Can you find suppliers without coming to China?
Yes. But finding and verifying are two different things; this piece is only about finding.
Remember one ratio first: for every 10 you find online, no more than 3 normally reach the second round. That is not your fault; the channels themselves carry noise.
There are four channels, each with its own flaw
| Channel | What you can get | The flaw |
|---|---|---|
| B2B platforms (Alibaba.com, Made-in-China and the like) | A large number of suppliers, product catalogues, some with certification information | Crowded with lookalikes, and many are trading companies posing as factories |
| 1688 / Taobao | Domestic wholesale prices; you can see roughly what "this thing costs" | Mainly domestic; most do not export |
| Google search | Independent websites, factory websites | The ones ranking highest are often trading companies |
| You can reach buyers or owners directly | Low reply rate; you have to know how to write |
No channel is clean. Use all four and cross-check.
How do you use B2B platforms without wasting time?
Three moves.
① Look at what it sells, not at what you searched for. Search "storage box" and up comes a pile of shops that sell everything — the ones that sell everything are mostly trading companies. A real factory in this category has a narrow product line.
② Look at its product photos. Factory photos are usually shot on the floor, on the line, in the sample room; trading-company photos are usually white-background renders.
③ Look at when it was founded. The platform shows "years as a member" — one year and ten years are not the same thing. But an old member can still be a trading company; it only means it has not run off.
How do you use 1688?
Its greatest value is not finding suppliers; it is seeing the price band.
For the same product, roughly what wholesale range 1688 shows — that helps you judge whether an export quote is reasonable.
But note:
- On 1688, whether the price includes tax and includes shipping varies
- Many 1688 sellers do not export (no export licence, no customs declaration, no foreign exchange)
- Do not take a 1688 price straight to an export supplier to beat them down — the two have different cost structures
How do you use Google without being fooled by trading companies?
Two techniques.
① Search "product + manufacturer / factory", not "supplier". Anyone can use "supplier"; "manufacturer" is at least a claim (even if it can be false).
② Look at the website structure. Factory websites often have: photos of the line, a list of equipment, workshop video, an address you can find on a map. Trading-company websites often have: a very full product range, no production line, an address in an office block.
⚠️ But "a website that looks like a factory" does not mean "it is a factory" — that needs the next round of checking (see the next piece).
How do you use LinkedIn?
It finds "people", not "companies".
How to do it:
- Search the product keyword + "purchasing" / "sourcing" / "owner"
- Look at the profile: has he been at one factory for years, or does he change companies often?
- Send a message: short, specific, not a mass mailing
A low reply rate on LinkedIn is normal — send 20, get 3–5 back, that is normal.
How do you screen the first round (10 down to 3)
Four questions, and after them you know whether to keep talking.
| # | What to ask | What counts as passing |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Are you a factory or a trading company?" | If they say "factory", go to the next question; if they say "trading company", that is not necessarily bad (some trading companies give better service) |
| 2 | "Which steps of this product do you do yourselves?" | Being able to say which steps you do and which are subcontracted means they really know; saying "we do all of it" means either a genuinely big factory or that they do not understand |
| 3 | "Can you send a photo of the workshop?" | If they can, they at least have a workshop; if they cannot, they are basically a trading company |
| 4 | "Which countries do you export to?" | Naming specific countries means they have exported; saying only "many countries" calls for caution |
You do not have to ask all four at once — split them over two rounds, like a conversation.
Common traps
① A "gold supplier" badge on a platform does not mean reliable —— it is a paid label, not a quality certification.
② When a quote is very low, ask "what does it include" first —— a low price is often "no certification / no packaging / no testing".
③ Someone who will only chat on WeChat/WhatsApp and will not send company documents —— be careful. A legitimate company is not afraid to give you its business licence and bank details.
④ Anyone who says "we can make anything" —— if they can make anything, they are usually good at nothing.
Sources (2026-10-31)
| Item | Nature | Note |
|---|---|---|
| The pros and cons of the four channels | ⚠️ Common experience | No official statistics |
| The "10 down to 3" ratio | ⚠️ Rule of thumb | Not a statistical conclusion; a common range |
| Most 1688 sellers do not export | ⚠️ Common experience | The platform is positioned as domestic wholesale |
Note: this piece is about how to find; the next one is about how to verify (video factory audits, third parties, samples).
This piece does not cover trade shows — a trade show needs you there in person, which belongs to the "coming to China" path.
Sourcing remotely and not sure whether a supplier is real? Send us the product and we will tell you what to check first → Request a quote