How we protect your money
The real question when working with an agency you do not know is not what it charges. It is why you should transfer money to a company on the other side of the world. This page answers that.
Short answer
How is the buyer's money protected when importing from China?
Protection is built from three specific controls: paying in stages so that the balance is released only after you approve an inspection report on the finished production, always paying into the supplier company's bank account and never into a personal account, and getting the commission agreement in writing, with what it includes and what it does not, before the first order. None of the three removes the risk entirely, but together they reduce it to the level most importers consider acceptable, and all three are verifiable by you.
Your money does not reach the factory before the product exists
Payment is made in two stages: a deposit that covers materials and production, and the balance before shipment. The balance is not released until you approve the inspection report on the finished production. If the batch does not meet spec, the factory corrects it or produces again while the balance money is still in play.
We always pay into the supplier company's account
Never into a personal account, never in the name of a company other than the one that appears on the contract and signs the invoice. When a supplier asks for an account change in the middle of an order, we verify it through an independent channel before moving a single dollar. It is the most frequent warning sign of compromised-email fraud.
You see the factory invoice, not an invented price
We hand you the factory invoice exactly as we receive it, and our commission is itemised separately. This has a practical consequence beyond transparency: if the factory price were inflated, you would see it, because you would be comparing it against the original document.
The commission agreement is in writing before the first order
The percentage, the volume tiers, what is included and what is invoiced separately are all set down in writing before you buy anything. No line items that appear later and no charges discovered on the final invoice.
We inspect before the goods leave China
Inspection happens at the factory, with the goods still in the country and the balance still unpaid. That is the only moment at which real leverage over the supplier exists. Once the cargo has left, negotiation is conducted from a much weaker position, and we prefer not to get there.
If something fails, we claim in China with the goods in front of us
When a defect appears, we are the ones negotiating with the factory, in Mandarin, with the production in front of us and the long-term commercial relationship as leverage. You receive the report with photographs and a recommendation, and you decide.
What we cannot promise
We would rather say it up front than hint at it afterwards. We cannot guarantee that a factory will always comply, because no agency can. We cannot guarantee production lead times when there is a supply chain disruption, a national holiday or a customs inspection at destination. We do not take on the commercial risk of your inventory and we are not responsible for the tax decisions you take as an importer.
What we do is reduce each of those risks with prior verification, inspection before payment and a structure in which your money moves in parallel with the product, not ahead of it. A logistics provider that guarantees you zero failures is selling you something that does not exist.
Customs and tax notice
Everything we publish about tariffs, VAT, ICMS, NOM, Inmetro, NCM, customs entries and import regimes is general information about how those mechanisms work, and we describe the process as we see it operate in our daily practice. It does not constitute tax, customs or legal advice. Rates, calculation bases and rules change frequently and depend on your particular situation as an importer. Clearance is always carried out through a customs broker or licensed clearing agent in the destination country, and the decisions about your tax regime are yours to take with your accountant and your customs broker.
Frequently asked questions about buyer protection
What happens if I pay and the factory does not produce?
The risk exists and we are not going to deny it. It is reduced in three ways: paying in stages instead of everything up front, always paying into the supplier company's account so that a legal claim is possible, and verifying before paying that the company exists, that its licence covers manufacturing and that the person signing is the registered owner. None of the three removes the risk entirely; the three together bring it down to a level most importers consider acceptable.
Can I use an escrow account?
Yes, and on large orders we recommend it. We work with the payment escrow platforms offered by the Chinese wholesale marketplaces themselves, and also with staged release agreements against an inspection report. If your bank or your lawyer prefers a specific structure, we review it before we start.
Can I hire an independent inspector who is not you?
Yes, and we do not treat it as a problem. You can hire a third party to inspect your order, or come and see it yourself. Our interest is that the order goes well; if an external inspection gives you peace of mind, that suits us too.
What happens if the goods arrive damaged at destination?
It is documented on unloading with photographs and a claim is opened against the carrier or against the insurer. That is why the packing list and the loading photographs matter: they are the evidence of how the goods left origin. On high-value loads we recommend taking out transport insurance, and we tell you so before shipping.
Can I speak to a current client before deciding?
Yes. When you ask, we put you in touch with clients already working with us in your category or in your market, so that you can ask whatever you like without us in the middle. We ask their permission first, so the answer can take a day or two.
Do you sign a contract?
Yes. We issue a written service agreement covering the scope, the commission, the stages, what is invoiced separately and the process in the event of a discrepancy. For volume orders, we also sign a purchase contract with the factory in your name or with us as declared intermediaries, whichever you prefer.
Before you transfer anything, let's talk
We can do a video call, show you the warehouse and introduce you to the person who will handle your account. If you still have doubts after that, it is better that we do not work together.
We reply within 24 business hours. See how the process works