There are two million suppliers on Alibaba. Every single one tells you "we are the best factory."
Who do you believe?
Beginner trap #1: Pick whoever quotes the lowest price. Trap #2: The sample looks great, so you place a bulk order. Trap #3: Bulk arrives and the color is off, the sizing is wrong, and the fabric feels nothing like the sample.
Good suppliers are not stumbled upon. Good suppliers are investigated like a detective on a case.
A quote is just the opening line. The real questions are: Have they manufactured your product category before? Can their capacity handle your volume? What's gone wrong in the past, and how did they handle it? Can you see an audit report?
I've spent 20 years in supply chains. Here's a truth I'll give you for free: every hour you invest in verifying a supplier saves you a hundred hours in after-sales disasters.
Your 3-step supplier verification checklist: ① Request business license + factory audit reports (BSCI / ISO / brand client references) ② Ask for a live factory video — the production floor, the warehouse, the QC station. Not the showroom. ③ Start with a test order. 200 units of proof beats 2,000 units of blind faith. Every time.