Hey there! I’m Gary, a sourcing agent from Guangzhou, China, with over a decade of stepping into factories to find the real story. Visiting a supplier isn’t just a tour—it’s a chance to ask, look, and dig. I’ve been burned by smooth talkers and saved by sharp questions. Today, I’ll share my journey—what I ask, why it matters, and how you can use it to pick solid partners. Let’s get going!
My First Factory Lesson
Early on, I visited a gadget factory in Shenzhen for a $10,000 order. The boss smiled, the floor hummed—I was sold. Didn’t ask much, just nodded. Big mistake. The shipment arrived—200 chargers sparked, late by a month. I’d skipped the tough questions: “How do you test?” “What’s your capacity?” Since then, I’ve built a list that’s saved me—and my clients—time and cash. Here’s how I do it.
Start with the Basics: Who Are They?
I don’t trust a handshake—I check their roots.
Papers: “Can I see your business license?” I caught a “factory” once—no license, just a trader. “How long have you been running?” Older means steadier.
Certs: “What certifications do you have?” For a Muslim client, I needed halal papers—found a factory with ISO too.
Clients: “Who buys from you?” A textile maker named big brands—sign of trust. Sketchy answers? I dig deeper.
Can They Make It?
Production is the heart—I’ve learned to probe:
Capacity: “How many units monthly?” One claimed 10,000—I saw two lines, max 3,000. Truth matters.
Process: “Walk me through raw to finished?” A lamp factory showed me sloppy soldering—red flag.
Delivery: “How long for 500 gadgets?” They said 20 days; I asked past records—30 was real.
Defects: “What’s your reject rate?” A toy maker admitted 5%—cracks mostly. I asked why—old molds. Next step suffered—knew to watch.
Materials: What‘s Inside?
Cheap stuff flops—I’ve seen it.
Sources: “Where do parts come from?” A charger factory bought cores cheap—half failed. “You make or buy?” Self-made’s tighter.
Stock: “How much backup do you keep?” Low stock stalled a rush order once—now I check.
Fixes: “What if materials fail?” A good one swapped bad leather fast—others shrugged.
Consistency: “How do you keep batches same?” A dye plant showed me test logs—solid.
Quality: Will It Last?
Flashy samples hide junk—I test deeper.
Problems: “Ever had big fails?” One admitted a recall—fixed with new testers. Honesty’s gold.
Who Makes It: “Skilled workers or newbies?” A master-led line beat a rushed crew every time.
Molds: “How often do you check tools?” Worn molds cracked my client’s cases once—asked, avoided.
Checks: “How do you inspect?” A gadget line tested 10%—I pushed for 20%, got better goods.
Money: What‘s the Real Cost?
Price tags trick—I dig in.
Breakdown: “Show me your pricing?” A $5 unit hid $2 shipping—caught it.
Deals: “Bulk discount?” Saved 10% on 1,000 lamps once—ask, win.
Terms: “Payment how?” 30% up front, 70% later—flexible beats stiff.
Fair and Legal?
Rules matter—I’ve walked from cheats.
Workers: “Break times? Pay fair?” Saw a factory skip lunch—passed.
Green: “Waste plan?” A dye plant dumped—no permits, no deal.
Ideas: “Protect my designs?” A client’s sketch got stolen—now I lock it in writing.
Talk: Can We Work?
Chat’s the glue—I test it.
Contact: “Who’s my guy?” Clear names beat “someone.”
How: “Email or WeChat?” Fast replies—hours, not days—keep it smooth.
Listen: “Get my needs?” A factory tweaked prayer mats fast—keeper.
Watch for Traps
Eyes open—I’ve spotted dodges:
Hesitation: “How many lines?” A pause, vague “lots”—liar.
Hiding: “Can I see all?” One blocked a back room—found rusty junk later.
Mismatch: “10,000 units!” Three machines? Nope—call it out.
My Real Saves
For a Muslim client from Canada, I asked a food packager, “Have certs?” They had it—plus a clean line. Delivery? “20 days”—checked logs, true. Saved his $5,000 order. Another time, a lamp factory bragged “big capacity”—two old lines. Asked, “Past output?”—half promised. Walked away, dodged a flop.
Tips I‘d Tell You
Here’s what I live by—steal it:
Ask Hard: “Prove it”—records, pics. Caught a fake “big player” once.
Push: “Why’s the rate high?” Got a mold fix—better goods.
See All: Roam—hidden corners spill secrets. Found a leaky roof that way.
Write It: Notes after—forgotten “fine” turned “faulty” once.
My Takeaway
Factory visits are gold, but questions are king. I’ve sweated in Guangzhou heat, sipped bad tea, and lost cash on “yes men”—so you don’t have to. It’s not just a supplier—it’s a partner. Ask smart, check deep—capacity, quality, trust. One visit’s a peek; questions build the bridge. Ready to ask? I’m here—let’s nail it.
About Gary Sourcing
Need a China factory pro? Gary Sourcing is your back-up! I’m Gary, a Guangzhou expert offering supplier checks, quality hunts, and Muslim-friendly deals. Save hassle, win trust—email info@garysourcing.com or hit our site for more sourcing hacks!