Introduction
Most China sourcing failures do not come from bad luck. They come from a small set of predictable mistakes, made by first-time buyers and, occasionally, by experienced ones who cut corners under time pressure.
This article lists the mistakes that show up most often, in the order they typically appear in a project.
1. Choosing A Supplier On Price Alone
The lowest quote almost always assumes the loosest specification. A supplier who quotes 20% below the market is either using cheaper materials, skipping a production step, or intending to charge for changes later.
Compare quotes only when they are based on the same written brief.
2. Not Verifying The Factory
A polished website and quick email replies do not prove a factory exists. Basic verification — business license, physical address, category match — takes half a day and prevents most fraud cases.
3. Skipping The Sample
Ordering production without a signed-off sample is the single most expensive mistake in sourcing. Even for simple products, a sample confirms both sides understand the specification.
4. Confusing A Trading Company For A Factory
Trading companies have their place, especially for small orders spanning multiple product categories. But paying a factory-level markup for a trader who is subcontracting the work is a common quiet loss.
5. Vague Quality Standards
“Good quality” is not a specification. Tolerances, defect thresholds, acceptable colour variance, and packaging integrity all need to be written down. A factory can only meet a standard that exists on paper.
6. No Pre-Shipment Inspection
Catching a defect after the container arrives in the destination port means either accepting the shipment or paying to send it back. Catching it at pre-shipment inspection means the supplier reworks it before it ships.
7. Weak After-Sales Records
Buyers who do not track defect rates by supplier lose leverage in the next round of negotiation. A supplier who knows their quality has been measured behaves differently from one who does not.
FAQ
Is it worth paying for a third-party inspection on a small first order? Yes. The inspection cost is small compared to the loss on a bad container. It is also the cheapest way to learn how a supplier responds to feedback.
How do I know if a supplier is a trading company? Ask direct questions about production capacity, factory location, and equipment. A manufacturer answers with specifics; a trading company answers vaguely and pivots to catalogues.
Can I recover money from a Chinese supplier who delivered defective goods? It depends on the payment terms and whether an inspection report exists. Prevention is much easier than dispute resolution.
Avoid These Mistakes On Your Next Order
Most of these mistakes are avoidable with process, not with luck. If you would like Hansen to run the process, start a project.