China sourcing services can cover any part of the path between a product brief and a released shipment: supplier research, quotation comparison, samples, factory checks, production follow-up, quality inspection, consolidation and export logistics. HunterSourcing works for the buyer and does not manufacture the products.
Start with the decision you need to make. A first-time importer may need a supplier shortlist and sample plan. An existing supplier may need an independent check before payment. A multi-supplier project may need inspection and one consolidated shipment. The scope, service fee, third-party costs and approval points should be written down before work starts.
Who is accountable for your project
Founder-led oversight
I founded HunterSourcing in 2018 after more than 15 years in China’s export field. My published background describes my export and buying work since 2003 across apparel, building materials, electronics, luggage, pet supplies, gifts and furniture.
Defined workstreams
Our team page lists quality-control, logistics, design and administrative roles. The project quotation should still name your lead contact, approval owner and escalation route.
Reports and response terms
The current service FAQ states that factory-audit and inspection reports can be issued. It also states that service complaints receive a response within 12 hours and a clear solution within 24 hours. These are response terms, not a delivery-time guarantee.
JamesUSA — sourcing customer“good service, competitive prices, and fast response to my inquiries.”
BrinkmannGermany — sourcing customer“They were very professional from the beginning and patiently answered my multiple questions.”
These quotations remain published in the customer feedback section of the HunterSourcing homepage, with names shown as they originally appeared. They are customer feedback, not quantified case studies, and no additional result has been inferred.
1. What China sourcing services cover
The useful unit is a buyer decision, not a list of vague “services”. Each stage should produce a document, comparison or approval that lets you decide whether to continue, change the brief or stop. Keep product cost, the agent’s fee and third-party charges separate.
| Stage | What HunterSourcing can coordinate | Deliverable or decision | Typical costs outside the sourcing fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supplier research | Translate the brief into search criteria; search online and supplier networks; check identity and apparent capability; contact candidates | Comparison showing supplier, quote basis, capacity claims and unresolved checks | Sample cost, courier, travel and specialist reports |
| Quote comparison | Request unit price, MOQ, packaging, tooling, lead time, payment terms and trade-term location | Like-for-like quotation table using the same specification | Testing, tooling and product cost |
| Sample coordination | Arrange samples or revisions; retain requirements and approval notes | Labelled approved reference with revisions and open points | Sample unit price, courier and lab testing |
| Supplier verification | Check business identity, stated production site and relevant documents; arrange an on-site review where scoped | Evidence-backed verification note with scope and limitations | Audit, interpreter and travel costs if quoted separately |
| Production follow-up | Track agreed milestones, artwork, components, packaging and open issues | Milestone log and escalation record | Product cost and supplier charges |
| Inspection | Coordinate an agreed check and photographic report before shipment release | Inspection findings, defect photos and corrective-action status | Inspector man-days and any laboratory tests |
| Consolidation and freight | Receive from multiple suppliers, check counts, plan packing and obtain route quotes | Carton reconciliation and route/Incoterm quote | Storage beyond allowance, packing, freight, duties and destination fees |
Factory, trading company and sourcing agent
A factory controls an in-house production process. A trading company buys and resells goods, often with an embedded margin. A sourcing agent works for the buyer and charges a disclosed service fee. The same company can have more than one role, so verify who signs the contract, receives the goods payment and owns the production decision. HunterSourcing is a sourcing agent; we can verify suppliers and manage an agreed order, but we do not replace the factory’s product warranty or an accredited laboratory.
2. Choose the support level for your project
You do not need to appoint an agent for the entire supply chain. Start where risk or workload is highest. The following paths use the published service structure on this page; final inclusions and fees belong in the project quotation.
| Your situation | Recommended starting point | What you should receive | Next decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| No supplier and no reliable quotation | Product sourcing and supplier shortlist | Written brief, candidate comparison, quotations and key open questions | Select suppliers for samples or stop |
| Supplier already found; first payment or production is approaching | Supplier verification, sample check or pre-production inspection | Identity/site check, specification comparison and evidence notes | Proceed, request corrections or replace supplier |
| Several suppliers are producing one order | Order follow-up, inspection, warehouse receipt and consolidation | Milestone log, carton counts, inspection findings and shipping plan | Release shipment or hold for correction |
The current service description lists an initial supplier-research and comparison stage without a separate upfront sourcing-agent fee. Sample purchase, courier, tests, travel and any third-party charges remain project costs. Obtain those amounts in writing before approving work; “no sourcing fee” does not mean the product or freight is free.
Published service rate · instant estimate
3. Understand the sourcing fee
The service-rate table below preserves the fee structure originally published on this HunterSourcing services page and rechecked on 23 October 2026. “Order amount” in that schedule must be defined in the quotation: ask whether it refers to goods value before freight and tax and whether returns, cancelled quantities or buyer-supplied materials change the calculation.
| Order Amount | Service Charge | Payment Term |
|---|---|---|
| Less than $1,000 | $100 | 100% payment when place an order. |
| $1,001-$3,000 | 10% | |
| $3,001–$6,000 | 9% | |
| $6,001-$10,000 | 8% | 30% deposit and balance against before delivery. |
| $10,001-$15,000 | 7% | |
| $15,001-$20,000 | 6% | |
| $20,001–$30,000 | 5.5% | |
| $30,001- | 5% |
Calculate the published service fee
Uses the whole-order percentage in the displayed band, not a progressive calculation. The original table does not specify US$1,000 or small gaps between bands, such as US$3,000.50; request a written quote for those amounts. Goods, samples, testing, inspection, packing, freight, duties and third-party costs are excluded. Your amount stays in this browser and is not submitted.
The calculator repeats the payment term shown in the original table. Confirm in the written quotation whether that term applies to the service fee, goods payment or both. Also confirm the order-value basis, current fee, bank charges, payment milestones and the treatment of quantity changes. A calculator estimate is not a binding quotation.
Open table: Illustrative total budget: what to add to the sourcing fee
| Cost line | Example for an US$8,000 product order | Evidence needed before approval |
|---|---|---|
| Product goods | US$8,000 starting assumption | Factory invoice and approved specification |
| HunterSourcing service fee | US$640 at the published 8% tier | Written service quotation and calculation basis |
| Samples and testing | Project-specific | Supplier invoice; testing lab quotation and test scope |
| Inspection | Project-specific; site and man-days determine the quote | Inspection scope, sampling plan and report terms |
| Export packing and freight | Project-specific; route and Incoterm determine inclusions | Forwarder quote showing origin, main carriage and destination responsibility |
| Duties, taxes and import handling | Not included unless the written terms say so | Broker or importer calculation for destination and product classification |
Illustrative arithmetic only: the total is not US$8,640. That amount excludes goods-related third-party charges. Replace every line with written quotations and check that the same goods, packing and delivery scope appear once.
Published industry context
Public 2026 buyer guides commonly describe commissions near 3–10% of order value, with inspection or testing, samples and freight charged separately. These are third-party observations, not HunterSourcing promises or a market average. Compare the full scope rather than the headline percentage.
Open table: External fee references: what the sources claim
| Source | Published model or range | Why it matters in comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Dawn Sourcing guide | Commission typically 3–10%; inspection around US$200–320 per man-day | Shows why inspection should be checked separately |
| CN Ally fee guide | Commission, flat fee or retainer; compare all-in scope | A lower percentage can lose value if essential tasks are excluded |
| SourcingChamp fee guide | 5–10% standard commission; inspection examples US$200–350 per man-day | Useful to test whether a quote hides third-party charges |
Source reference date: 1 March 2026. Figures are attributed to the linked publishers and should be checked against their current offers. They illustrate published pricing approaches; they do not establish a market average or verify a provider’s service quality.
4. How a buying project moves forward
| Gate | HunterSourcing action | Record before moving on | Buyer decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Brief | Clarify product, use, target market, quantity, target price, delivery date and required claims | RFQ with reference files and measurement points | Approve search scope |
| 2. Market scan | Search categories, platforms and supplier networks; compare apparent capability | Supplier comparison with source dates and open checks | Choose who to contact |
| 3. Verification and quotation | Request commercial terms; check identity and stated production responsibility | Like-for-like quotes and evidence list | Approve samples or request more checks |
| 4. Sample | Coordinate revisions and retain the approved reference | Signed or otherwise approved sample record | Approve production-intent sample |
| 5. Pre-production | Confirm BOM, packaging artwork, quantities and inspection plan | Approved artwork, BOM, schedule and acceptance criteria | Release production |
| 6. Production follow-up | Track milestones, changes and unresolved issues | Dated milestone log and change approvals | Accept schedule, escalate or pause |
| 7. Inspection | Inspect against the written plan; record findings and corrective action | Report, photos, counts and reinspection status | Release shipment or hold |
| 8. Consolidation and delivery | Reconcile cartons; obtain route and trade-term quotes; arrange agreed handling | Carton/loading evidence and shipping documents | Approve shipment or collection |
What “verified supplier” should mean
A verification note should identify what was checked, when and by whom. At minimum, match the legal seller with the quotation and bank beneficiary, ask which production site will make the order, identify subcontracted processes and compare the supplier’s stated capacity with the requested quantity. A business licence confirms registration; it does not prove product quality. A certificate logo does not prove that your model, material or batch is covered.
Sample approval before bulk
Keep the sample and the written specification together. Record the material, dimensions, weight, colour reference, logo version, packing and any approved deviation. If the factory later changes a component, artwork supplier or production site, treat that as a change requiring review. This prevents a good sample from being used as evidence for a different bulk specification.
5. Quality inspection: define the evidence before the factory visit
Inspection is useful when the acceptance criteria are specific. “Check quality” is not a test plan. State the model and lot, measurement points, functional checks, visual references, packaging requirements, sample size, defect definitions and the action required when a defect is found.
Open table: Product inspection plan to agree in writing
| Checkpoint | What to define | Example evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Identity and quantity | Supplier, product/model, ordered quantity, finished quantity and carton count | Labels, production record and carton reconciliation |
| Materials and construction | Approved material, components, dimensions, weight and tolerances | Measurements and comparison with retained sample |
| Function and performance | The use, test method, number of cycles or operating conditions relevant to the product | Test log and measured result against acceptance criterion |
| Appearance and finish | Colour, surface, logo, assembly and allowed cosmetic variation | Reference photographs and defect classification |
| Packaging and labels | Pack configuration, artwork version, barcode/label and carton marks | Photos and SKU/carton check |
| Report and release | Who records findings, response deadline, reinspection and shipping hold | Dated report with open issues and buyer approval |
No universal AQL value is inserted here. A sampling plan should be selected for the product and risk rather than copied into every order. For regulated products, ask the responsible importer or a qualified testing provider what testing applies to the exact material, destination and claim. HunterSourcing can coordinate the agreed inspection; it does not issue an accredited laboratory certificate.
Download the blank inspection and factory-audit report templates
Choose the report that matches the decision in front of you. Use the inspection-report template to record lot-level findings and the release decision; use the factory-audit report to document supplier identity, people, product scope, facilities and supporting records. Both files are blank HunterSourcing templates. They contain no client data, completed result, certificate or factory photograph.
Inspection Report
Record lot identity, sampling, measurements, defects, photos, corrective action and the shipment-release decision.
10-page blank template · Editable Word and PDF
Factory Audit Report
Review supplier identity, people, product scope, facilities, production equipment and supporting records.
9-page blank template · Editable Word and PDF
Fill in the approved specification, lot and plan before the visit. The blank templates do not prescribe a universal AQL, prove product compliance or replace a laboratory test; agree the actual sampling plan and required evidence with the buyer and responsible testing provider.
Published inspection starting rate
The current service page lists quality inspection at US$200 per day in Zhejiang and Shanghai, and US$200 per day plus a round-trip ticket outside Zhejiang. Before booking, confirm the man-day definition, travel, sampling plan, report language, scope of photographs and whether any laboratory test is additional. This is the site’s published service rate, not a third-party benchmark.
6. Warehousing, consolidation and shipping from China
Consolidation only saves cost when the handling and documents still let you identify every SKU. Agree receipt checks, storage limits, packing method, carton marks, load plan and the party responsible for discrepancies. Inspect fragile or high-value goods before they enter a shared consolidated shipment.
| Service | Published or offered scope | Confirm before ordering | What can go wrong if omitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warehouse receipt | Receive goods from different suppliers; count and check visible cartons | Address, receiving window, carton-level check and discrepancy process | Shortages discovered only at destination |
| Storage | Published service page states 1,000 m² warehouse, 60 days without storage charge, then US$10/m³/month | Current capacity, measurement method, insurance and disposal policy | Storage cost or abandoned goods |
| Repacking and labels | Packing from US$4/worker/hour; labels from US$0.03/unit on the current page | Materials, labour minimum, artwork approval and rework responsibility | Wrong labels or packing not suitable for transit |
| Consolidation | Combine SKUs to reduce shipment count | SKU mapping, pallet/box plan and which cartons may be opened | A mixed carton cannot be traced |
| FBA / marketplace prep | Labels, packaging and carton preparation where agreed | Marketplace requirements, label data, appointment and carrier rules | Rejected inbound shipment or relabelling fees |
| Export freight | Air, sea, express or rail; door/port combinations depend on route | Incoterm, named place, chargeable weight/volume, exclusions and transit estimate | Surprise destination or clearance charges |
| Product photography | Current page lists three white-background images per product | Shot list, revision limit, file rights and delivery format | Images unsuitable for listings or reuse rights unclear |
The warehouse and value-added prices above are the figures published on the current HunterSourcing services page, not independently verified market averages. Availability and final charges must be confirmed per project. For shipping, request a route-specific quote that states the Incoterm version and named place. A port-to-port quote is not a door-to-door commitment.
7. Payment and order controls
Keep the service fee, product payment and freight payment distinct. Verify the legal seller and bank beneficiary against the quotation and contract. The factory’s payment milestones should be tied to documented production or inspection events where the supplier agrees. Do not rely on a chat message as proof that a payment was authorised.
Open table: Checks that reduce avoidable order risk
| Risk | Control | Evidence to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong seller or beneficiary | Compare legal name, contract, invoice and bank account | Signed quotation/contract and verified beneficiary record |
| Specification drift | Approve and retain a labelled production sample | Approved sample, artwork version and change log |
| Quantity mismatch | Reconcile production, inspection and carton counts | Lot counts, carton list and loading photos |
| Missing inspection | Book before shipment and define the release gate | Inspection report and buyer decision |
| Unclear freight | Compare the same Incoterm and named place | Route quote with inclusions, exclusions and validity |
| After-sales gap | Agree claim window, evidence and remedy before order | Written defect, replacement and correction procedure |
8. Three buyer scenarios
The quantities and dates below are planning examples, not customer cases or guarantees.
| Buyer situation | Illustrative scope | Decision to make | Useful first service |
|---|---|---|---|
| First product test | US$2,000 order value; two supplier candidates; one sample round | Compare like-for-like quotes and approve the sample before bulk | Supplier search and quote comparison |
| Existing supplier, upcoming production | US$10,000 goods value; pre-production sample already approved; one inspection planned | Verify the lot and packaging; decide whether the balance release follows a passed inspection | Quality inspection and order follow-up |
| Six suppliers for one shipment | US$40,000 total goods value; different cartons and label versions | Confirm carton ownership and combine only after release checks | Consolidation, inspection and freight coordination |
For smaller orders, calculate the flat or percentage fee before assuming the cheapest advertised rate is the lowest total cost. For larger orders, compare which travel, inspection, testing, repacking and destination charges sit outside the headline percentage.
9. Prepare a useful sourcing brief
Open table: Minimum information for a first response
| Area | Provide this | Why it changes the recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Name, use, reference URL or photo, material, dimensions and performance needs | Allows a comparable supplier search and sample brief |
| Quantity | Units per model/colour, sets versus pieces and expected reorder | Reveals MOQ and component constraints |
| Market | Destination country, sales channel, target user and mandatory requirements | Changes testing, labels and shipping scope |
| Commercial | Target purchase price, packaging budget and currency | Prevents incompatible quotes |
| Timing | Sample deadline, production-ready date and desired arrival window | Separates production and shipping risk |
| Evidence | Claims, certificates, testing or accessibility requirements | Prevents generic documents from being treated as sufficient |
| Decision owner | Who approves the sample, inspection release and shipment | Clarifies communication and accountability |
Send product files, quantities, destination and the decision you need to make. We can then confirm whether the right first step is supplier research, a factory check, inspection or logistics. Protect confidential designs and do not send passwords or payment credentials in an enquiry.
The two downloads are blank report templates, not completed reports, certificates or product catalogues. Email info@huntersourcing.com; WhatsApp / WeChat: +86 15824350182. See our privacy policy for how enquiry details are used.
China sourcing services FAQs
What are China sourcing services?
They are buyer-side services that help turn a product brief into a supplier decision and shipment. They can include supplier research, identity and capability checks, quotation comparison, samples, production follow-up, inspection, consolidation and freight coordination. The exact scope belongs in the project quotation.
How much does a China sourcing agent cost?
HunterSourcing publishes a service-fee schedule on this page: US$100 below US$1,000 and 5–10% for higher order bands. Product cost, samples, testing, inspection, packing, freight, duties and other third-party charges are separate unless a written quote says otherwise. Confirm the order-value basis, payment milestones and any amount not explicitly covered by the displayed bands in a written quotation.
Is initial supplier research free?
The current HunterSourcing service page describes initial supplier research and comparison without a separate upfront sourcing-agent fee. Sample purchase price, courier, travel, testing and other third-party costs can still apply. Ask for the written inclusions before work begins.
Can you work with a supplier I already found?
Yes, if the supplier will cooperate with the agreed checks and documents. Scope can start with identity and production-site verification, quote review, sample coordination, inspection or consolidation. We do not replace the supplier’s contract or product warranty.
What does a quality inspection include?
The inspection plan should define product and lot, quantity, measurements, functional checks, appearance references, packaging, sampling basis, defect categories, photographic evidence and the release decision. Any laboratory testing is quoted according to the exact material and destination requirements.
Can HunterSourcing consolidate goods from several suppliers?
The current service page offers warehouse receipt, consolidation, repacking, labelling and marketplace preparation. Confirm receiving address, storage allowance, packing charges, SKU mapping, insurance and cut-off dates in the project quotation.
Who receives the product payment?
The contracting and payment route must be agreed and documented. Verify the legal seller and bank beneficiary, keep goods and service invoices separate, and never rely on an informal chat message as evidence of a changed account.
How do I start a sourcing project?
Send the product description or reference, quantity per model and colour, destination market, target price, timing, packaging needs and the decision you need to make. We will confirm the recommended first stage, deliverables, exclusions and fees before work starts.
Request a sourcing quote
Tell us what you need to source, the quantity, destination and your target date. Include an existing supplier or product link if you have one. We use these details to assess the request and reply with the recommended first step.
Required fields are marked by the form. See our privacy policy for how enquiry details are used.
Prefer email? info@huntersourcing.com. WhatsApp / WeChat: +86 15824350182.
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