Company name match
Check whether the company name matches across the quote, invoice, email signature, website, Alibaba profile, and payment account.
If different names appear, ask the supplier to explain the relationship in writing.
Chinese Supplier Reply Checklist
Before you pay for a sample, deposit, or bulk order, review what is visible and what still needs a clearer answer.
This checklist does not verify the supplier. It helps structure your next questions.
Checklist
Use before paying
- Sample fee
- Deposit
- Bulk order payment
What to check in the supplier reply
Payment account
Check the account holder name, bank location, beneficiary name if available, and whether the account matches the supplier or invoice company.
Do not treat a new payment account as a small detail. Ask why it is used.
Product details
The reply should confirm product model, material, size, quantity, finish, packaging, and any custom details.
If the supplier says "no problem" but does not confirm details, ask again before payment.
Sample terms
Ask whether the sample is a stock sample, custom sample, or similar reference sample.
Check what the sample can show and what may still change in bulk production.
MOQ and lead time
Check whether MOQ and lead time are for the sample, first order, or regular bulk order.
One fixed lead time answer is often not enough if customization, packaging, or raw material changes are involved.
What to ask before the next step
Packaging and labeling
Ask what packaging is included in the quote and what requires extra cost.
Confirm carton size, inner packaging, label, logo, barcode, and shipping mark requirements if they matter to your order.
Customization
Ask which custom details are included in the current quote and which ones change price, MOQ, tooling, or lead time.
Do not assume a sample reply covers all future custom changes.
Useful next-step questions
Use these when the supplier reply sounds positive but still does not explain the order clearly enough.
- What exactly does this quote include?
- What does the sample represent?
- What may change in bulk production?
- Which company should appear on the invoice and payment account?
- What happens if sample details need adjustment?
- When do deposit, balance, production start, and shipment happen?
What this cannot prove
This checklist is not a formal audit, legal due diligence, quality inspection, payment protection, or a guarantee that the supplier is reliable.
- It does not prove the supplier is real.
- It does not remove payment risk.
- It does not guarantee bulk order quality.
- It only helps you review visible information and prepare better questions.
Want a second look?
Send the supplier reply, quote, payment terms, or sample details. I will point out clear parts, unclear gaps, and next-step questions.