don't Go Into Supplier Negotiations Alone

Let ANJU's experienced team handle the vetting, negotiation, and quality control for you. We ask the hard questions so you don't have to.

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