"The supplier is asking for a 30% deposit before production — should I send the money?" This is the question every first-time importer eventually asks. The real answer isn't about the deposit percentage — it's whether you actually know who that supplier is.

Why Verification Matters Before You Order

A polished website, a professional catalogue, or fast email replies don't guarantee a supplier is a real factory with the production capability it claims. Many turn out to be trading middlemen posing as manufacturers — or, in the worst cases, fraudulent accounts set up purely to collect a deposit and disappear.

What Supplier Verification Includes

  • Check the company's business license and legal standing
  • Verify the factory address actually exists — not just a representative office
  • Assess real production capability: machinery, scale, staffing
  • Check export history and past clients where possible
  • Distinguish a real factory from a trading company posing as one

Factory Audit — When You Need One

For high-value orders, products requiring tight technical standards, or a brand-new supplier with no transaction history, an on-site Factory Audit gives you an accurate read on the production line, internal quality-control process, and labor/compliance conditions before you commit to a long-term order.

After Ordering: Checking Goods Before You Pay

Supplier verification doesn't stop at partner selection — DA Global Sourcing can also run Pre-Shipment Inspection, supervise container loading, and check quantity/packaging/labeling before the balance payment is released, reducing the risk of receiving goods that don't match what was agreed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 30% deposit request safe?
It's a common industry norm, but funds should only be sent after the supplier has been verified as real and genuinely capable of the production claimed.

How do I know if an overseas company is real?
Combine a business-license check, physical address verification, and, where warranted, an on-site Factory Audit — don't rely on a website or catalogue alone.

Is this verification service specific to China, or any country?
It applies to any country within DA Global Sourcing's sourcing network, not limited to one market.