The process
From brief to shipment, step by step
A typical engagement moves through six stages. Not every project needs all of them — scope is agreed up front, in writing.
1. Brief & requirements
You share the product category, specification, target price, volumes and any standards or certifications that matter to you.
You get: a written requirements summary and a scoping proposal — what we will do, and what it costs.
2. Supplier shortlist
We translate your requirements into supplier criteria and propose a shortlist of Chinese suppliers with the reasoning for each.
You get: a supplier shortlist with capability and capacity notes, and the questions we recommend asking.
3. Quotations & comparison
We collect quotations, normalise them against one specification and present a like-for-like comparison — price, MOQ, lead time, terms.
You get: a comparison table and clarification notes, so your decision is based on facts.
4. Order & production follow-up
Once you select a supplier, we track milestones against the production schedule and report progress — including problems, early.
You get: a milestone tracker and plain-language progress updates.
5. QC & inspection coordination
We coordinate sampling and inspection checkpoints before and during production, and the final pre-shipment inspection, with findings reported to you.
You get: inspection findings, photographs where applicable, and a clear pass/fail recommendation.
6. Shipment & handover
We coordinate the China-side of logistics — freight, consolidation and export documentation — and hand over to your forwarder or your port.
You get: a handover package: documents, shipping details and a final summary of what was done.
Questions
Honest answers to common questions
What does ChinaBridge Sourcing actually do?
We act as a China-side coordination point for overseas B2B buyers. Depending on the engagement, we find and vet suppliers, coordinate quotations, follow production, arrange inspection coordination and support logistics. We do not pretend to be a supplier, a factory or a freight company — we coordinate those with you.
Who will actually handle our project?
Tracy, who runs ChinaBridge Sourcing. There is no account handover, no sales team and no call centre. You have one contact from the first brief through to the shipment.
Do you take commissions from suppliers?
No. Our fee is charged to you and shown separately from the factory price — you see what the factory quoted and what we charge. We are not paid by suppliers, and our recommendations are not influenced by who offers the biggest referral.
Do you buy on our behalf?
No. You contract with the supplier and you pay the supplier directly — we never hold your money or sit in the middle of your payment. What we coordinate is the work around your order: specification, quotation comparison, production follow-up and inspection.
How do you charge?
Three ways, depending on what you need: a fixed project fee for defined work such as sourcing, verification, inspection or trial-order support; a managed project fee for running something end to end; or a percentage of order value for ongoing procurement management. Fixed-fee work starts at US$199. All of it is published on our Pricing page, and scope and fees are agreed in writing before any work begins.
Do you work with small buyers?
Yes, and we would rather start small. Most engagements begin with one fixed-fee piece of work — a supplier check at US$199, a quotation comparison, or a single trial order — because that is a low-risk way for both sides to see how the other works. There is no minimum order size; there is a minimum fee.
How do payments work?
Our fee is paid to us in stages, agreed before work starts: 100% in advance under US$500, 50% up front and 50% on delivery of the agreed output between US$500 and US$2,500, and milestone-based above that. The full schedule is on the Pricing page. Separately, you pay the supplier directly — we never hold your product payments.
What do you need from us to start?
Product category, specification or photos, target quantity, and a target price if you have one. A rough brief is enough. We will tell you what is missing and what is realistic.
How quickly do you reply?
We work on China time (GMT+8), so expect a reply within one working day, often sooner. Messages that arrive while China is asleep are answered at the start of the working day.
Where are you based, and can you visit the factory?
Shenzhen, in the middle of China's electronics and display manufacturing base. Factory visits, audits and inspections are arranged from here — which means someone can stand in the factory rather than trust a photo a supplier sent.
Which industries do you cover?
We work with B2B physical products made in China, but LED displays are where we are strongest. Twelve years on LED display projects means we know the specifications, the cost structures and the failure points — not just where to find a factory. Other categories are considered case by case, and if it is not a fit, we say so.
Can you help with samples?
Yes. Sampling coordination — requesting, following up and reviewing sample outcomes — can be part of the engagement or a standalone service.
What if we already have suppliers in China?
That's fine. We can support you with verification, communication, production follow-up and inspection coordination for your existing suppliers, without taking over your relationship.
Do you handle shipping, customs and payment?
We coordinate logistics, can work with your forwarder or recommend one, and can guide you on export documentation. We are not a freight forwarder or an import agent, and we never handle your payments — you keep control of your own money and your own shipment.
What happens if the goods don't match the specification?
We are not the seller, so we cannot control what a factory does. What we can do is make sure you have evidence. If something is wrong, we document it against the agreed specification, take it up with the supplier, and push for rework, replacement or a credit. This is the situation where having someone in China actually matters.
Do you guarantee supplier performance?
No — and you should be cautious of anyone who does. What we reduce is the chance of surprises: verification before you commit, inspection before you pay, and written specifications so that "what we agreed" is not open to interpretation.
How do you protect our confidentiality?
We keep your requirements, prices, designs and supplier relationships confidential. A confidentiality agreement can be signed before we discuss anything sensitive — just ask.
Do you publish client cases?
Only with client consent, and only with verified facts. We currently publish no client names, volumes or success stories — and we will not invent them to make the site look fuller.
Start with a five-minute brief
Product, target price, volumes, timeline — that's enough for a first, honest response.