How to Find Real Suppliers (Not the 50 Middlemen Pretending to Be Factories)
2025-02-25
You message 30 suppliers on Alibaba. You get 28 responses, all enthusiastic. All claiming to be "professional manufacturer with 10 years experience."
Most of them are lying.
The sourcing landscape in China is dominated by trading companies — middlemen who buy from actual factories and resell at a markup. They're not evil. But they add a layer of cost and complexity you don't need when you're starting out.
The signs that tell you immediately:
1. No factory photos, only product photos. Real factories show production lines. Trading companies show product catalogues. 2. MOQs suspiciously low AND high. Factories have real MOQs based on production economics. A company offering 1 unit AND 100,000 units is almost certainly a trader. 3. They can make "anything." Specialization is a sign of a real manufacturer. If they tell you they can source "any product," they're a middleman.
Unlock the full post + action checklist
Members get the full breakdown, the action checklist, and access to all 12+ articles.
Already have access? Sign in