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At Yiwu, ask for the sample, quotation and shipping arrangement as three connected pieces of work. You want the same product described in each. A low unit price tells you little if the sample, packaging and delivery assumptions change when the order is written down.
I'd leave the first conversation with a product reference and a clear next step. You can compare suppliers calmly afterward. You don't need to turn a promising booth visit into a paid bulk order on the spot.
Start with a specification you can send again
Write a short product sheet before asking for prices. Include a photograph or drawing you have permission to share, dimensions, material, intended use, finish, packaging and quantity to discuss. State which details are essential and which alternatives you are willing to consider.
For an item with several versions, give each version a reference. Use that reference on photographs, sample labels and messages. “The blue one we discussed yesterday” becomes a difficult instruction after you have spoken with several suppliers.
Chinagoods' official platform provides product and supplier search as well as a request-for-quotation form. Use the supplier or booth reference from your records when continuing the discussion, rather than relying only on a contact's display name.
Ask what the sample represents
Establish whether the offered sample is existing stock, a modified example or something made to your specification. Ask which features it represents and which would differ in the intended production order.
Record who provides it, how it is paid for, how you receive it and what happens if a replacement is needed. If a sample charge might later be credited against an order, ask for the conditions in writing rather than treat it as an automatic discount.
Label the physical sample when you receive it. Keep the product reference and supplier contact with it, and record any defect or difference you need to discuss. If several people are reviewing it, agree which version is the reference so an old sample does not become the unintended standard.
For a custom product, get appropriate technical and destination-market advice before approving production. A seller's verbal confidence is not a substitute for the testing, documentation or design review your product may need.
Make the quote comparable
Ask for a written quotation with enough detail that another person could understand what is being offered. I would include the following questions in the request:
| Item | Question to settle |
|---|---|
| Product | Which specification and version does this price describe? |
| Quantity | Is the quoted quantity per design, color, size or whole order? |
| Currency | Which currency is used, and how long is the quotation valid? |
| Packaging | What individual and outer packaging is included? |
| Branding | What artwork, setup or approval is needed? |
| Production | What must happen before production begins, and when can the order be ready? |
| Inspection | Who checks the goods, against which agreed specification? |
| Payment | What payment stages and written conditions are proposed? |
| Delivery | Where does the quoted delivery end, and which costs remain outside it? |
When a supplier offers a lower figure, compare the specification and delivery basis again. If the change is a thinner material, different packing or a larger order, record it as a different offer. That makes a useful comparison rather than a misleading price contest.
Keep shipping promises separate from product promises
Before asking a logistics provider for a quote, establish what is being shipped. Give a description, quantity, packing details, collection location and destination. Ask who will confirm final weight and dimensions once the goods are packed.
Get a written description of where the service starts and finishes. Ask which charges, paperwork and tasks it includes, which it excludes and who handles a problem at each stage. If a commercial shipping term is used, have a qualified provider explain what that term means for this exact transaction and destination.
For imported goods, speak with an appropriate broker or adviser about destination requirements before paying for bulk production. Use the actual product specification. An arrangement that worked for another buyer or country does not settle your own documentation or compliance questions.
If the supplier proposes a logistics company, you can still ask that company for its own quote and responsibilities. Keep the order, inspection and transport contacts identifiable rather than assume one chat participant is responsible for the whole chain.
A sample request you can adapt
English: We are interested in product [reference] for sale in [destination]. Please confirm the material, dimensions and packaging of the sample. Will it match the proposed production version? What is the minimum order per design, and can colors or styles be combined? Please quote the sample, delivery to [address], and the bulk order separately, with currency, quantity basis and delivery terms.
Chinese: 我们对［产品编号］感兴趣，计划销往［目的地］。请确认样品的材质、尺寸和包装，以及是否与拟订的大货版本一致。每款最低起订量是多少？不同颜色或款式可以混批吗？请分别提供样品、寄送至［地址］及大货的报价，并注明币种、数量计算方式和交货条件。
Send the specification with this message. If the supplier changes a detail, update the written reference and ask it to confirm the revised version. Keep the thread tied to the product rather than scatter approvals across several chats.
Before the next payment
Compare the final written order with the approved sample and quotation. Check the company receiving payment, product version, quantities, packing, inspection arrangement and delivery responsibilities. Resolve a mismatch before money moves.
Keep payment and order records with the supplier's full company details. For a significant order, obtain the professional advice and independent checks appropriate to the purchase. An organized conversation helps establish what was agreed; it does not guarantee the performance of a supplier or shipment.
For the market day itself, use the first-visit guide to plan the category and booth route. Leave with a small set of comparable proposals, then make the buying decision with the documents in front of you.
Sources & editorial notes
- Chinagoods: market and supplier search — checked October 27, 2026