Can You Trust Made in China Suppliers?

In this article we will explain in detail whether Made in China suppliers can be trusted.

Who Are Made in China?

Made in China is an e-commerce site for international traders. Users can browse thousands of products and suppliers, sorting by number of employees, annual revenue and province.

Made in China’s main purpose is to connect buyers with Chinese suppliers that they can form long-term business relationships with. This is reflected in their slogan ‘connecting buyers with Chinese suppliers’. Made in China are one of the most popular websites for this purpose, second only to Alibaba.

Can You Trust Made in China Suppliers?

We’ve all heard the horror stories. A business (often a startup) chooses to work with a Chinese supplier that they found online. Tempted by low prices, they soon find themselves pulling their hair out over communication issues, grappling with long delays, and receiving products that are way below standard, if they receive them at all.

The question is, do you need to worry about this with Made in China? Is sourcing through Made in China safe? Answer, it depends.

Made in China uses an ‘audited supplier’ scheme to highlight manufacturers that have been vetted by the company. Under this scheme, Made in China has inspectors verify the supplier’s documentation, export capacity, manufacturing capacity and more.

Made in China also send staff to conduct an on-site verification, checking the raw materials, production plant, and finished goods. Buyers have the option to view the audit report, so they can see for themselves what checks have been carried out.

Suppliers that have been vetted this way will have the ‘audited supplier’ logo displayed next to their name. If you see this logo, you can confidently assume that the supplier in question is a legitimate business and meets the bare minimum standards in terms of reliability and product safety. However, you should still take a look at the audit report for yourself and make sure that you’re happy with the information provided.

Not all suppliers on Made in China have been audited by the platform. Working with these suppliers obviously comes with greater risk. In these cases, you will need to exercise your own due diligence.

Are ‘Audited Suppliers’ a Safe Bet?

When you work with an ‘audited supplier’ there is a lower risk of major problems, such as serious production delays, unsafe products, or outright theft. In this sense, the ‘audited supplier’ label is a good indicator that a supplier meets the bare minimum requirements.

However, there is no guarantee that the supplier will be responsive, flexible, or have specialist knowledge within their sector. For that, you will still need to do your own research, which includes reading the audit report and comparing different suppliers.

Should I Use Made in China Suppliers?

Made in China are one of the most popular ways to connect with Chinese suppliers, but are they the best? Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of working with Made in China.

Advantages of Working With Made in China

Let’s see the advantages of working with Made in China.

User-friendly Interface

Made in China has a user-friendly interface, making it easy for beginners to navigate the site. Buyers can sort by product category, and filter their search for suppliers by number of employees, annual revenue and province.

Wide Range of Product Categories

Made in China has over 4300 product categories as well as a massive number of suppliers. This means that buyers can be confident that the type of good or supplier they are looking for is probably available on the platform.

Reasonable Pricing

Like Alibaba, they offer buyers the opportunity to purchase goods at insider rates, closing the gap between small and large businesses. This is a clear advantage over working with trading companies, which add a markup to their prices.

Disadvantages of Working With Made in China

Let’s see the disadvantages of working with Made in China.

Lack of Guidance

Made in China has thousands of products and suppliers to browse, and a lot of information is available about all of those products and suppliers. For beginners, the sheer quantity of information on the site can be overwhelming. Buyers can find themselves struggling with ‘analysis paralysis’ as they have too many options to consider.

Time Cost

Looking through all of the options, researching suppliers, and then handling negotiations and logistics all take up a huge amount of time.

Language Barriers

While Made in China is geared towards international trade, there is no guarantee that all suppliers can communicate in fluent English. Language barriers can be challenging to work around, especially when discussing complex product specifications or logistics.

An Alternative for Streamlined Sourcing in China

Rather than go through the hassle of sourcing a supplier themselves, many businesses choose to work with a sourcing company, such as Easy Imex. Sourcing companies have deep knowledge of the Chinese market, and use that knowledge to connect business with the best suppliers. Here are some of the advantages of working with a sourcing company.

Streamlined Communication

Sourcing companies have employees who speak the local language, and can communicate effortlessly with manufacturers in China on your behalf.

This also means that sourcing companies can choose from a wider pool of potential suppliers, as they are not limited to those who can conduct business in English.

Lower Prices

Generally, sourcing companies are able to negotiate better prices than the ones offered on Made in China. This is thanks to their years of experience in negotiation and their understanding of Chinese business culture.

Quality Assurance

Even ‘audited suppliers’ on Made in China come with limited guarantees. While they are likely to be legitimate businesses, there is no certainty that they will be responsive, flexible, or amongst the best players in their product category. In contrast, sourcing companies have deep knowledge of local markets within China, and a black book of reliable contacts.

Sourcing companies also have staff on-site who can conduct factory visits within 24 hours. This means that you get the most up-to-date snapshot of how the factory is run, and the answers to any specific questions you may have.

Outsourcing of Entire Import Process

Sourcing companies are a complete solution. A good sourcing company will handle tax clearance and import from China duties, shipping management, and quality control, on top of top-notch sourcing.

This frees you up to focus on other aspects of your business.