China is where most consumer products are manufactured, so sourcing there can dramatically cut unit costs — but it also carries the most risk: minimum order quantities, quality control, long lead times, and counterfeits. This guide explains how wholesale sourcing from China actually works, the main platforms, and how to protect yourself. For domestic alternatives with faster fulfilment, see our US suppliers by category.
1. B2B marketplaces (wholesale, small MOQs). Platforms like DHgate and Global Sources connect you with Chinese sellers for ready-made goods, often at low minimums — good for testing products without a factory relationship.
2. Manufacturer-direct (OEM/ODM, larger MOQs). Going straight to a factory (via Alibaba or a referral) gets the lowest unit cost and lets you customize or private-label, but MOQs are higher and you carry all the quality-control responsibility.
3. Sourcing agents. A local agent finds factories, negotiates, inspects, and consolidates shipments for a fee or commission — worth it when you’re scaling or ordering from multiple factories.
Alibaba and 1688 (its domestic-China sister site) are the largest sourcing platforms and worth knowing, though buyers should apply the same vetting below regardless of platform.
Know your specs, target landed cost, and required certifications before you contact anyone. Landed cost = unit price + shipping + duties + any agent fee — not just the factory quote.
Prefer verified/gold suppliers, ask for business licenses and past-export records, and be skeptical of prices far below the market. Watch for trading companies posing as factories if you need true manufacturer pricing.
Always buy samples before a bulk order. Samples reveal quality, finish and whether the supplier can actually make what they advertise.
MOQs are often negotiable, especially for a first order. Agree on payment terms (a deposit plus balance against inspection is common) and, for private label, protect your brand and molds in writing.
Use a third-party inspection (or your agent) to check the goods before the final payment and before shipping. This is the single most effective protection against defective or wrong product.
Decide between air (fast, expensive) and sea (slow, cheap), understand Incoterms (EXW, FOB, DDP), and budget for customs duties. Lead times of several weeks are normal — plan inventory accordingly.
Be cautious with: suppliers who refuse samples or third-party inspection; prices implausibly below market (often counterfeit or bait); payment demanded only to a personal account or via untraceable methods; “brand-name” designer goods at factory prices (almost always counterfeit); and sellers with no verifiable business license or export history. Counterfeit risk is why many resellers prefer authorized US distributors for branded goods and reserve China sourcing for generic or private-label products.
Usually yes on unit cost, especially manufacturer-direct, but you must factor in MOQs, shipping, duties, lead time and quality-control effort to get the true landed cost.
It varies widely — marketplaces like DHgate can have very low minimums, while factory-direct OEM/ODM orders often require hundreds or thousands of units, though first-order MOQs are frequently negotiable.
Verify business licenses, order samples, use verified-supplier status, pay via traceable methods with an inspection before the balance, and avoid deals that look too good to be true.
An agent is worth the fee when you’re scaling, ordering from multiple factories, or need on-the-ground quality control and negotiation; for a single low-MOQ marketplace order it’s usually unnecessary.
Genuine branded goods are rarely sold factory-direct from China at wholesale; “designer” products at factory prices are almost always counterfeit. Source branded goods from authorized distributors instead.