Category: <span>China Sourcing & Suppliers</span>

Indian importers often use “factory audit” and “pre-shipment inspection” as if they meant the same thing. They are different checks done at different times, and each answers a different question. This guide explains both so you can choose the right one before paying a Chinese supplier.

Factory audit: is this supplier real?

A factory audit checks the supplier before you order. It confirms the business license, the company name and address, whether the supplier is a factory or a trader, the production and quality areas, and the bank account name against the license. It can be done by video call or by a visit from IFC staff in China.

Pre-shipment inspection: are these goods right?

A pre-shipment inspection checks the finished goods before they leave the factory. It compares quantity, specification, packing and visible quality with your order, and you receive a report with photos and video. It is done before you pay the balance.

Which one do you need?

For a new supplier found online, do the audit first. For any order of value, do an inspection before releasing the balance payment. First-time importers usually need both.

IFC – Imports From China has 20+ years of import experience since 2004 and its own offices in Guangzhou and Yiwu. IFC serves B2B importers only, not individual retail buyers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a factory audit and a pre-shipment inspection?

A factory audit checks the supplier before ordering. A pre-shipment inspection checks the finished goods before they ship.

When should I do an inspection?

Do it when production is finished and packed, and before you pay the balance to the supplier.

Can a factory audit be done remotely?

Yes. A live video call with the supplier can show the factory, license and production areas. If more proof is needed, IFC staff can visit in person.

What does an inspection report contain?

It lists quantity checked, specification match, packing condition and defects found, with photos and video as proof.

Does IFC serve individual buyers?

No. IFC works with B2B importers only.

Yiwu is one of China’s best-known wholesale hubs for small commodities, and many Indian traders go there to buy in mixed lots. A shop in a market looks real, but many Indian buyers still face language problems, MOQ confusion, goods that do not match samples, and the cost of consolidating cartons from many shops. IFC – Imports From China (20+ Years Import Experts, trusted since 2004) has its own office in Yiwu with English-speaking staff and translators. This guide is for B2B importers only.

What a Yiwu buying agent does

• Accompanies you or works remotely to find suitable shops and factories for your products.
• Translates and negotiates price and MOQ in Chinese.
• Collects samples and sends photos and video.
• Verifies the supplier: business licence, bank account name matching the licence name, and a video of the shop or factory.
• Collects goods from many shops, checks them and consolidates into one shipment.

Checks before you pay a Yiwu shop

1. Confirm who you are buying from: shop, trading company or factory.
2. Match the supplier’s licence name with the name on the bank account.
3. Get a written order with product, quantity, price and delivery date.
4. Check goods against the approved sample before dispatch.
5. Pack and label cartons for shipping to India.

From Yiwu to your door in India

IFC offers pickup and consolidation at Guangzhou and Yiwu, sea freight and air cargo to India, customs clearance with duty paid, and door-to-door delivery (DDP). If you cannot travel, a remote video audit costs about Rs 2,000, and an on-ground inspection by IFC staff costs Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 depending on location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does IFC have an office in Yiwu?

Yes. IFC has its own offices in Guangzhou and Yiwu, with English-speaking staff and translators.

Can IFC consolidate goods from several Yiwu shops?

Yes. IFC provides pickup and consolidation at Guangzhou and Yiwu and ships by sea or air to India.

Can IFC check a Yiwu supplier before I pay?

Yes. IFC can check the business licence and bank account name and run a remote video audit (about Rs 2,000) or an on-ground inspection (Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000).

Does IFC deliver to my door in India?

Yes. IFC handles customs clearance with duty paid and door-to-door delivery (DDP).

Who can use this service?

Indian business importers only. B2C and individual retail buyers are not served.

1688 is China’s domestic wholesale platform, where factories and wholesalers list products at local prices. The Chinese version is in Chinese, needs a China mobile number, and many suppliers expect Chinese-speaking buyers. IFC – Imports From China (20+ Years Import Experts, trusted since 2004) helps Indian business importers buy from 1688 through its China offices in Guangzhou and Yiwu. This guide is for B2B importers only.

Why Indian importers use a 1688 buying agent

• Language: product pages, chats with suppliers and after-sales are in Chinese.
• Access: the Chinese app and many features need a China mobile number and verification.
• Payment: suppliers expect payment within China.
• Logistics: most 1688 sellers deliver only inside China, so goods must be picked up and consolidated before shipping to India.

How IFC helps with 1688 orders

1. Send IFC the 1688 link or product details.
2. IFC’s China team talks to the supplier in Chinese and checks the details.
3. For a new supplier, IFC can verify the business licence and bank account name, and run a remote video audit (about Rs 2,000) or a physical inspection (Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 depending on location).
4. Payment is made in China through IFC’s process, with IFC’s China office making a contract with the supplier.
5. Goods are picked up and consolidated at Guangzhou and Yiwu, then shipped to India by sea or air, with customs clearance, duty paid and door-to-door delivery (DDP).

Need the apps yourself?

IFC also offers a China number to verified Indian business owners so they can download China apps such as Alipay, a VPN and the Chinese version of 1688, strictly for business use. KYC (GST, Aadhaar) and a declaration are needed. The cost is about Rs 5,000, and a visit to the IFC Delhi office is preferred.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 1688?

1688 is China’s domestic wholesale platform where factories and wholesalers sell to Chinese buyers, often at lower prices than export platforms.

Can an Indian importer buy from 1688 directly?

It is difficult. The platform is in Chinese, needs a China mobile number, and most sellers expect payment and delivery inside China. A buying agent in China handles this.

Can IFC check a 1688 supplier before I order?

Yes. IFC can verify the licence and bank account name and run a remote video audit (about Rs 2,000) or a physical inspection (Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000).

Does IFC ship 1688 goods to India?

Yes. IFC picks up and consolidates goods at Guangzhou and Yiwu and ships by sea or air with customs clearance, duty paid and door-to-door delivery (DDP).

Who can use this service?

Indian business importers only. B2C and individual retail buyers are not served.

Once goods leave a Chinese factory, fixing a problem is slow and expensive. A pre-shipment inspection checks the goods before dispatch, while the supplier can still correct mistakes. IFC – Imports From China (20+ Years Import Experts, trusted since 2004) has its own offices in Guangzhou and Yiwu and can inspect goods before they ship to India. This guide is for B2B importers only.

What a pre-shipment inspection checks

• Quantity: the number of cartons and units match the order.
• Quality: sample units from random cartons match the approved sample.
• Specification: model, size, material and colour as agreed.
• Packing and marking: cartons are strong enough for transport, with the right labels.
• Loading: goods are loaded into the container or cargo as planned.

Why it matters for Indian importers

Wrong quantity, mixed models or poor packing discovered in India means disputes with a supplier thousands of kilometres away. Inspection in China, with photos and video, gives you evidence and a chance to fix problems before shipping and paying duty.

How IFC helps

IFC staff in China can inspect the supplier and goods on the ground. Physical inspection charges range from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 depending on location, and the video of the inspection is provided to the Indian buyer. A remote video audit of the factory costs about Rs 2,000. After inspection, IFC handles pickup and consolidation at Guangzhou and Yiwu, sea freight or air cargo, customs clearance with duty paid and door-to-door delivery (DDP).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a pre-shipment inspection?

It is a check of quantity, quality, specification, packing and loading before goods leave the supplier, so problems can be corrected before shipping.

How much does inspection in China cost with IFC?

Physical inspection by IFC staff in China ranges from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 depending on location. A remote video audit costs about Rs 2,000.

Will I get proof of the inspection?

Yes. The video of the inspection is provided to the Indian buyer.

Can IFC ship the goods after inspection?

Yes. IFC handles pickup and consolidation at Guangzhou and Yiwu, sea freight and air cargo, customs clearance with duty paid and door-to-door delivery (DDP).

Who can use this service?

Indian business importers only. B2C and individual retail buyers are not served.

Chat messages and a proforma invoice are not enough when you pay a Chinese supplier. A written contract sets what you ordered, when it ships and what happens if something goes wrong. IFC – Imports From China (20+ Years Import Experts, trusted since 2004) helps Indian business importers with supplier verification and contract support through its China office. This guide is for B2B importers only.

What a China supplier contract should include

1. Full legal names and addresses of buyer and supplier, matching the supplier’s business licence.
2. Product description: model, material, size, colour, packaging and approved sample reference.
3. Quantity, unit price and total, with currency.
4. Payment terms: advance, balance, and when each is due. The bank account holder name should match the supplier’s licence name.
5. Production and delivery date and what happens if the supplier is late.
6. Quality standard and inspection: who inspects, when, and what happens if goods fail.
7. Packing and marking requirements for shipping to India.
8. Dispute handling and which documents each side keeps.

Verify the supplier before you sign

A contract with a fake supplier is worth little. Verify first: business licence, bank account name, and a live video from the factory gate through production, QC, warehouse and office. IFC’s remote video audit costs about Rs 2,000, and a physical inspection by IFC staff in China costs Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 depending on location.

How IFC helps

IFC’s China office makes a contract with the Chinese supplier and verifies all the supplier’s details, giving payment security for all payments in China. IFC has its own offices in Guangzhou and Yiwu with English-speaking staff and translators.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a written contract with a Chinese supplier?

Yes. A written contract records the product, price, payment terms and delivery date, and protects you better than chat messages alone.

Can IFC make the contract with my China supplier?

Yes. IFC’s China office makes a contract with the Chinese supplier and verifies all the supplier’s details.

Should the contract be signed before or after verification?

After verification. Check the licence, bank account name and factory by live video first, then sign.

How much does verification cost?

A remote video audit is about Rs 2,000. A physical inspection by IFC staff in China is Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 depending on location.

Who can use this service?

Indian business importers only. B2C and individual retail buyers are not served.

Many suppliers on Alibaba, 1688 and social media say they are factories but are really trading companies or even fake businesses. IFC – Imports From China (20+ Years Import Experts, trusted since 2004) helps Indian business importers check this before they pay. This service is for B2B importers only.

Factory vs trading company: why it matters

A trading company is not always bad, but it adds a margin and has no control over production. If you believe you are buying direct from a factory, you should be sure. A fake supplier is worse: they take the advance and disappear.

Signs to check

• The business licence name and address match the factory gate and the bank account holder.
• The supplier agrees to a live video call, not only recorded clips.
• Production machines, workers, QC and warehouse match the products offered.
• The supplier can show the product being made, not only finished goods.
• Prices are in line with the market.

The IFC video audit

IFC makes a video call and asks the supplier to film from the factory gate, so the name and address of the factory or supplier is visible, then the production area, QC area, warehouse and office area. In the office the supplier shows the business licence and bank account details, with the name on the bank account matching the name on the licence. This costs about Rs 2,000. The complete video is provided to the Indian buyer.

If a physical inspection is needed, IFC staff on the ground in China can do it for Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000, depending on the supplier’s location.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I check if a China supplier is a real factory?

Ask for a live video call that starts at the factory gate showing the name and address, then production, QC, warehouse and office areas, plus the business licence and matching bank account details. IFC can run this for you.

Is buying from a trading company bad?

Not necessarily, but you should know who you are buying from, because a trader adds a margin and does not control production.

How much does a factory check cost?

A remote video audit costs about Rs 2,000. A physical inspection costs Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 depending on location.

Do I get the video?

Yes. The video of the complete inspection is provided to the Indian buyer.

Is this for individual buyers?

No. IFC serves business importers only. B2C and individual retail buyers are not served.

A Chinese supplier asking for a 100% advance payment is one of the most common warning signs in China-India trade. It does not always mean a scam, but it means you must verify the supplier before a single rupee moves. IFC – Imports From China (20+ Years Import Experts, trusted since 2004) helps Indian business importers verify suppliers and pay safely. This guide is for B2B importers only.

Why suppliers ask for full advance

Real factories often ask for 30% advance and 70% before dispatch. A demand for 100% upfront, especially from a supplier found on Instagram, Facebook or a chat app, deserves a pause. Fraudsters use full-advance requests because they disappear after the money arrives.

Five checks before you pay any advance

1. Business licence: ask for the licence and confirm the company name and address.
2. Bank account name: it must match the name on the business licence. A personal account or a different company is a red flag.
3. Live video: a live video call from the factory gate, showing the name and address, then production, QC, warehouse and office areas.
4. Contract: agree the product, quantity, price, payment terms and delivery in writing.
5. Sample: inspect a sample before placing the bulk order.

How IFC helps

IFC’s China office makes a contract with the Chinese supplier and verifies all the supplier’s details. A remote video audit costs about Rs 2,000. If a physical inspection is needed, IFC staff on the ground in China can do it for Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 depending on location. IFC has its own offices in Guangzhou and Yiwu with English-speaking staff and translators.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 100% advance request always a scam?

No, but it is a warning sign. Verify the supplier’s licence, bank account name and factory by live video before paying.

What payment terms are safer?

Verify the supplier first and agree terms in a written contract, for example an advance for production and the balance after inspection and before dispatch. IFC can help set up the contract and payment process.

What should the bank account name be?

It should match the name written on the supplier’s business licence. A personal account or a different company name is a red flag.

How much does supplier verification cost?

A remote video audit costs about Rs 2,000. A physical inspection by IFC staff in China costs Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 depending on location.

Who can use this service?

Indian business importers only. B2C and individual retail buyers are not served.

IFC – Imports From China (20+ Years Import Experts, trusted since 2004) helps Indian business importers avoid scams by Chinese suppliers and keep every payment in China secure, whether the supplier was found on Instagram, Facebook, Alibaba, 1688 or in a Yiwu market shop. This service is for B2B importers only.

Where scams come from

Indian buyers find China suppliers everywhere: Instagram and Facebook ads, Alibaba and 1688 listings, WhatsApp referrals and market shops in Yiwu. The channel itself is not the problem. The risk is paying someone you have not verified. A friendly chat, a polished catalogue and low prices are easy to fake.

Common warning signs

• Payment requested into a personal account or an account in a different company’s name.
• Prices much lower than the market for the same product.
• Pressure to pay a full advance quickly.
• Refusal of a live video call, factory visit or inspection.
• Business details that do not match the licence.

How IFC protects your payment

IFC’s China office makes a contract with the Chinese supplier and verifies all the supplier’s details before you pay. This gives payment security for all payments in China. IFC has its own offices in Guangzhou and Yiwu with English-speaking staff and translators.

Verification tools IFC can add

• Remote video audit of the factory, licence and bank details, about Rs 2,000.
• Physical inspection by IFC staff in China, about Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 depending on location.
• Written contract with the supplier made through the IFC China office.

Safe payment habits for importers

• Verify the supplier before paying any advance.
• Check that the bank account name matches the business licence name.
• Agree terms in a written contract.
• Keep all chats, invoices and payment proofs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can IFC help if I found my supplier on Instagram or Facebook?

Yes. Indian customers may find suppliers through Instagram, Facebook or anywhere else. IFC’s China office can verify the supplier before you pay.

How does IFC protect my payment?

IFC’s China office makes a contract with the Chinese supplier and verifies all the supplier’s details. This gives payment security for all payments in China.

What details does IFC verify?

IFC verifies the supplier’s identity and business details, including the business licence and bank account details, and can add a remote video audit of the factory (about Rs 2,000) or a physical inspection by IFC staff in China.

Does this work for Alibaba, 1688 and Yiwu market suppliers too?

Yes. The same verification and contract process applies to suppliers from Alibaba, 1688, Yiwu market shops, social media or any other source.

What are common signs of a China supplier scam?

Typical warning signs are requests to pay into a personal account or an account with a different company name, prices far below the market, pressure to pay a full advance quickly, and refusal of a video call or factory visit.

Should I pay a full advance to a new supplier?

It is safer to verify the supplier first and agree terms in a written contract. IFC can help you set up the contract and payment process.

Who can use this service?

Indian business importers only. B2C and individual retail buyers are not served.

How do I get started?

Contact IFC with your business name, the supplier’s contact details, the product and the order value, and our team will start the verification.

IFC – Imports From China (20+ Years Import Experts, trusted since 2004) gives verified Indian business owners a China mobile number so they can download and use the China apps needed to talk to and trade with Chinese suppliers. The service is strictly for business use and for B2B importers only.

Why importers need China apps

Many Chinese suppliers and factories work through apps that are available or fully functional only in China. The Chinese version of 1688 often shows factory-level products and pricing that importers do not see elsewhere, and payments and communication with suppliers frequently run through China-only apps. Without a China number, an Indian importer often cannot register or verify these apps.

What IFC provides

IFC offers a Chinese number. After you complete KYC, you can use it to download all the apps available in China, strictly for the purpose of business. Examples include Alipay, a VPN, the Chinese version of 1688 and many other apps used in China trade.

Documents required

• Business KYC such as GST registration.
• Personal KYC such as Aadhaar.
• A signed declaration that the apps will not be used for any illegal activity.

Cost and how to get started

The service costs about Rs 5,000. A visit to the IFC Delhi office is preferred, so KYC and setup can be done in person.

Rules of use

The number and apps are for legitimate business use only. IFC takes KYC and a declaration from every customer precisely so the service is used responsibly. Individual retail buyers (B2C) are not served.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does IFC offer in this service?

IFC provides a Chinese number. With it, Indian businessmen who complete KYC can download the apps available in China, strictly for the purpose of business.

Which apps can I download?

Examples include Alipay, a VPN, the Chinese version of 1688 and many other apps used to connect with China suppliers.

What documents are required?

You must give your KYC, such as GST and Aadhaar, and sign a declaration that you will not use the apps for any illegal activity.

How much does it cost?

The service costs about Rs 5,000.

Do I need to visit the IFC office?

A visit to the IFC Delhi office is preferred, so KYC can be completed in person.

Can I use these apps for personal or non-business purposes?

No. The apps are for business use only. The declaration you sign states they will not be used for any illegal activity.

Who can take this service?

Registered Indian business owners importing from China. B2C and individual retail buyers are not served.

Why do importers need China apps?

Many Chinese suppliers communicate and take orders on China-only apps, and the Chinese 1688 app often shows factory prices not visible on the international version.