Questions & answers

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers about how we research, check and ship your order. Still have a question? Start a research request and ask us there.

About SourceChinaDirect

1What is SourceChinaDirect?

We help businesses buy direct from China after we've checked everything. We find the right factory, check the samples and inspect your goods before anyone quotes you a price.

2Who's behind SourceChinaDirect?

SourceChinaDirect was founded by Yehiel Denci. Before opening his own company, he worked with many sourcing companies and saw first-hand how hard sourcing can be and how many problems come up. He took every one of those problems, worked out a solution for each, and built SourceChinaDirect around them.

3Are you the same as China Trade Bridge?

Yes. SourceChinaDirect was formerly China Trade Bridge.

4What kinds of products can you source?

Send us a request and we'll tell you honestly whether we can source it.

5What does "No seal, no shipment" mean?

A shipment only earns our seal after its factory has been verified, its samples approved and its goods inspected against your specs. If it doesn't pass, it doesn't ship.

Your research request

6How do I start?

Tap "Start a research request" and tell us what you want made. It takes about a minute on your phone.

7What are the seven steps of the request?

1 your product, 2 quantity and quality, 3 specs and deadline, 4 destination, 5 your contact details, 6 review, and 7 your request is sent with your reference number. You can go back to any step before you send.

8What if I only have a photo or a link?

That's enough. Add up to 3 photos, a link, or just describe it. Any one is enough.

9Which quality level should I pick?

Budget is simple materials and finish, still checked against your specs. Standard is solid everyday quality, ready for retail. Premium is top materials and finish with tighter tolerances.

10Can I change my answers before I send?

Yes. On the review step, tap any answer to change it.

11What does it cost to start?

Your first consultation is free, one time. Sourcing research has a sourcing fee, and you get it back after you receive the items we found for you.

12How long does research take?

Research usually takes five to seven business days, depending on the industry. You can watch every stage on your private tracker.

13What's the minimum order?

It depends on the product and the factory. We'll tell you after research.

Your tracker and SCD- reference number

14What happens after I send my request?

You get a reference number and a private tracker page. You'll see each stage as it happens, with real dated photos.

15What's my reference number for?

Every request gets its own number that starts with SCD-, like SCD-0042. Use it whenever you message us so we can find your order straight away.

16What are the seven tracker stages?

Request received, Item research, Samples & quality check, Verified quote, Production check, Shipped and Delivered.

17When will I see a price?

After we've researched the item and checked its quality. That's stage 4, Verified quote. We don't guess prices, because a price before research is just a guess.

18I lost my tracker link. How do I find it?

Go to "Find my request" and enter the email you used. We'll send the tracker links for your requests to that inbox.

19Can I show my tracker to a partner or investor?

Yes. You can send a view-only link. It never shows prices or contact details.

Factory verification and samples

20How do you know a factory is real?

We confirm the factory is real and capable, and not a middleman, before it's used for your order.

21Do I see samples before I order?

Yes. You see real samples before anything is ordered, and they're checked against your specs.

22What if the samples aren't right?

Samples are checked against your specs before anything is ordered, and we'll tell you what we found. You pay for most samples. Once you approve a sample, how things are settled with the supplier or manufacturer depends on the industry.

Quality control and inspections

23What do you check during inspection?

We inspect the goods against your specs: materials, finish, packaging and labelling.

24What happens if the goods fail inspection?

They don't get our seal and they don't ship until it's fixed.

25Will I see proof of the checks?

Yes. Your tracker shows each stage with real dated photos as your order reaches it.

26What's "Defects caught" on the homepage?

It's where we show what we stopped before it shipped. Every defect there was found during inspection and fixed or rejected before it reached a customer.

27Is my product idea kept private?

Yes. Your brief, photos and documents are private, and nothing about your order is shown publicly without your permission.

28Will you sign an NDA?

Yes. There's an NDA for both sides: you and the supplier.

Production and timelines

29How long do production and shipping take?

It depends on the product, the factory and the route. You'll get a realistic timeline after research, and you'll see every stage in your tracker.

30Do you watch production?

Yes. At stage 5, Production check, we monitor production and inspect the goods.

31Do Chinese factory holidays affect my order?

They can. Factories close for Chinese New Year and Golden Week, so we plan lead times around those closures.

Shipping, customs and duties

32Do you handle shipping?

Yes, as a separate service. We can take care of shipping, handling and duties from China to the United States.

33What paperwork comes with my shipment?

At stage 6, Shipped, your goods are sealed, loaded and on their way, with the documents to prove it.

34Who pays customs duties, and how much are they?

Duties depend on the product and where it's going, and they're set by the importing country's customs authority, not by us. A licensed customs broker or the official authority, like US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), can tell you what applies. For shipments from China to the United States, we can take care of duties as part of our separate shipping service.

Community Container

35What's a Community Container?

If you're not ready to fill a whole container, you can share the space with other businesses shipping on the same route. Each business's order is researched and quality-checked on its own.

36Will I see a price before I join a shared container?

No. Your price comes only after your item has been researched and quality-checked, the same as any order with us. That's stage 4, Verified quote.

37When is the next shared container, and how is space split?

Space is counted in businesses or cartons. We offer full containers, partial containers and refrigerated containers.

Beat My Supplier

38What is Beat My Supplier?

Send us your product and your current supplier's quote. We'll research the same item ourselves, check the factory and the quality, and tell you honestly whether we can beat it, match it with more checks, or whether your deal is already good.

39Do I have to upload my supplier's quote, and will my supplier find out?

No, the quote is optional. It helps us compare like for like, and you can cover your supplier's name. We don't contact your supplier, and your document is only seen by our team.

40How much will I save?

We can't know before we research it, and we won't guess. We never guarantee savings, but you'll get an honest answer either way.

Payment and deposits

41How do payment and deposits work?

Your price comes only at stage 4, Verified quote, after research and quality checks.

Buyers in the US, Belgium and Israel

42Do you work with buyers outside the US, like in Belgium or Israel?

Yes. We work with buyers in the US, Israel and Belgium.

43I'm importing into Belgium or Israel. What about duties and rules there?

It depends on the product and the destination. Duties and import rules are set by the importing country's customs, so check with a customs broker or the official authority: EU or Belgian customs, or Israel Tax Authority customs.

Talking to us

44How do I reach you, and how fast do you reply?

Message us on WhatsApp at +1 347-843-9811 or email [email protected]. We reply between 8 AM and 6 PM, Sunday to Friday, and after you send a request you can send it on WhatsApp too, with your SCD- number already filled in.