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Supplier risk check for China sourcing

What are the possible risks? Just tell me. Ten problems come up most often before a buyer commits. Each has a one-line check you can do yourself, and the checker below turns what you verified into questions for your supplier.

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Written for 1688 listings. The same questions work for an Alibaba supplier or a stall in Yiwu.

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The ten risks we see most often

If missed, costs you:High: the order or the goodsMedium: time or marginLow: freight or clarity
  1. 01Trading company presented as a factoryMediumAsk for the business licence and compare the registered scope and address with the shop name.
  2. 02Photos that are not the real productMediumRun an image search on the main photo and ask for a short live video of the item on a desk.
  3. 03Price that only covers the smallest variantLowPick your exact SKU on the page and ask the seller to confirm its unit price in chat.
  4. 04MOQ that changes after you askMediumAsk the seller to write the MOQ for your exact SKU and pack unit in one message.
  5. 05Stock shown but not really heldMediumAsk for the ship date for your quantity and whether goods are already packed.
  6. 06Missing or borrowed certificatesHighCheck that the company name and model number on the report match this seller and this item.
  7. 07Carton size and weight not statedLowRequest carton dimensions, units per carton and gross weight before you compare shipping.
  8. 08Payment to a different nameHighPay through 1688 checkout, or confirm the bank account name matches the licensed company.
  9. 09Thin trading historyLowLook at shop age, repeat buyer rate and recent reviews that mention your product type.
  10. 10Brand or IP riskHighSearch the design and logo in your target market before ordering, and avoid branded lookalikes.

Severity is our own judgement of what a miss costs, not a measured rate.

Check the seller behind a 1688 listing

Paste the exact listing you might buy from. The screen compares the seller's signals with similar listings. It does not prove factory status or product quality.

Supplier risk checker

Check the supplier you are considering

Start with the exact 1688 listing. Other clues can find product matches, but no supplier is scored until you choose one.

Product clue

Find and confirm the exact 1688 product before checking supplier risk

Start from a product link, image or name and pick the exact 1688 listing. Matching the product does not verify the seller, so run the supplier check only after you have made that selection.

1688AmazonShopifyAliExpressTikTok ShopOther product linksImageProduct name

A product match is not supplier verification. No check, contact, order or payment starts until you press the supplier-check button.

Bring one supplier into focus

Paste the listing you may pay. We show the measured signals and any missing evidence, plus what still needs human verification.

This is an indicative screen. It does not rule a supplier safe or a scam, and it does not endorse anyone.

Listing and seller signals do not prove the quality or consistency of your batch.

Only fields explicitly marked 30d use a 30-day window. Other fields use platform-defined or tenure data.

Next step

Want us to check the supplier for you?

The screen reads what 1688 shows. For the business licence, factory claims or samples, our team looks at it by hand.

BobbyBobby reads every requestWe reply within one business day

Free supplier check

Send the listing. Our Yiwu team checks who the seller is and what the listing leaves out, then writes back before you pay anyone. The check is free.

Get a free supplier check →
Colours compare, they do not judgeEach signal is compared with similar 1688 listings. Red means this seller scores well below most of them on that signal.
A blank field is a questionMissing means 1688 did not show it. Ask the supplier for it before you pay.
It is not a verdictEven a clean result leaves open whether the seller makes the goods and whether your batch will be good. Weak signals are a reason to ask, not proof of fraud.
Turn weak signals into questionsAsk for the business licence and a short video of the product. Check that the licence name matches the shop name.

Supplier risk questions

Can someone check a supplier for me?

Yes. This free screen reads the listing and shop signals that 1688 shows. For the business licence, factory claims or samples, ask for our free supplier check and our team looks at it by hand.

Is this a factory audit?

No. It reads what the 1688 listing and shop page show. It does not visit a factory or test certificates, and it does not inspect your goods.

Are 1688 suppliers always factories?

No. 1688 has factories, trading companies and resellers. A factory badge is a signal to check, not proof. Ask for the business licence and compare the registered scope with the product.

How do I avoid 1688 supplier scams?

Watch for a price far below similar listings and pressure to pay outside 1688 or to a personal account. A shop with no company name is a warning sign too. So is a seller who will not send samples or certificates. Keep payment on 1688 and pay only after the supplier has answered your questions.

What should I do if the risk looks high?

Pause before paying. Use the weak signals as questions for the supplier, or start with a sample. A high result is a warning. It does not prove fraud.

Which products need extra checks even from a real supplier?

Branded look-alikes and goods with batteries or liquids need extra checks. So do cosmetics and anything that touches food. A real supplier does not make them allowed to ship. We don't source toys or baby products.