A Practical China Sourcing Checklist Before Your First Order

A successful first order starts before you ask a supplier for a final price. Use this checklist to organize your product requirements, compare quotations fairly, and reduce avoidable delays.

1. Define the product clearly

Prepare one specification sheet that every supplier receives. It should describe the material, dimensions, color, packaging, target quantity, required certifications, and acceptable tolerances.

• Attach reference drawings or photos where they remove ambiguity.
• Separate mandatory requirements from optional improvements.
• Ask suppliers to list every assumption in their quotation.

2. Compare suppliers on the same basis

The lowest unit price is not automatically the lowest landed cost. Tooling, packaging, inspection, transport, and rework can change the result.

Check	What to confirm	Evidence
Business identity	Registered company name and operating address	License and matching payment details
Production fit	Relevant equipment, capacity, and similar products	Current photos, video, or an audit
Commercial terms	MOQ, lead time, Incoterm, and payment stages	Written quotation

3. Approve a sample and inspection standard

Keep one approved sample or a signed specification as the production reference. Agree in writing on how defects will be classified and what happens when the inspection result is outside the agreed limit.

4. Plan logistics before production finishes

1. Confirm carton dimensions and gross weight estimates.
2. Choose the shipping method against the required delivery date.
3. Leave time for inspection, corrections, export documents, and peak-season congestion.

For more planning guidance, visit the PT5 resources center. A clear sourcing file makes supplier discussions faster and gives quality-control and logistics partners a practical reference throughout the order.