Frequently asked questions

Questions about sourcing, quality control, and shipping from China.

Every product and supply chain is different. These answers explain our general approach. Final availability, responsibilities, timing, and pricing are confirmed only after we review the project.

General

Understanding our role

What does a China supply chain partner do?

A China supply chain partner coordinates the activities between overseas buyers, Chinese suppliers, quality-control providers, warehouses, logistics providers, customs-related parties, and delivery partners. The goal is to connect sourcing, quality, cargo preparation, transport, and delivery through one clearer operating workflow.

Are you a sourcing agent or a freight forwarder?

Our role is broader than either label alone. Depending on the project, we can support supplier search, sample and procurement coordination, quality checks, cargo consolidation, international logistics, customs and delivery coordination, special cargo, fulfillment, and returns. The exact responsibilities are defined in the project scope.

Who do you normally work with?

We focus on hardware startups, small and mid-sized businesses without an in-house China sourcing team, and brands looking for or managing factories in China. We are especially useful when several suppliers, quality-control steps, complex cargo, or post-arrival fulfillment are involved.

Supplier & order support

Factories, samples, and purchasing

Can you help us find a factory in China?

Yes. We can help clarify the requirement, identify potential suppliers, organize initial information, coordinate quotations, and arrange samples. Final supplier approval and contracting remain with the client unless a different written scope is agreed.

Can you coordinate samples from several suppliers?

Yes. We can coordinate sample requests, confirm available specifications, receive samples, consolidate them, and arrange one international shipment where practical.

Can you help with purchasing?

We can coordinate agreed purchasing tasks, supplier communication, order milestones, sample orders, and related documentation. The commercial structure, payment flow, ownership of goods, and responsibility for supplier contracts must be confirmed before work begins.

Quality control

Checks before release

Can you inspect products before shipment?

Yes. Inspection can be coordinated against an agreed checklist and may include quantity, appearance, workmanship, function, labeling, and packaging checks. The timing, sample size, access, reporting format, and acceptance criteria must be confirmed in advance.

Does an inspection guarantee that every unit is defect-free?

No. An inspection reduces risk but does not guarantee that every unit is free of defects. It is limited by the agreed method, sample size, checklist, timing, and site access. Laboratory testing, engineering validation, certification, and regulatory approval require appropriately qualified providers.

Consolidation & shipping

Moving goods to market

Can you combine goods from multiple suppliers?

Yes. We can coordinate warehouse receiving, carton and quantity matching, labeling, repacking, protective packaging, and consolidation before international shipment. The final scope depends on the goods, packaging, timing, and warehouse requirements.

Do you support DDP and duty-unpaid delivery?

Door-delivery options supporting DDP or DAP sales arrangements may be available, depending on the product, route, destination, documentation, and importer requirements. “DDU” is still used informally in some quotations, but DAP is the current Incoterms® 2020 rule generally used when the buyer handles import clearance and related charges. Under DDP, the seller is responsible for import clearance and applicable duties and taxes. The quotation will identify the named place, importer requirements, included charges, and route-specific limitations.

Can you coordinate customs clearance and door delivery?

We can coordinate customs-related information and door delivery where a suitable service is available. The shipper, consignee, importer responsibilities, product documentation, duties, taxes, inspection risk, and delivery limitations must be confirmed for each shipment.

Which countries do you serve?

We welcome enquiries for destinations in the United States, Canada, Australia, and selected European markets. Availability is confirmed by product, destination postal code, shipment size, and required service.

Complex cargo

Batteries, sensitive goods, and oversized items

Can you ship products with batteries?

Potentially. We first need the battery type, configuration, power or capacity details, product photos, packing information, quantity, and any available safety documents. Acceptance depends on accurate information, packaging, carrier rules, route rules, and destination requirements.

Can you handle sensitive goods?

We can assess selected products with liquid, powder, magnetic, chemical, food-contact, branded, or other controlled characteristics. Availability is product- and route-specific. Cargo must be declared accurately, and supporting documents may be required.

Can you handle oversized or heavy cargo?

Yes, subject to feasibility. Please provide exact packed dimensions, gross weight, center-of-gravity or lifting information where relevant, origin, destination, loading conditions, and photographs. Crating, special equipment, permits, or delivery-site requirements may apply.

Are there products you will not handle?

Yes. We do not support illegal goods, counterfeit goods, inaccurate declarations, duty avoidance, or cargo that cannot meet applicable documentation, safety, carrier, or destination requirements. Additional exclusions are confirmed after product review.

Fulfillment, pricing & next steps

After arrival and getting started

Can you provide labeling and fulfillment after arrival?

We can coordinate selected overseas warehouse services, including labeling, repacking, marketplace preparation, pick-and-pack, direct-to-customer shipping, and dropshipping where suitable facilities and service arrangements are available.

Can you process customer returns?

Return handling may include receiving, basic condition checks, photography, restocking, consolidation, forwarding, or disposal according to the agreed instruction. Availability and cost depend on the country, warehouse, product, and return volume.

What information do you need for an initial assessment?

Please provide the product and use, photos or specifications, supplier locations, order stage, quantity, packed dimensions and weight, cargo value, sensitive attributes, available documents, destination postal code, required service, and target date.

How is your service priced?

Pricing may include project or coordination fees, inspection, warehouse handling, logistics, duties and taxes where applicable, fulfillment, or other third-party costs. The structure depends on the agreed scope and is shown in the proposal or quotation.

How do we start?

Send a short project brief through the Contact page. We will review the product, current stage, suppliers, cargo, destination, timeline, and required support before confirming the next step.

Still not sure?

Tell us where the project is now and what outcome you need.

We can help define the next practical step after reviewing the product, suppliers, cargo, destination, and timeline.

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