If you want to import from China you will at one stage or another go through a ‘sampling process’.

How To Obtain Samples From A Chinese Manufacturer

You should always check the quality of the products you’re going to import from a Chinese manufacturer before placing a large order. The best way to do this is to ask for samples. If you want to manufacture a product from a prototype, it gets even trickier, but there are a few steps which you can take in order to make sure that the products you’ll be importing will be according to your standards.

Before finding the right supplier, have a domestic source make a prototype for you. Choosing a domestic source for making the prototype will spare you of shipping costs and will give you more control on getting the product that you’ve designed. You can have a prototype for the whole product, or for its components. Once you have the right prototype, it’s time to look for possible suppliers.

Look for suppliers that would be fit to manufacture your product. You can do this via the Internet or by contracting an import sourcing company. Using an import sourcing company might come in handy as they already know the market and can make your search easier.

Shortlist a few suppliers and contact them to tell them about your product and to get an initial cost estimation. Ask for samples from the suppliers and pay attention to some of these details:

- How long it takes for them to respond to your request.
- The professionalism of the employees you are in contact with.
- The ease with which it appears you can do business with them.
- Shipping time to receive the samples.

You will need a reliable supplier that is easy to communicate with and that is professional in all aspects of the business. Once you get the samples, carefully check the quality of the product and the packaging. Be aware that asking for samples is not free. You will have to pay the manufacturer of the sample and for the shipment. Even if it gets costly, you have to spend some money in order to make sure that you will get quality goods.

You will have to negotiate a sample making agreement with the suppliers. It should contain a description of the product, with as many details as possible, shipment arrangements and pricing specifications. The document should protect both you and the supplier and should clearly determine the role of each part involved in the process.

Once you get the samples, you will be able to make a decision on which supplier to go forward with.