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Supplier negotiation

How to negotiate with Chinese suppliers

Most savings come from clear questions, not hard bargaining. Confirm the MOQ per variant and the price at your real quantity first. Then push on the terms that change your landed cost.

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Liam Cai · Founder, SupplymoSourcing team in Yiwu, China · six years sourcing from China

Supplymo supplier risk check interface — **Tool preview.**Check the seller, then put every supplier's answers in one table. The lowest unit price is often not the best offer.

We ask suppliers these questions every week in Yiwu. Use the list yourself, or send us the link and we ask in Chinese for you.

Questions before bargaining
Everything agreed in writing

What we ask

The questions we put to the supplier for you

Does the MOQ apply to the whole order, or to each color, size or model?
What is the price at my real quantity, and at the next tier up?
Can I buy a sample, and what does it cost?
Has anything changed from the listing, in material or packaging?
What is the freight to a warehouse in China?
What are the carton size, weight and units per carton?
What is the lead time, and is any of it in stock?
Which documents or test reports can you send?
How much deposit, and when is the balance due?
Is this quote for exactly the product in my link?

Let us ask for you

Send the link. We ask the supplier in Chinese.

Tell us the product, your quantity and where it ships. We ask the questions above, add freight and duty, and send a landed-cost quote. Quotes for 1–3 standard products usually take 24–48 hours.

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Tactics

Six things worth negotiating

The aim is a first order that arrives as agreed. Winning every discount matters less.

Split the MOQ

Ask whether the minimum applies per order or per variant. Mixing colors often gets a small first order under it.

Anchor on landed cost

Base your counter-offer on your landed cost and margin. A random discount request gets a random answer.

Compare the same product

Confirm material, size and packaging before you compare prices. A cheaper quote for a different product is not a saving.

Stage the payment

Ask for a deposit, with the balance due after an inspection. Small stock orders are often paid in full up front.

Get the carton data

Ask for carton size, weight and units per carton before you compare freight. Bulky packing can erase a lower price.

Know when to walk

Walk away when a supplier avoids proof or changes the material after quoting. Pressure to pay faster is the same signal.

When we do it for you

Brief, check, ask, compare, decide

You approve the quote before anything is ordered. We add no markup on supplier prices and take no supplier kickbacks.

1
Brief
A written brief
You send the product link, quantity, destination and target price
2
Check
What is missing
We look up the supplier's registration and check that the listing matches your product
3
Ask
The supplier's answers
We ask about price at your quantity, samples, packaging, lead time and payment terms, in Chinese
4
Compare
Landed cost per unit
We put the answers side by side and add freight and duty
5
Decide
Your call, in writing
You choose to order, test a sample, change the quantity or walk away

Honest limits

What we won't promise during negotiation

A guaranteed discount

A supplier may refuse a lower price, a lower MOQ or better payment terms

We report the answer as it is. We never invent a saving

Endless rounds of haggling

Some orders need ongoing follow-up with the factory

The questions for your quote are free. Follow-up is part of an order

Quality from a good reply

Friendly answers don't prove what production will look like

We keep samples and the arrival check in the plan

Payment without risk

Better terms improve your position but can't remove risk

We flag rushed payment and missing proof

A fixed landed cost

Freight, duty and carton data can change

We keep supplier terms and cost estimates separate

Every product category

Some products need tests or documents we can't verify

We stop and tell you what is needed before you pay

FAQ

Supplier negotiation questions

How do you negotiate with Chinese suppliers?

Start with questions, not a discount request. Confirm the MOQ per variant, the price at your real quantity and whether the quote matches your exact product. Then negotiate on the points that change your landed cost: tier price, packaging, carton size and payment timing.

Can Supplymo negotiate with a 1688 supplier for me?

Yes. Send the product link, your quantity and your target price. We contact the supplier in Chinese, ask the questions on this page and send you a landed-cost quote. The quote is free.

Does Supplymo guarantee a lower price?

No. We can ask and push, but a supplier may refuse a lower price, a lower MOQ or better payment terms. We report what they said, including when the answer is no.

What should I send before you contact the supplier?

The product or supplier link, your quantity, the destination and your target price. Add any supplier reply you already have. Carton data helps if you have it.

Is it rude to negotiate with Chinese suppliers?

No. Suppliers expect it. What goes badly is a hard discount demand with no volume behind it. A clear quantity, a realistic target and fast replies get better answers.

What if the supplier looks risky?

We tell you before you pay. If a supplier avoids proof, changes materials or pushes full payment up front, we may suggest testing one sample or walking away.

When should I order a sample instead of pushing on price?

When you are unsure about the material, size, color or packaging. A cheaper quote is not useful until the product itself is confirmed.

What does it cost if I order through Supplymo?

The quote and the supplier check are free. If you order, the service fee is 5% down to 3% of the goods value, with a $49 minimum. We add no markup on supplier prices and take no supplier kickbacks.

Want us to ask the supplier for you?

Send the product link and your quantity. We ask in Chinese, add freight and duty, and send a landed-cost quote. The quote is free.