FAQ

FAQ / Buyer Help Center

Answers Before You Start Sourcing From China

Find practical answers about product sourcing, supplier comparison, MOQ, quality inspection, custom branding, consolidation, shipping and working with SilkRoadSource.

Sourcing MOQ & Pricing Quality Branding Shipping
Find Your Answer ↓ Ask a Sourcing Question

Buyer Help Center

Product Sourcing 8 QUESTIONS
Supplier & MOQ 7 QUESTIONS
Quality Inspection 7 QUESTIONS
Custom Branding 7 QUESTIONS
Order Consolidation 6 QUESTIONS
Shipping Support 7 QUESTIONS
PRACTICAL CHINA SOURCING ANSWERS FOR PROFESSIONAL BUYERS

Quick Find by Topic

Jump directly to the part of the sourcing process you are trying to understand.

01

Product Sourcing

Products, sourcing requests, supplier discovery, samples and multi-category sourcing.

View Questions →
02

Supplier & MOQ

MOQ, quotations, supplier comparison, trial orders and factory vs trading company questions.

View Questions →
03

Quality Inspection

Pre-shipment checks, approved samples, defects, packaging, quantity and carton marks.

View Questions →
04

Custom Branding

Logo, packaging, Pantone color, barcode, private label and branding MOQ.

View Questions →
05

Order Consolidation

Multiple factories, mixed SKUs, supplier delays and warehouse coordination.

View Questions →
06

Shipping Support

LCL, FCL, CBM, packing data, warehouse delivery, loading and dispatch.

View Questions →
FAQ GROUP 01 Product Sourcing

Product Sourcing Questions

Answers about how to start a sourcing request, what information to send and how multi-category sourcing works.

What information should I send for a sourcing request?
Product photos, links, specifications, target quantity, target market, preferred material, packaging requirements and target price are all useful. The more specific the requirement, the easier it is to compare suitable supplier options.
Can I send only product photos or links?
Yes. Product photos, marketplace links, competitor references or supplier quotations can all be used as a starting point when detailed specifications are not yet available.
Can you source products from multiple categories?
Yes. SilkRoadSource is designed around multi-category sourcing, including Home & Kitchen, Household & Daily Goods, Hardware & Tools, and Store & Packaging Supplies.
Can you work with suppliers I already have?
Yes. Existing suppliers can be included in supplier coordination, quality inspection, consolidation and shipping workflows where appropriate.
Do you only source from Yiwu?
No. The sourcing location should depend on the product. Yiwu is useful for many general-merchandise categories, while specialized factories and industrial clusters in other Chinese regions may be more suitable for other products.
How do you compare different suppliers?
Supplier comparison can include product match, material, specification, MOQ, unit price, lead time, packaging, customization capability and repeat-supply suitability.
Can you help coordinate product samples?
Yes. Sample coordination can be used to confirm product, material, color, function and packaging before a larger order is placed.
Can you source private-label products?
Yes. Suitable suppliers may support logo customization, custom packaging, labels, barcodes, product colors and other private-label requirements.
FAQ GROUP 02 Supplier & MOQ

Supplier, MOQ & Pricing Questions

Questions about minimum quantities, supplier comparison, trial orders and pricing trade-offs.

What is a typical MOQ in China?
There is no single standard MOQ. It depends on the product, manufacturing process, material, customization requirement, packaging and supplier production setup.
Can you help find lower MOQ suppliers?
Yes. Where suitable options exist, sourcing can prioritize suppliers with more flexible MOQ or trial-order conditions.
Can different SKUs have different MOQs?
Yes. Different suppliers and different products may have different MOQs. A mixed-SKU purchasing plan can use different order quantities for core, trial and seasonal products.
Does the lowest price always mean the best supplier?
No. Unit price should be evaluated together with material, specification, quality stability, lead time, MOQ, packaging and repeat-supply capability.
Can I place trial orders?
Trial orders may be possible depending on the supplier and product. They can be useful when testing a new SKU before committing to larger repeat volumes.
How do you compare a factory and a trading company?
The right choice depends on the project. Factories may offer stronger production specialization, while trading companies may provide broader product access or lower mixed-SKU complexity. Product fit and supply conditions matter more than the label alone.
Can you help negotiate MOQ and packaging requirements?
Yes. Supplier discussions can include MOQ, packaging, customization and quantity structure, although final conditions depend on each supplier's commercial and production requirements.
FAQ GROUP 03 Quality Inspection

Quality Inspection Questions

Questions about what can be checked before shipment and how approved standards reduce quality ambiguity.

What does a pre-shipment inspection check?
Depending on the project, inspection may cover quantity, appearance, dimensions, material, function, packaging, barcode, labels, shipping marks and other agreed product requirements.
Can you inspect packaging and barcode?
Yes. Retail packaging, barcode, SKU label, carton mark and other packaging details can be included in the inspection scope where required.
Can production be compared to an approved sample?
Yes. An approved sample can provide a useful reference for repeat production, especially for appearance, color, material, function and packaging.
What happens if defects are found?
The findings should be documented and communicated before shipment. The next step may involve sorting, rework, replacement or further supplier discussion depending on the issue and the agreed purchase conditions.
Can you inspect products from multiple suppliers?
Yes. Multiple supplier orders can be inspected separately before consolidation or shipment where the project requires it.
Do you inspect quantity and carton marks?
These can be included in an inspection scope. Exact checks should be agreed before the inspection is arranged.
When should inspection happen?
Pre-shipment inspection usually happens after production is substantially complete and before the goods are released for international shipment.
FAQ GROUP 04 Custom Branding

Custom Branding Questions

Questions about logo customization, retail packaging, color, barcode and private-label programs.

Can you add my logo to products?
Yes, where the product and supplier support it. Branding methods may include printing, engraving, embossing, labeling or other product-appropriate methods.
Can you customize retail packaging?
Yes. Suitable suppliers may support color boxes, kraft boxes, mailers, hang cards, display boxes, inserts and other retail packaging formats.
Can you support Pantone colors?
Where supported by the product material and supplier process, custom color matching can be discussed using Pantone or approved color references.
Can you add EAN or UPC barcodes?
Yes. Barcode labeling can be coordinated when the buyer provides the required barcode data and placement instructions.
Can different suppliers follow one branding standard?
Yes. One purpose of coordinated branding is to keep logo, color, packaging, barcode and label standards consistent across different suppliers where feasible.
Can I approve a branded sample before mass production?
Yes. Branded sample approval is recommended before mass production whenever practical.
Does custom branding change MOQ?
Often it can. MOQ may change depending on the branding method, packaging quantity, printing setup, custom color and supplier production requirements.
FAQ GROUP 05 Order Consolidation

Order Consolidation Questions

Questions about combining suppliers, mixed SKUs, warehouse timing and delayed orders.

Can you combine orders from different factories?
Yes. Multi-supplier consolidation can be coordinated when production timing, warehouse requirements and shipment conditions allow.
Can you consolidate mixed SKUs?
Yes. Mixed-SKU consolidation is useful for importers, wholesalers and retailers buying different products from multiple suppliers.
What information is needed before consolidation?
Useful information includes supplier name, cargo-ready date, carton quantity, gross weight, dimensions, CBM, packaging method and shipping marks.
What happens if one supplier is delayed?
The delay should be reflected in the shipment plan so the buyer can decide whether to wait, split the shipment or adjust the consolidation schedule.
Can trial orders be consolidated?
Yes, when the products, supplier timing and logistics requirements are suitable for consolidation.
Can products with different packaging be combined?
Often yes, although carton dimensions, handling requirements, product type and warehouse conditions need to be considered.
FAQ GROUP 06 Shipping Support

Shipping Support Questions

Questions about freight-forwarder coordination, LCL/FCL, CBM, warehouse delivery and dispatch.

Can you work with my freight forwarder?
Yes. Supplier, warehouse and cargo information can be coordinated with your nominated freight forwarder where required.
Can you support LCL and FCL shipments?
Yes. China-side shipment preparation can support both LCL and FCL workflows depending on cargo volume and shipment requirements.
What shipping information do suppliers need to provide?
Typical information includes cartons, gross and net weight, dimensions, CBM, packaging method, shipping marks and cargo-ready date.
What is CBM and why does it matter?
CBM means cubic meter and represents cargo volume. It is important for LCL planning, warehouse handling and freight calculations.
Can you coordinate warehouse delivery?
Yes. Supplier delivery or pickup into the nominated consolidation warehouse can be coordinated as part of the China-side shipping workflow.
Can you help with loading and final dispatch?
Yes. Loading sequence, cargo readiness, warehouse departure and forwarder handover can be coordinated where required.
How do I choose between LCL and FCL?
The decision depends on cargo volume, supplier count, shipment timing, product type, destination and freight economics. The cheapest method is not always the most operationally suitable one.

FAQ by Buyer Type

Different buyer models create different sourcing questions.

01

Importers

Supplier coordination, quality inspection, consolidation and shipment planning.

For Importers →
02

Wholesalers

MOQ, mixed SKU planning, trial orders and repeat replenishment.

For Wholesalers →
03

Distributors

Quality consistency, private label, stable supply and repeat-order control.

For Distributors →
04

Retailers

Retail packaging, barcode, trial SKUs and best-seller replenishment.

For Retailers →

What Buyers Usually Need to Prepare

The right starting information makes sourcing faster and supplier comparison more accurate.

01 Product Photo / Link

Reference image, marketplace link or competitor product.

02 Specification

Material, size, color, function and other product requirements.

03 Quantity

Estimated order quantity for each SKU or product group.

04 Target Market

Country, channel and customer type the product will serve.

05 Target Price

Useful reference when evaluating supplier and specification options.

06 Packaging Requirement

Generic, retail-ready, private label or other packaging needs.

07 Logo / Barcode

Brand files, barcode data and labeling requirements where needed.

08 Delivery Destination

Country, port or freight-forwarder information for shipment planning.

Still Not Sure?

Send Us the Product or Problem You're Working On.

You do not need to know exactly which sourcing question to ask. Send a product photo, supplier quotation, packing list or current sourcing problem and we can help clarify what needs to be compared or confirmed.

Ask a Sourcing Question →
YOUR INPUT Product photo · Supplier quote · Current sourcing issue
SILKROADSOURCE Clarify supplier · MOQ · quality · packaging · consolidation · shipping questions
CLEAR NEXT STEP What to compare · What to confirm · What to ask the supplier

Can't Find the Answer You Need?

Send us your product, supplier quotation or sourcing question. We'll help you understand what needs to be confirmed before you place the order.

Ask a Sourcing Question → Send Your Product List