Sourcing service
China sourcing, step by step
Importing from China is straightforward when you can see the whole process in advance. These are the seven stages every sourcing request goes through, what happens at each one, and where the costs land.
Why the process is written down
Most sourcing goes wrong in the gaps: an unclear specification, a quote that excludes freight, a sample that was never approved. Publishing the sequence means you can see exactly where your request is at any point, and what the next decision is.
Prices are quoted per request. There is no published rate card, because the honest number depends on the product, the quantity, the destination and how you want it shipped.
The process
Seven steps from request to delivery
- 01
Request
You send the product with as much detail as you have — a link, a photo, a specification or a description, plus the quantity and destination.
Nothing is committed at this stage and there is no fee for submitting a request.
- 02
Clarification
We come back with the questions that change the price: materials, sizes, colours, packaging, certification and the deadline you are working to.
Getting this right first is the difference between a quote you can rely on and one that moves later.
- 03
Supplier search
We identify manufacturers and wholesalers who can actually supply the item at your quantity, and contact them with your specification.
We look for more than one option wherever the product allows it, so the comparison is real.
- 04
Quotation
You receive a written quote: unit price, minimum order quantity, production lead time and freight options for your destination.
Duties and local taxes are listed separately rather than folded into the unit price.
- 05
Samples and inspection
Where it matters, a sample is produced or ordered first. Photographs, measurements and — for larger orders — a pre-shipment inspection follow.
Sample and inspection costs are quoted up front. They are optional, and we will tell you when we think skipping them is a bad idea.
- 06
Payment and production
Once you approve, the order is invoiced and placed. You get production updates rather than silence until the box arrives.
Sourcing orders are invoiced directly — they do not go through the storefront checkout.
- 07
Shipping and delivery
We book air or sea freight to suit the timeline and budget, hand over the documents you need for customs, and pass on tracking as the carrier issues it.
Transit estimates are estimates. Customs clearance is outside anyone’s control, and we will not pretend otherwise.
Costs
What makes up a landed price
A sourcing quote is built from these parts, each shown separately. Nothing is hidden inside the unit price.
- Unit price
- The factory or wholesale price for your specification at your quantity.
- Freight
- Air or sea carriage to your destination, plus handling at both ends.
- Duties and taxes
- Set by your country, payable on arrival unless the quote says otherwise.
- Service fee
- Our fee for handling the sourcing, quoted before you commit to anything.
Sourcing questions
No. Individual requests for one or two items are welcome, although the per-unit price is usually better at volume because freight is shared across more units.
They are invoiced directly once you accept a quote. The storefront checkout is for catalogue products only, and no payment is ever taken before a quote is agreed in writing.
Unless a quote states otherwise, import duties and local taxes are payable by you on arrival. They are quoted as a separate line so you can see the full landed cost.
Tell us immediately and send photographs. We raise it with the supplier and work through replacement, repair or refund based on what the inspection and order documents show.
No. We decline counterfeit goods, anything sold as a brand it is not, and products that are restricted or unsafe to import into your destination.
Ready when you are
Start with one product
Send a single item and see how the process runs before you commit to a larger order. There is no charge to ask.