This China sourcing FAQ answers common questions buyers ask before paying for goods: the service scope, fees, MOQ, samples, supplier checks, quality approval and shipping handover. HunterSourcing is a China sourcing agent that helps buyers research factories and coordinate agreed purchasing tasks. The supplier manufactures the goods; you approve the specification, commercial terms and shipment release.
Start with the question closest to your current order stage. If you already have a supplier, tell us which part needs support rather than restarting the whole sourcing process.
Prepared by the HunterSourcing team. Latest update: 2026. A written project quotation confirms the scope and applicable charges.
The people behind your project: our company and team profile introduces founder Wen Dao, who began working in export and purchasing in 2003 and founded HunterSourcing in 2018. Confirm your named project contact, the tasks they will coordinate and any product-specific technical review in the project scope.
1. Which Decision Do You Need Help With?
Choose the support you need for your next decision. A factory list, an approved sample and an inspection report answer different questions.
| Your situation | Useful support | What to agree before proceeding |
|---|---|---|
| No supplier selected | Product brief, supplier search and comparable quotations | Required specification, destination, quantity per SKU and selection criteria |
| Supplier already chosen | Document checks, factory audit, sample or order follow-up | Supplier identity, location, check scope and access arrangements |
| Goods nearly ready | Product inspection, packing checks and shipment coordination | Acceptance criteria, ready date, defect handling and release authority |
| Several suppliers / SKUs | Order tracking, consolidation and shipping preparation | Each ready date, receipt counts, storage, packing and final shipment scope |
For the full supplier-search process, see product sourcing in China. This FAQ is a decision guide; the service pages explain the work in more detail.
2. How to Read a Sourcing Quote
Compare the same product, order quantity, packaging and delivery basis before comparing prices. Request separate lines for the goods, the sourcing service and other agreed costs.
| Cost line | What should be stated | Evidence / comparison point |
|---|---|---|
| Goods | Model, material, dimensions, quantity per SKU, packaging and currency | Supplier quote and the approved specification |
| Service fee | Calculation base, rate or fixed fee, minimum fee and included tasks | Written service scope; avoid counting the same task twice |
| Samples / tooling | Sample type, revisions, artwork, tooling ownership and courier costs | Sample quotation and any refund/credit conditions |
| Quality / testing | Factory visit, sampling, inspection, laboratory tests and reinspection | Named scope, location, acceptance criteria and report deliverable |
| Logistics | Collection, storage, packing, freight, insurance and destination charges | Named route, delivery point, responsibilities and quote validity |
Published fee examples: the China sourcing services rate table applies the displayed band rate to the whole order amount, rather than progressively to portions of the order. The calculations below illustrate that published table; they are not all-in landed prices or individual quotations.
| Goods order value (US$) | Published band rate | Calculated service fee (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| 8,000 | 8% | 8,000 × 0.08 = 640 |
| 25,000 | 5.5% | 25,000 × 0.055 = 1,375 |
| 40,000 | 5% | 40,000 × 0.05 = 2,000 |
Source: HunterSourcing services rate table, checked in 2026. The published table shows a US$100 service charge below US$1,000. Ask for a written quote for exact band boundaries, decimal amounts or a different service scope. These fees exclude the goods and any samples, testing, inspection, packing, freight, duties or third-party work not expressly included. A percentage alone does not establish the total project cost.
Published rate and payment reference. The following repeats the HunterSourcing services schedule, including its stated payment terms. Confirm in your written quotation whether the payment term applies to the goods, service fee or both.
| Published order-value band | Service charge | Payment term shown in the source table |
|---|---|---|
| Below US$1,000 | US$100 | 100% when placing the order |
| US$1,001–3,000 | 10% | 100% when placing the order |
| US$3,001–6,000 | 9% | 100% when placing the order |
| US$6,001–10,000 | 8% | 30% deposit; balance before delivery |
| US$10,001–15,000 | 7% | 30% deposit; balance before delivery |
| US$15,001–20,000 | 6% | 30% deposit; balance before delivery |
| US$20,001–30,000 | 5.5% | 30% deposit; balance before delivery |
| US$30,001 and above | 5% | 30% deposit; balance before delivery |
The published bands do not define every boundary or decimal amount: for example, US$1,000 or US$3,000.50 needs a written quote. The displayed percentage applies to the whole agreed order-value base. Confirm that base, currency and current rate; identify whether freight, taxes, cancelled quantities or later quantity changes affect it.
- Before payment: obtain the named payee, fee base, included tasks, payment milestones and supporting documents in the quotation.
- Before extra work: request an itemised cost and timing update and approve it before additional chargeable tasks are arranged.
- If scope changes: agree how changed quantities, cancelled work, completed tasks and any remaining balance will be handled.
- For samples and lead times: obtain a product-specific quote stating MOQ per SKU, sample type and charge, revision allowance, sample-ready date, production-ready date and courier or shipping arrangements. A stock item, private-label adaptation and a new mould need different quotations.
3. What Evidence Should You Keep for Each Order?
Keep a clear evidence trail from quotation through shipment. A certificate, sample or factory photograph should identify the relevant company, product, date and scope, as applicable. Each item supports a specific claim; it does not establish every claim a supplier makes.
- 1. DefineProduct use, destination market, specification and commercial scope.
- 2. VerifySupplier identity, production location and the checks agreed for the order.
- 3. ApproveSample reference, artwork, packing and acceptance criteria.
- 4. MonitorProduction milestones, changes and corrective-action records.
- 5. InspectAgreed checks, findings, quantities affected and buyer decision.
- 6. Release or holdWritten release, rework and reinspection, or the buyer’s rejection decision.
For China quality inspection, agree on the lot to be inspected, sampling plan, defect categories, test methods, reporting format and approval responsibilities before the inspection. Product certification and laboratory testing depend on the product and destination; a management-system certificate does not certify every product.
You can review our blank report formats before agreeing on the scope: Inspection Report (PDF) and Factory Audit Report (PDF). These are templates for understanding the reporting structure, not reports of a completed customer order.
4. China Sourcing FAQ: 10 Buyer Questions
4.1 Do I need a China sourcing agent if I can contact factories directly?
You can buy directly when you have the time and capability to define requirements, evaluate the supplier, monitor production and organise checks and freight. An agent can coordinate selected China-side tasks when distance, language, multiple suppliers or follow-up make the work harder. Compare the proposed deliverables and fee with the work you would otherwise do. HunterSourcing acts as a sourcing agent, rather than the manufacturer; agree which tasks you want us to handle.
4.2 How much does HunterSourcing charge, and what is excluded from the fee?
The fee depends on the order amount and agreed service scope. The published reference schedule above shows the whole-order fee bands and the payment terms listed on our services page. Confirm whether the payment term applies to the goods, service fee or both. Request a written breakdown of goods, service fees, samples, tooling, quality checks, packing and freight; agree the calculation base, exact band boundaries and any extra work before payment.
4.3 Is there a minimum order quantity, and can you help with small orders?
MOQ is set by the product, supplier, material lot, colour, print run or tooling requirement; there is no useful universal number for all China sourcing projects. Tell us the quantity for each SKU and whether you need stock, a logo change or a new design. We can discuss a suitable small-order route. Compare the total payable amount and specification at each quantity, since a lower MOQ can come with a higher unit cost or fewer customisation choices.
4.4 Are samples free, and how long will sampling and production take?
Request a quotation before arranging a sample. A stock sample, branded packaging, a revised formulation and a new mould involve different work. Confirm the sample charge, courier cost, revision allowance and any credit against a later order. Sampling, customisation, bulk production and transit are separate stages. The supplier should confirm the timetable for your specification and current capacity; the timing of sample approval and any artwork changes may affect the production start date.
4.5 How are suppliers checked, and can you work with a supplier I already found?
Yes, support can be scoped around an existing supplier. Start with its registered name, address, product and order details. Agree whether the work covers document checks, a factory visit, capability review, samples or product inspection. Match the company and production location to the quotation and payment arrangement, and review category-specific records. A useful supplier file records the evidence, date, scope and any issue requiring follow-up. The type of check should match the decision you are about to make.
4.6 How do you check that bulk goods match the approved sample?
Record the approved sample or specification before production, including material, dimensions, function, finish, packaging and relevant tolerances. Keep approved artwork and later changes together. Agree when checks will occur and what they cover. A shipment inspection should compare the agreed reference with the actual lot and record findings. Sampling does not mean that every unit has been checked; destructive, safety and laboratory tests need their own agreed scope. Review the report before the release decision.
4.7 What happens when an inspection finds nonconforming goods?
We report the findings, affected quantities and corrective actions for the buyer’s decision. If only a small portion of the goods is nonconforming, you may authorise shipment of the conforming goods while the supplier corrects the remainder for another check. If most goods are nonconforming, the shipment is held while the buyer directs corrective action and reinspection. Record reinspection scope, timing and costs. The inspection task continues until the buyer accepts or rejects the goods in line with the agreed process; release requires the buyer’s instruction.
4.8 What payment terms should I confirm before sending money?
Confirm the contractual payee, currency, deposit, conditions for paying the balance and supporting documents in writing. Keep payment terms separate from the inspection-release decision, and verify bank-detail changes through a known contact before paying. Confirm which payment methods, including T/T and any small-value options, are available for the transaction. The deposit percentage alone does not protect the order; the agreed specification, supplier checks, payment conditions and records need to work together.
4.9 Can you combine orders and arrange shipping, and what controls the delivery date?
We can discuss consolidation and shipment coordination under the agreed scope. Provide supplier locations, quantities, packed dimensions and weights, ready dates, destination and required delivery point. Compare production completion, collection, export, main transport, customs and final delivery as separate milestones. Name the party responsible for each charge and handover. One supplier’s delay can hold a combined shipment; agree whether to wait, split the shipment or change the route. Confirm freight costs and timing for the actual booking.
4.10 What should I do if a problem appears after delivery?
Preserve the order specification, approved sample reference, inspection record, carton and batch identifiers, quantity affected and clear photographs or video. Report the issue with the date of receipt and how the goods were stored or used, then agree on any additional evidence needed and the next steps for supplier follow-up. Repair, replacement, credit, return and freight responsibility depend on the contract and findings; confirm them in writing. This evidence-led approach helps distinguish a manufacturing issue, packing damage, transit damage or a change in use.
5. Three Buying Scenarios and the Next Step
These are planning scenarios, not customer case studies. Use the one closest to your order to identify the next approval or information gap.
| Scenario | The decision | Evidence to request |
|---|---|---|
| First private-label order | Are the sample and packaging ready for bulk production? | Approved sample, artwork version, MOQ by SKU, sample/production schedule and itemised quote |
| Existing supplier, goods nearly ready | Can this lot be accepted and released? | Agreed specification, inspection scope, findings, quantities, corrective action and written release |
| Mixed products from several factories | Should the goods ship together or in separate batches? | Supplier ready dates, carton counts, receipt records, storage/repacking costs and comparable shipping options |
For freight scope and handovers, see China logistics service. Product-specific restrictions, testing requirements and import charges need confirmation for the destination and shipment.
6. Send Your Product Brief for a Clear Next Step
Send the product or reference link, destination country, quantity per SKU, key specification, packaging or branding needs, target date and whether a supplier is already selected. If you are comparing quotations, include the delivery basis and the costs you need clarified.
What happens next: we review the brief, clarify missing requirements and discuss a suitable service scope. We confirm the applicable quotation and required approvals with you before any chargeable work begins. Request a sample plan if you need to validate the product first.
Tell Us What You Need to Source
Use the message field for your product, quantity per SKU, destination, target date and current order stage. Phone or WhatsApp is optional; we can reply by email.
Email info@huntersourcing.com or WhatsApp +86 15824350182. Project information is used to answer your enquiry; see our Privacy Policy. Confirm the response and update schedule for your project during the initial discussion.
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