Yiwu FAQ – Sourcing, Agent & Shipping Questions
Answers to the most common questions about Yiwu sourcing, agent services, quality control, and logistics.
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Popular Questions
What services are included in your Yiwu sourcing service?
We provide one-stop Yiwu sourcing and export services from inquiry to after-sales:
✅ Supplier sourcing & verification
💰 Price negotiation & payment handling
📝 Order placement & production follow-up
🔍 Quality inspection before shipment
📦 Collection & consolidation of goods
🏬 Warehouse storage
🚚 Shipping booking & logistics
📄 Export documentation (packing list, invoice, certificate of origin)
🤝 After-sales support
💡 Value-added services: OEM/ODM, customized packaging, artwork design, product certifications, overseas warehousing.
How much commission do you charge? Is it worth it?
Commission: 3%–5% of order value (lower for large or long-term orders).
Includes full sourcing services: supplier verification, negotiation, order follow-up, QC, consolidation, documentation, and shipping.
💡 Benefit: Using a local agent saves time, reduces risk, and ensures smooth management across multiple suppliers.
Are there additional fees?
Usually no extra fees beyond the commission.
✅ Commission covers QC, warehouse, consolidation, and payment handling
🚛 China inland transport applies only under EXW/FCA:
20FT container: RMB 4,000
40FT/40HQ: RMB 6,000
LCL: based on actual volume
💡 All costs are transparent, no hidden charges.
How do you control product quality?
Structured QC process throughout sourcing:
✅ Supplier verification & factory assessment
📌 Sample confirmation
🔧 Production follow-up & on-site coordination
🔍 Pre-shipment inspection
📊 AQL-based inspection (quantity, workmanship, function, packaging)
⚡ Simplified checks for mixed orders to ensure efficiency
How do you process orders and receive goods?
After deposit:
📝 Place order & report progress weekly
📦 Collect goods in our warehouse
🚢 Load containers centrally
📬 Notify suppliers to send goods to warehouse
Q6: How to contact the most reliable agent?
A6: Contact us now（📞 +86 13605825970） to start your Yiwu sourcing journey!
Yiwu Market Basics
Understand the market layout, popular products, and sourcing tips
What is Yiwu Market famous for?
Yiwu Market is the world’s largest wholesale market for small commodities, offering thousands of products, including accessories, household items, toys, and promotional goods—all at competitive prices.
Is Yiwu Market worth visiting?
Yes. Yiwu Market is ideal for buyers sourcing a wide variety of products. First-time visitors can explore, negotiate, and discover reliable suppliers efficiently with the right guidance.
How are Yiwu Market districts organized?
Yiwu Market is divided into 5 main districts: small commodities, jewelry, toys & stationery, home décor, and hardware. Each district has multiple floors and thousands of booths. A local guide or agent can help navigate efficiently.
How are Yiwu Market districts organized?
1–5 days depending on needs. 1–2 days for market exploration; 3–5 days for multiple suppliers or large sourcing trips.
Is Yiwu the cheapest wholesale market in China?
Yiwu is highly competitive, especially for bulk purchases. Prices vary by supplier, product type, and quantity, so negotiation is key.
I have difficulty finding specific products. What should I do?
Provide your agent with product details, specifications, and references. Experienced agents can guide you directly to relevant suppliers among tens of thousands of booths.
Sourcing Process & Tips
How to buy efficiently in Yiwu
How do I select reliable suppliers in Yiwu?
Reliable suppliers in Yiwu should be evaluated based on factory verification, years of experience, product consistency, and previous buyer references. Many stalls in Yiwu Market are trading offices rather than factories, so distinguishing manufacturers from traders is important. Working with a local Yiwu sourcing agent helps verify suppliers, reduce risks, and ensure stable quality.
Can I negotiate prices and MOQ in Yiwu?
Yes. Price, MOQ, packaging, and even payment terms are usually negotiable in Yiwu. Preparing your target price, order quantity, and packaging requirements in advance will improve negotiation efficiency.
Typical MOQ references:
Market suppliers: Small MOQ, often carton-based or mixed orders
Factory suppliers: Usually 300–1,000 pcs per item
Customized products (OEM/ODM): MOQ depends on printing, molds, materials, and packaging
If you need low MOQ, mixed orders, or trial quantities, a Yiwu agent can help match you with suitable suppliers.
What are the common payment methods in Yiwu?
Common payment methods include T/T (bank transfer), PayPal (mainly for samples), L/C, or approved credit terms. Payments are usually tied to production stages, such as deposit before production and balance before shipment, to improve transaction security.
Are products in Yiwu in stock or made to order? What is the usual MOQ?
Both options are available. Some standard items are in stock and allow lower MOQs, while made-to-order or customized products require higher MOQs due to factory production costs. MOQ varies by product type, materials, and customization level.
How long is the normal production lead time in Yiwu?
Production lead time depends on product complexity and seasonality. Typical timelines are:
Stock items: 3–7 days
Standard production: 15–30 days
OEM/ODM customization: 25–45 days
Peak season (September–December): Longer lead times may apply
Confirming schedules in advance is important, especially for seasonal or promotional orders.
Agent & Service Basics
How a Yiwu sourcing agent helps
What does a Yiwu sourcing agent do?
A Yiwu sourcing agent helps overseas buyers source products efficiently from China. Services include supplier sourcing and verification, price negotiation, order follow-up, quality inspection, consolidation of goods from multiple suppliers, and shipping coordination.
Working with a local Yiwu agent allows buyers to navigate the massive Yiwu Market faster, reduce sourcing risks, and manage multiple suppliers through one contact.
What services are included in your Yiwu sourcing service?
We provide one-stop Yiwu sourcing and export services, managing the entire process from inquiry to after-sales support.
Our standard sourcing service includes:
1.Supplier sourcing and verification
2.Price negotiation and payment handling
3.Order placement and production follow-up
4.Quality inspection before shipment
5.Collection and consolidation of goods from multiple factories
6.Warehouse storage before shipment
7.Shipping booking and logistics coordination
8.Export documentation (packing list, commercial invoice, certificate of origin, etc.)
9.After-sales support and issue coordination
In addition, value-added services such as OEM/ODM product development, customized packaging and artwork design, product certifications, or overseas warehousing can be arranged based on your project needs.
This one-stop model allows buyers to manage multiple Yiwu suppliers through a single contact, reducing sourcing risks and improving overall efficiency.
How much commission do you charge for Yiwu sourcing services? Is it worth it?
Our commission is usually 3%–5% of the order value, depending on the order amount, product complexity, and service scope.
For large-volume or long-term cooperation, more competitive rates are available.
This commission covers end-to-end Yiwu sourcing services, including supplier sourcing and verification, price negotiation, order follow-up, quality inspection, goods consolidation, export documentation, and shipping coordination.
For buyers sourcing from multiple Yiwu suppliers, using a local Yiwu agent is highly cost-effective—it reduces supplier risk, quality issues, communication barriers, and logistics mistakes, while saving significant time and management cost.
Are there any additional fees apart from the commission?
In most cases, there are no extra service fees beyond the commission.
The commission already includes quality inspection, warehouse and consolidation services, and payment handling.
The only possible additional cost is China inland transportation, which applies only under EXW or FCA terms.
20FT container: RMB 4,000
40FT / 40HQ: RMB 6,000
LCL shipments: Calculated based on actual volume
All costs are transparent and confirmed in advance, with no hidden charges.
How do I find a trustworthy Yiwu agent?
Verified references and proven record with international buyers
Years of local experience in Yiwu and deep market knowledge
Clear service scope and examples of past orders
Transparency in pricing and commission model
Are there different types of sourcing agents?
Yes. Agents may specialize in sole sourcing (specific supplier/product), single sourcing (one supplier per category), or multi-sourcing (multiple suppliers/products). Choose one matching your sourcing needs
If I want to purchse from 1688 and want some one to help me, can you do that?
Yes we can, we have more than 20 years experience on being sourcing & purchasing agent on this and YIWU market, you can send me infomation for your suppliers and products reference picture, we will contact your supplier then help you wiht the order, but pls make sure your supplirs are trustworthy, we will recommend you some trustworthy suppliers from our part too
Logistics & Export
Shipping and FBA
Can Yiwu agents consolidate goods from multiple suppliers?
Yes. Agents can consolidate goods into one shipment, reducing logistics costs and simplifying export procedures.
How long does shipping from Yiwu usually take?
Sea freight typically takes 25–40 days to major ports. Air freight and express options (DHL, UPS, FedEx) are faster. Transit time also depends on customs clearance and destination country.
Can Yiwu agents handle Amazon FBA preparation?
Yes. Agents can assist with FBA labeling, packaging, carton specifications, and consolidation to ensure your goods meet Amazon warehouse requirements.
How does customs clearance work for Yiwu shipments?
Agents handle China-side export documentation efficiently. Import clearance in your country is the buyer’s responsibility, though agents can guide required paperwork and provide shipping documents.
Quality Control & After-Sales
Ensuring product consistency
How do you control product quality when sourcing from Yiwu?
We apply a structured Yiwu quality control process throughout the sourcing cycle, including:
1.Supplier verification and factory assessment
2.Sample confirmation before mass production
3.Production follow-up and on-site coordination
4.Pre-shipment inspection at our warehouse or factory
5.Inspection based on AQL standards, focusing on quantity, workmanship, function, and packaging
6.For mixed orders with many SKUs, we conduct priority-based or simplified inspections to ensure efficiency while minimizing risk.
Do you provide pre-shipment inspection and QC reports?
Yes. We offer pre-shipment inspection services before goods leave China.
Depending on the order complexity, we can provide:
Standard QC inspection reports
Photo & video records of inspected goods
Quantity and packaging verification
For high-value or strict-quality products, third-party inspections (such as SGS or BV) can also be arranged upon request.
What happens if products fail inspection or quality issues are found?
If quality issues are identified before shipment, we will immediately notify you and:
Request rework, replacement, or rejection from the factory
Hold shipment until the issue is resolved based on your instruction
If quality problems are found after goods arrive, please provide photos/videos and defect quantities within 30 days after arrival.
We will trace responsibility, negotiate compensation with the factory, and apply solutions such as refunds, replacements, or deductions in future orders.
How do you ensure bulk goods match approved samples?
To ensure consistency between samples and mass production, we:
Confirm written specifications and quality standards
Use approved samples as inspection benchmarks
Conduct spot checks during and after production
Support third-party inspections when required
This process significantly reduces risks commonly associated with bulk Yiwu sourcing.
Can you support OEM/ODM product development with quality control?
Yes. We provide OEM/ODM support with integrated quality management, including:
Product design & artwork
Material and component sourcing
Sample development and revisions
Packaging customization
Mass production follow-up
Quality control at each stage
Whether you need minor customization or full product development, we coordinate with suitable Yiwu and China-based factories to ensure quality and compliance.
Q6:How you handle the order? how you collect all goods?
A6:After receive the deposit we will place the order, and will report progress to you weekly, we have our own wharehouse,where we collect all goods and load the container,when all goods ready we will info those suppliers to send their goods to our wharehouse
Company & Cooperation
Who we are and how to work with us
What is your business proposal and company background?
Union Source was established in 2005 and specializes in general merchandise sourcing and export from China. We provide one-stop sourcing solutions, including product sourcing, supplier selection, OEM & ODM customization, order follow-up, quality control, and shipping coordination.
Our product range mainly covers daily consumer goods such as kitchenware, drinkware, home décor, gifts, toys, beauty tools, stationery, and other fast-moving items. We manage the entire sourcing process—from product selection and price negotiation to payment handling, warehousing, inspection, customs clearance, and export documentation—to ensure smooth delivery.
With offices in Ningbo and Yiwu, we combine strong port logistics support with direct access to the Yiwu International Trade Market, enabling fast response and efficient supplier coordination.
Ningbo Office: 20F, Sellers Union Building, 288 Guanghua Road, National Hi-Tech Zone, Ningbo, China
Yiwu Office: Union Group Building, No. 531 Zongze North Road, Yiwu, China
What is the minimum order amount to start cooperation?
Our minimum order amount to start service is USD 5,000. This ensures efficient coordination of supplier sourcing, quality inspection, warehousing, and shipment consolidation.
Can you purchase from my existing cooperated factories?
Yes, we can purchase from factories you already cooperate with. In such cases, the service commission may be adjusted, and quality responsibility will depend on inspection arrangements. All terms will be clearly confirmed before order placement.
Can you purchase from my existing cooperated factories?
Yes, trial orders are welcome. We believe starting with a trial order is the best way to build mutual trust. Before cooperation, we can provide company registration information, office photos, and arrange a video call to show our offices and team for full transparency.
Which shipping companies or forwarders do you usually cooperate with?
We have our own forwarding company, Ningbo Port to Port Shipping Forwarder, and commonly work with major shipping lines such as EMC, MSC, OOCL, and ONE. You may also use your own nominated forwarder if preferred.
Sea freight from Ningbo port usually takes 7–65 days depending on the destination and shipping line. We support FOB Ningbo and CIF destination port terms. For small-volume shipments, air delivery via DHL, FedEx, or UPS is also available.
Do you provide sample service before bulk orders?
Yes, samples can be arranged before mass production. Sample costs depend on the product, and sample shipping costs are usually paid by the buyer. All sample details will be confirmed in advance.
Do you offer global logistics and warehousing support?
Yes. We operate over 20,000 m² of domestic warehouse space in China and over 310,000 ft² of warehouse space in the U.S. (Atlanta & Oakland) for efficient order fulfillment. Our logistics solutions cover inland transport, container handling, and customs clearance. With an in-house shipping team, we offer competitive rates and a 5–7 day goods circulation cycle for fast turnover. We are also planning further global warehouse expansion in the next two years
Do you offer global logistics and warehousing support?
Sure.We can assist with the customs paperwork for the import as well.If you can share the destination and the specific requirements, we will check the procedures and confirm everything for you.
