Knowledge Base

China Sourcing Knowledge That Solves Real Procurement Problems

Short, practical guides for B2B merchants: verify suppliers, ensure quality, understand import costs, and avoid typical China sourcing mistakes.

Practical Articles

Identify Problems, Reduce Risks, Purchase Better

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Tools & Downloads

Resource · Quality control

Sample AQL Inspection Report

Which photos, measurements, defect classes and release decisions are documented before shipping.

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Checklist · Compliance

Compliance Checklist for China Imports

CE, GPSR, REACH, LFGB, WEEE, batteries, packaging law and labels in one pre-check.

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Template · Inquiry

Project Brief for Faster Quotes

Which details on product, volume, target price, quality, packaging and deadline enable a reliable quote.

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Find Suppliers

4 min · Buyers & Merchants

How to verify a Chinese supplier professionally

A quick practical check for commercial registers, factory addresses, samples, references, and payment risks.

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3 min · Importers

Trading Company or real factory: How to spot the difference

Why the difference determines your margin, delivery time, and quality control.

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4 min · Startups & Retailers

Negotiating MOQ in China: Small quantities without the price trap

How to reduce minimum quantities without losing quality, packaging, or delivery time.

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5 min · Buyers

Paying Chinese suppliers safely: T/T, LC & co.

Milestone payments as leverage, the methods compared — and the fraud patterns you need to know.

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Check Quality

4 min · Quality Managers

AQL Quality Control Explained Simply

How pre-shipment sampling inspection reduces complaints and expensive returns.

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3 min · Buyers

Properly Evaluating and Documenting Samples from China

From initial sample to Golden Sample: structuring legally secure approvals.

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4 min · B2B Clients

Production Monitoring and On-Site Factory Audits

When constant quality control directly on the assembly line is worth it.

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7 min · Importers & private labels

CE marking as an importer: step by step

Which directives apply to your product, which documents you need — and the three most common mistakes.

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5 min · Marketplace sellers

GPSR: the new duties for importers since December 2024

Responsible person, labelling, Amazon requirements — the implementation checklist.

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Customs & Taxes

Interactive · Free

Import cost calculator: duty & VAT in seconds

Enter goods value and duty rate — customs value, charges and cost per unit calculated instantly.

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6 min · Importers

China import costs: calculating duty, import VAT and fees correctly

Customs value, duty rate, hidden fees and a worked example — the complete calculation to your dock.

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5 min · Buyers

Incoterms for China imports: EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP explained

Who bears which costs and risks — and why CIF offers are often dearer than they look.

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4 min · Planners

Planning China lead times realistically — incl. the CNY calendar

Production and transit times per mode, the Chinese New Year effect, and the backwards planning grid.

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Amazon/Otto/eBay

4 min · E-Commerce Merchants

B2C Marketplace Requirements for China Imports

Packaging, barcodes, CE marking, and direct delivery to Amazon FBA warehouses.

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3 min · Marketplace Sellers

Realistically Planning Delivery Times for Seasonal Business

Calculating buffers, holidays (Chinese New Year), and transit times for sea and air freight.

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OEM/ODM

4 min · Product Developers

OEM vs. ODM: The Right Development Level in China

Custom design or standard product with brand logo: costs, risks, and IP rights.

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3 min · Brand Owners

Implementing Private Label Packaging in Small Quantities

How to realize premium brand packaging despite high minimum quantities of the printer.

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China Sourcing Mistakes

4 min · Purchasing Directors

Properly comparing offers from China

Why the lowest FOB price is rarely the best purchase price.

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3 min · Buyers

Communication Mistakes with Chinese Factories

Why a simple 'Yes' often does not mean agreement and how you filter out misunderstandings.

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5 min · Buyers

Understanding AQL: sampling inspection explained

Defect classes, sample sizes, acceptance limits — and when AQL is not enough.

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5 min · Retailers

Packaging Act & LUCID: the 30-minute duty

Who must register, what it costs, how it is done in 30 minutes.

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6 min · Importers

Product liability: you are liable like the manufacturer

Legal situation, technical documentation, insurance — the protection system.

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5 min · Buyers

Ordering and evaluating samples properly

Sample types, evaluation checklist and the golden sample as a quality contract.

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6 min · Buyers

Canton Fair & China trade shows: the practical guide

Phases, preparation, negotiation tactics — and when to skip the flight.

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7 min · Purchasing managers

China+1: Vietnam & India honestly compared

Where the alternatives are strong, where the maths tips — the SME strategy.

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5 min · First-timers

EORI & customs declaration: the starter guide

Applying for EORI, preparing documents, commodity codes — customs basics done right once.

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6 min · FBA sellers

The FBA import checklist

Compliance, labelling, carton limits, delivery — without suspension roulette.

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4 min · Managing Directors

Uncovering Hidden Costs in China Imports

Port fees, documents, samples, certificates – what is often forgotten in the calculation.

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Do you have a specific China sourcing problem?

China Send verifies supplier, product, risk, and next steps.

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