Frequently Asked Questions

SourceEyes is a small, real team based in Suzhou, in the heart of China’s Yangtze River Delta manufacturing belt — one of the densest supplier clusters in the world. SourceEyes is not a call center; you work with the same person from inquiry to delivery.

SourceEyes helps international buyers with importing from China: supplier research and vetting, factory audits, price negotiation, sample management, quality inspections (mid-production and pre-shipment), and logistics coordination. You pay the factory directly — SourceEyes never adds hidden markups. In short, SourceEyes makes importing from China run smoothly — from the first factory visit to the last box on the ship.

Alibaba is a directory; SourceEyes is on the ground. SourceEyes physically visits factories, verifies that they exist and can actually do the job, and inspects your goods against your approved sample before they ship. A trading company resells products; SourceEyes works for you and reports honestly — even when the news is not good.

SourceEyes offers flexible models: a flat fee per project, commission on order value, a daily rate for on-site support, or a monthly retainer for ongoing buyers. Every model is explained on our pricing page, and there are no hidden costs. The first collaboration starts from just $20.

It is a small commitment fee so SourceEyes can test working together with you on one small task — for example, checking a supplier, taking photos, or verifying a quote. It is fully deductible from your first paid project.

You pay the factory directly, usually 30% deposit and 70% before shipment, or via letter of credit for larger orders. SourceEyes never holds your funds and never marks up the factory price. When you are importing from China for the first time, it also puts you in control of when the money moves.

Yes. SourceEyes audits factories before you commit (capacity, legitimacy, quality systems) and inspects your goods during and after production — including pre-shipment inspections and container-loading supervision, with photo evidence and an honest report. That is what importing from China looks like when it is done properly. For most first-time buyers, this is the difference between a smooth import from China and an expensive lesson.

Yes — and this is how most of our clients work. SourceEyes acts as your eyes and ears on the ground: factories are vetted in person, samples are confirmed by video call, and your goods are inspected against the approved sample before they ship. In most cases you can start importing from China safely without ever visiting — you just need someone local you can trust, plus written evidence at every step. Our guide to importing from China without visiting walks through the seven safeguards in detail.

The Yangtze River Delta cluster covers machinery, electronics, hardware, packaging, furniture, kitchen equipment, consumer goods, and more. If it is made in the region, SourceEyes can find, verify and check it. If your product is made elsewhere in China, SourceEyes can still help via its factory network.

SourceEyes coordinates packing, forwarders and export documents, and makes sure the right goods are loaded. You choose the Incoterms; your freight forwarder or customs broker handles clearance on your side.

A real person replies within 24 hours on business days. All inquiries and project information are treated as strictly confidential — SourceEyes never shares your details or your projects with third parties.