Pricing Traps
- Quotes 30%+ below market without explaining how costs are reduced
- Refuses to break out materials, tooling, or packaging costs
- Adds hidden surcharges after you signal intent to buy
Communication Clues
- Slow replies during China business hours or constantly changing contact persons
- Vague answers on process capability, certifications, or production volumes
- Stock photos instead of factory or line images; unwillingness to video call
Operations Reality Checks
- No business license match to bank account name
- Website photos that reverse-search to other companies
- Unable to host a quick live factory walk-through showing your product line
- No golden samples or retention samples for previous clients
Payment & Contract Risks
- Requests full payment up front or personal-account transfers (WeChat, Alipay QR)
- Declines inspection rights or refuses to reference golden samples in the PO
- Won’t use standard Incoterms or shipping marks, making claims hard to prove
If two or more of these appear, pause and verify with a third-party audit before proceeding.