How to pay a Yiwu supplier safely

1. Get a proforma invoice first

A PI lists the product, specification, quantity, unit price, packing, delivery date, payment terms and the bank account. It is your contract — check every line before paying anything.

2. Deposit, then balance after the check

The common pattern is 30% deposit to start production and 70% before shipping. Pay the balance after the goods have been counted and compared with the approved sample, not before.

3. Pay the company, not a person

• The account name should match the company on the business registration (18-digit Unified Social Credit Code).
• Small booths sometimes ask for a personal account. Ask why; if you do it, keep the amount small and get it in writing.

4. Treat “new bank details” as a red flag

Email account takeovers are a known fraud in trade: a criminal sends a real-looking invoice with new bank details. Confirm any change by phone on a number you already had.

5. Choose a payment method for the size of order

• Bank transfer (T/T) — standard for orders of a few thousand dollars and up; fixed bank fees.
• Platform payment — on Alibaba.com, Trade Assurance holds the money under the platform’s rules.
• Through your agent — you pay the agent; the agent pays suppliers in RMB and handles deposits and balances.

How we handle payment

You approve each supplier’s own quotation. You pay us the 30% deposit for the goods plus our fee; we pay suppliers. The 70% balance is due after the goods are checked in Yiwu and you have seen the photos and video.

General trade practice; see also how to check a Yiwu supplier yourself.