How to vet a case manufacturer in China before you send a deposit
Ten checks that separate a factory that owns its tooling from a storefront reselling someone else’s catalogue — and what each answer means.
Short answer
- The commonest cause of a bad first order is not quality but that the entity you contracted is not the entity that produced the goods.
- Match the registered Chinese name on the quotation to the name on the business licence, and both to the name on the bank account.
- Ask which forming process the plant runs and how many machines.
- Get a written specification with tolerances, not a photo.
Why most supplier failures are identity failures
The commonest cause of a bad first order is not quality but that the entity you contracted is not the entity that produced the goods. B2B marketplaces let several storefronts list the same product, and a trading company’s page often shows a factory it does not own. Verify the legal person, then the site, then the capability — in that order.
Checks on the record
Match the registered Chinese name on the quotation to the name on the business licence, and both to the name on the bank account. Confirm the registered address and the actual production address; they differ routinely. Look for the annual report, the establishment year and any enforcement or restriction notices. Ask whether the entity is a manufacturer or a trader — the licence scope usually answers it. Check whether the domain and email belong to the same legal name.
Checks on the capability
Ask which forming process the plant runs and how many machines. Ask for the mould list for your category, and whether the mould is owned by the plant or by a customer. Ask who supplies the gaskets, latches and foam, and get names. Ask what they test in house and what goes to an outside lab. A real factory answers all five quickly and specifically; a reseller gives you catalogue language.
Checks on the transaction
Get a written specification with tolerances, not a photo. Agree the inspection point and who pays for it. Confirm what happens to tooling if you stop ordering. Confirm the incoterm, the port, and who handles export documentation. Pay a deposit against a signed specification, and hold the balance until after inspection.
Red flags worth walking away from
A price far below the category range with no explanation; refusal to name sub-suppliers; a bank account in a different legal name; "certification" described as automatic; and any offer to ship door-to-door with duties included from an entity whose licence scope says trading only.
Questions buyers ask
Should I use a third-party inspection company?
For a first order above a few thousand units, yes. Specify the AQL, the checks and the photo requirements before production starts, not after. It is cheaper than a rejected container and the report is usable evidence in a dispute.
Does a Gold Supplier or verified badge prove the factory exists?
It proves a platform did some identity check. It does not prove that the listed products come from that site, or that the site is the one you will visit.