How to Verify a Chinese Supplier Before You Pay
Sending money to an overseas supplier you have never met is one of the riskiest decisions a small business makes. This is what verification actually looks like.
How to Source From China Safely as a Small Business
A practical guide to accessing competitive Chinese manufacturing without exposing your business to the risks that catch most buyers off guard.
Seven Red Flags That Should Stop You Paying a Chinese Supplier
Some warning signs are obvious in hindsight. Most are invisible until you know what to look for.
How Chinese Supplier Fraud Actually Works — And Why Smart Buyers Still Get Caught
The cases that cause the most damage pass every standard check a buyer knows how to run.
Can You Trust a Long-Term Chinese Supplier?
Eight years of good orders ended in a significant loss on a routine reorder. The change was visible in records before it was visible in behaviour.
What Alibaba Trade Assurance Actually Covers — And What It Does Not
Most buyers assume Trade Assurance protects them. Here is what the gaps actually look like.
Why Moving Supplier Communication to WhatsApp Is a Bigger Risk Than You Think
It feels convenient. It voids your buyer protection entirely.
How to Tell If Your Alibaba Supplier Is a Factory or a Trading Company
Most buyers have no idea whether they are buying direct from a manufacturer or paying a middleman a hidden markup.
The Chinese Government Databases That Reveal Who Your Supplier Really Is
The data exists and is publicly accessible. The barrier is Mandarin and knowing where to look.
What Is a Unified Social Credit Code and How to Use It
The single most important piece of information you can request from a supplier. Most buyers never ask for it.
Why Your Supplier's Staff Headcount Is the Number Nobody Checks
A supplier claiming 500 employees with 12 on government insured record is misrepresenting their capacity by a factor of forty.
Registered Capital vs Paid-In Capital — What Chinese Supplier Finances Actually Mean
A supplier showing ten million yuan in registered capital may have contributed nothing at all.
Why Your Chinese Supplier's ISO Certificate Might Be Fake
Certification fraud is one of the most common and least detectable forms of supplier misrepresentation.
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