Frequently Asked Questions About China Sourcing

Yes. We are a licensed trading company registered in Yiwu, Zhejiang, and our team has been sourcing for overseas buyers since 2015. After you sign a short NDA we share our legal name, business license, USC, and registered address — all verifiable on China's National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (gsxt.gov.cn). A legitimate sourcing partner never hides its legal identity. Message us on WhatsApp and we will send the documents the same day.

Our team works out of Yiwu, Zhejiang, and runs an 800 sqm warehouse in Jinhua, about an hour away. You are welcome to visit the office and walk the Yiwu International Trade City with us when you are in town. This is exactly where we do our on-the-ground supplier visits. Request a free quote and we will plan the visit around your trip.

Our founder Monica Zhu has been sourcing in Yiwu since 2015. Before starting Milebond she built and ran Amazon brands including Juvale and Blue Panda. So we source the way we wished someone had sourced for us: transparent, on-site, and listing-aware. Message us on WhatsApp if you would like to hear how that experience shapes a quote.

We have helped 50+ brands scale from idea to repeat orders in 30+ countries. We share anonymized case studies on request. We can also connect you with a reference client once we have their permission. Request a free quote and tell us which category you are sourcing, and we will match you with the closest case.

We accept T/T bank transfer to our corporate account (never a personal account), PayPal, and Alibaba Trade Assurance. We also accept Western Union for small orders. Every payment is tied to an official proforma invoice. Message us on WhatsApp and we will send the invoice details for your quote.

Yes — our MOQ starts at a single carton, from around $100. Custom logo and your own spec are allowed on that first carton. No 500-piece minimum, no dead-stock gamble. Request a free quote and we will confirm the MOQ for your exact product.

Absolutely. We work with individual sellers, sole proprietors, and registered companies. For Amazon FBA sellers, Amazon's importer-of-record handles customs, so you do not need your own import license. We will tell you upfront if your product category or destination requires a local importer. Message us on WhatsApp with your destination and we will confirm the requirements.

Yes. Send clear photos (or a 1688/Alibaba link) and we search across 1688, Yiwu market stalls, and our factory network. We come back with 2–3 quotes side by side, plus supplier notes. If there is no exact match we suggest close alternatives in the same category. Request a free quote and attach the photo to get started.

Yes — you do not need a Chinese Alipay account. Send us the link, and we contact the supplier, negotiate, arrange samples, inspect, consolidate, and ship. You see the itemized cost before anything is paid. Message us on WhatsApp with your link and target quantity.

We reply within 24 hours on average, usually around 6 hours. You get a dedicated WhatsApp account manager — no ticket system, no chatbot. Request a free quote and we will come back with options and pricing in the same thread.

Any of these works: a product photo, a 1688/Alibaba link, a CAD drawing, or a rough description. We handle the rest. Your first call is a free 30-minute sourcing consultation. Message us on WhatsApp to book a slot.

We source across three tiers — 1688 wholesalers, Yiwu market stalls (75,000+ booths), and directly audited factories. We always tell you which tier your quote comes from. We never pretend a trader is a factory. Request a free quote and we will label the source tier on every line.

Every recommended factory passes a 27-point on-site audit: fire safety, electrical certifications, export license, tooling capacity, and QC staff count. Audit reports are yours to share. Message us on WhatsApp if you would like to see a sample report.

Often yes. We run multi-supplier comparison on the same spec. In one case study, a stainless steel canning rack listed at ¥11/unit from an Alibaba "304" supplier was re-sourced through Yiwu at ¥5.40 — 51% savings, and we confirmed the metal was actually 304 via spectrometer. Send us the link and we will benchmark it for free.

HQ in Yiwu (small commodities, home and kitchen, pet, toys, stationery) with partner networks in Guangzhou for hardgoods and Shenzhen for electronics. That coverage lets us compare factories across regions, not just within one city. Request a free quote and tell us where your product category sits.

Home & Kitchen, Pet Supplies, Toys, Stationery, and Hardware. Across those we have managed 54,930+ SKUs and worked with 6,900+ suppliers. That depth is why quotes come back with real alternatives rather than one option. Message us on WhatsApp with your category.

Yes — we walk the floor, inspect tooling, meet the QC staff, and send you the footage. You will see the real production environment, not a showroom. Request a free quote and we will schedule the visit around your approval timeline.

AQL 2.5 is the industry-standard acceptance quality limit for consumer goods. At that level we sample statistically and reject the batch if major defects exceed a set threshold. Every Milebond reorder runs an AQL 2.5 pre-shipment inspection, with a written report sent to you. Message us on WhatsApp to see a sample report.

Gate 1 is a pre-production sample test, where we confirm the sample matches your spec before bulk starts. Gate 2 is a bulk sample test on the first units off the line. Gate 3 is the AQL 2.5 pre-shipment inspection before the container closes. Request a free quote and we will map these gates to your order timeline.

Real batch photos and videos, never supplier catalog images. We photograph appearance, packaging, labels, and quantity. We also run functional tests (leak, switch, drop, charge) on video. You approve in writing before anything ships. Message us on WhatsApp if you want to see an example inspection pack.

We rework, replace, or recolor at our cost before shipping. Your balance is only released after you approve the batch photos. If an issue slips through, we handle returns and exchanges under our refund policy. Request a free quote and we will include the QC terms in writing.

Yes. Appearance-only inspections miss the failures that turn into Amazon returns. We run functional tests and record them on video. What works in the sample works in the container. Message us on WhatsApp with your product type and we will list the tests we would run.

Yes — polybags, Amazon FNSKU labels, carton content info, suffocation stickers, and carton marking, all to Amazon's spec. Cartons pass receiving; they do not get kicked back. Request a free quote and tell us which marketplace you are shipping to.

Yes — custom logo, custom packaging, and your own parts and spec are available from the very first carton. No tooling commitment is needed to start. Message us on WhatsApp with your artwork and target quantity.

You do. Before any tooling starts, we sign a contract clause stating the mold, the design, and the tooling deposit belong to you. The factory cannot re-sell your product to another buyer. Request a free quote and we will share the clause wording up front.

We require every factory we share your design with to sign an NNN agreement (Non-Disclosure, Non-Use, Non-Circumvention). It is drafted in Chinese under PRC law, with RMB-denominated penalties. A Western-style NDA alone is hard to enforce in China. Message us on WhatsApp if you would like to review the template.

Yes — China follows first-to-file, so someone could squat your brand name. Registration through a Chinese trademark attorney costs roughly $300–600 per class, and we coordinate it through a licensed local firm. Request a free quote and we will add trademark timing to your launch plan.

Samples in 3–7 days, mass production in 20–30 days. One brand we work with went from design to market in 5 weeks. Message us on WhatsApp with your deadline and we will confirm what is realistic.

Yes. We match your design, margin, and MOQ to audited factories. We do not scatter your drawing to 20 unknown suppliers. Request a free quote and send the drawing under NDA.

A flat service fee of 3–8% of order value, tiered by order size. That is our only margin — we do not take factory kickbacks. Message us on WhatsApp with your order size and we will quote the exact tier.

No. We show you the real factory invoice. Every saving we negotiate on your behalf stays with you: "my margin is my fee, your savings are yours." Request a free quote and compare our line items against any competitor.

Yes — your quote is itemized: part cost, packaging, labor, domestic freight, and our fee. You can verify it against the real factory invoice. Message us on WhatsApp if you would like a sample quote layout before ordering.

Supplier search and screening, price negotiation, sample management, pre-shipment QC, domestic shipping to our Jinhua warehouse, and customs documentation. It does not include international freight or destination duty. Request a free quote and we will separate those lines clearly.

Every reorder is renegotiated — materials, payment terms, packaging. Our clients see roughly 10% lower landed cost on reorders while quality holds. Message us on WhatsApp and we will review your reorder pricing.

Yes — before you commit we show product cost, domestic shipping, our fee, freight (air, sea, or express), and estimated duty. You can calculate your margin before ordering. Request a free quote with your target retail price and we will model it.

Yes. We handle FBA prep, labeling, and shipping to the Amazon fulfillment center of your choice. Message us on WhatsApp with your warehouse code and we will confirm routing.

Yes — DDP to 30+ countries including the US, UK, Germany, France, Canada, Australia, and the UAE. The quote includes international freight, customs duty, import VAT, clearance, and last-mile delivery. No surprises at the border. Request a free quote with your delivery address.

Yes. We consolidate goods from multiple suppliers at our 800 sqm Jinhua warehouse and ship as one container. We offer up to 20 days of free consolidation storage. Message us on WhatsApp with your supplier list.

Express 3–7 days, air freight 5–15 days, sea freight 25–45 days. We match the method to your launch window and budget. Request a free quote and tell us your in-stock date.

Commercial invoice, detailed packing list, certificate of origin, and product-specific certifications (CE, FDA, FCC, RoHS, food-grade) as required. Message us on WhatsApp with your destination country so we can confirm the exact document set.

30+ countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. If your destination is not on the usual list, ask — we will confirm feasibility before quoting. Request a free quote with your delivery port.

Standard 30% deposit to start production, and the 70% balance only after QC photos and your written approval. Never before. Message us on WhatsApp if you need to discuss terms for a first order.

Yes — Trade Assurance is available for first-time orders. Repeat clients typically use direct T/T to our corporate account. Request a free quote and tell us which payment route you prefer.

Yes — after 3+ successful orders we can extend Net-30 terms to wholesale and repeat buyers. Message us on WhatsApp with your order history to check eligibility.

Yes — all quotes and invoices are in USD. We accept T/T, PayPal, and Trade Assurance. Request a free quote and we will send the invoice in USD.

Never pay to a personal account, always start with a small trial order, verify the business license, and use third-party payment protection. On-site inspection is the strongest filter. Message us on WhatsApp and we will review a quote or supplier you are unsure about.

We do material verification, for example spectrometer testing on stainless steel, and compare the bulk sample against the approved sample. In one case we caught a factory labeling 201 steel as 304 before the container shipped, saving the client from negative reviews and returns. Request a free quote and we will list the checks for your material.

Ask four questions: Do you audit factories on-site? Is your fee transparent? Do you send real batch photos? Who owns the mold? Compare Milebond on those four and you will see the difference. Message us on WhatsApp for the answers in writing.

Four we see every week: over-ordering MOQ, skipping pre-shipment QC, ignoring trademark and patent clearance, and wrong packaging for FBA. We walk first-time sellers through all four. Request a free quote and we will flag the risks specific to your product.

Yes — infringement and non-compliance are common suspension causes. We flag trademark and patent risks before production and ensure compliance documentation (CE, FDA, FCC) matches your listing. Message us on WhatsApp with your product link and we will run a quick risk check.