How do I pay a Chinese supplier safely?

Three rules save most buyers: never pay a personal account, never pay 100% up front, and never pay outside a platform you can complain to. Factories normally ask for 30% deposit and 70% before shipment. That is standard. What is not standard is a request to send money to an individual's account, or to a bank in a different name from the company you are dealing with. We pay suppliers in RMB through our Chinese entity, which means you are not wiring money to a stranger: you pay us, we pay them, and the parcel comes to our warehouse where it is checked before it ships to you.

• 30/70 is normal; 100% upfront is not
• Never pay an account in a different name
• We pay in RMB through our own entity

Common questions

How do I pay a Chinese supplier safely? Three rules save most buyers: never pay a personal account, never pay 100% up front, and never pay outside a platform you can complain to. Factories normally ask for 30% deposit and 70% before shipment. That is standard. What is not standard is a request to send money to an individual's account, or to a bank in a different name from the company you are dealing with. We pay suppliers in RMB through our Chinese entity, which means you are not wiring money to a stranger: you pay us, we pay them, and the parcel comes to our warehouse where it is checked before it ships to you.

Is this included in the service fee? Sourcing, negotiation and inspection are included in the banded service fee. Freight and destination taxes are quoted separately so each line is visible.

How do I start? Send the product link on WhatsApp. You get a written, itemised price within two working hours.