China Sourcing Agent FAQ Buy Agent China| BAC SOURCING

Save your time — browse our 5-minute FAQ for quick answers.

General & Service Basics

1. How are you different from a typical trading company? Do you mark up factory prices?

We operate as a pure third-party China purchasing and sourcing agency. We do not own factories, hold inventory, or sell products directly. Our revenue comes exclusively from standardized service fees. We guarantee zero price markups and zero factory kickbacks across all services, with full price transparency — you will always see the factory’s original quotations and invoices.

No.ItemRemarks
1Your Country
2Purchasing industry & products
3Specific requirementsPlease attach detailed specs, product links or reference pictures if available
4Order quantity
5Budget
2. Do you handle orders under $1,000 from Taobao or 1688?

Yes. We support Taobao purchasing for personal retail orders under $1,000, and 1688 wholesale orders between $1,000 and $5,000. Step-by-step guides are available for both channels; you may follow the beginner guide to place your order.

Please click the link below to view our step-by-step guide:

3. Does your service include customs clearance and import duties?

Our logistics coordination service covers sea/air freight booking, HS code classification, document verification, and customs clearance assistance. However, official charges such as import duties, destination port fees and taxes are borne by the buyer. We can provide cost estimates and compliance recommendations upon request.

Service Plan Selection

4. I’m new to sourcing from China. Which plan should I choose?
  • If you are just exploring the market and want to check supplier options and pricing with low risk, we recommend the Entry Plan ($29), which delivers a vetted supplier list and professional assessment.
  • If you are ready to source and want direct access to factory floor pricing, go for the Fixed-Fee DIVE Plan ($140), after which you can communicate directly with factories.
  • If you want a fully hands-off, end-to-end solution, choose the Growth Plan for full-service management from sourcing to delivery.

Please click the link below to view our Services Plan

5. I already have existing Chinese suppliers. Can I still use your services?

Yes. Our Basic Service Plan is designed for this scenario. We handle production progress tracking, pre-shipment quality inspection, logistics coordination and after-sales support. Note that this plan does not include new supplier sourcing, price negotiation, or order escrow management.

Please click the link below to view our Services Plan

6. Do the Entry Plan and DIVE Plan include order follow-up and production monitoring?

No. The Entry Plan and Fixed-Fee DIVE Plan are supplier sourcing and quotation services only. Once we deliver the supplier list and supporting documents, all subsequent negotiation, ordering, production tracking and logistics are handled directly between you and the factories. We assume no responsibility for downstream purchasing or fulfillment.

7. What exactly is included in the Growth Plan full-service package?

The Growth Plan covers the complete 8-step procurement workflow: Supplier Sourcing → Sample Arrangement → Price Negotiation → Order Placement (Escrow) → Production Monitoring → Pre-shipment AQL 2.5 Inspection → Logistics Coordination → After-sales Support, with full transparency and traceability. It also includes escrow payment protection: factories are only paid after your order passes on-site quality inspection.

Pricing & Fees

8. How is the commission calculated? Is there a minimum service fee?
  1. Commission is charged as a tiered percentage of the total order value:
  • Basic Service: 5% for orders $5,000–$30,000; 4% for $30,000–$100,000; 3% for orders over $100,000. Minimum fee: $220.
  • Growth Plan: 8% for orders $5,000–$30,000; 6% for $30,000–$100,000; 5% for orders over $100,000. Minimum fee: $280.

The minimum service fee applies regardless of whether the order is ultimately completed. If the calculated commission is lower than the minimum fee, the minimum fee will be charged.

9. How much does an on-site factory visit cost, and what is included?

On-site factory visits are charged at $170 per person per working day. The service includes on-site negotiation support, production line inspection, dedicated interpreter accompaniment, and local ground transportation. There are no hidden fees and no factory kickbacks.
This is a standalone add-on service and is not included in base commission plans. If your final order commission exceeds the combined cost of service fees plus factory visit fees, only the standard commission will be charged.

10. How much does a standalone pre-shipment quality inspection cost?

A standalone on-site pre-shipment inspection costs $200 per session, including factory on-site audit, AQL standard sampling, a detailed inspection report, and defect photos. If you are on the Basic Service or Growth Plan, quality inspection is already included in your commission at no extra charge.

11. Can I get a refund after paying for a sourcing plan?

No. All sourcing plan fees cover labor and research costs, and are non-refundable once payment is confirmed and work has commenced. If you later upgrade to the Fixed-Fee Plan or Growth Plan, the $29 Entry Plan fee can be credited toward your upgrade.

12. Can you find suppliers for me for free first?

We do not offer free supplier sourcing. All factory research and matching work begins only after you confirm your selected plan and complete the upfront payment. Our Entry Plan at $29 is a low-risk way to get started.

Process & Guarantees

13. How long will it take to receive my supplier list after payment?

Both the Entry Plan and Fixed-Fee DIVE Plan are delivered within 3–5 business days, including the supplier list, quotation details, production lead times, and professional assessment recommendations.

14. How is my payment protected? Will money be sent directly to the factory?

If you choose the Growth Plan, we use an escrow payment model: your payment is held in a secure escrow account, and funds are only released to the factory after production is completed and passes our on-site quality inspection, ensuring your capital is protected throughout the process.

15. What happens if there are quality issues after I receive the goods?

We provide after-sales support to assist you in communicating with factories regarding quality disputes and rework requests. If a batch quality issue is verified to be caused by our negligence, we will refund the corresponding service fee for that order. For issues caused by factory production errors, we will fully assist you in resolving the dispute, but we are not liable for product value losses.

16. How do you perform quality inspections? Can you guarantee zero defects?

We follow the international standard AQL 2.5 sampling inspection protocol, conducting on-site random inspections at the factory before shipment and issuing a detailed report with defect photos. Sampling significantly reduces defect rates but cannot guarantee 100% zero defects. Full inspection services are available as a custom solution upon request.

Membership Plans

17. Who are the membership plans designed for?

Membership plans are designed for importers with ongoing, recurring sourcing needs. They deliver significantly reduced service costs, plus exclusive benefits such as a dedicated account manager, priority scheduling, and supply chain consulting.
Please click the link below to view our Membership plans (In the end of this page)

18. Do unused monthly sourcing credits roll over to the next month?

No. Free monthly deep sourcing credits included with membership expire at the end of each month and cannot be accumulated or carried forward.

19. Are membership fees refundable? Do they cover factory costs and shipping?

Membership fees are fixed-term service fees and are non-refundable once paid. Membership fees cover only service benefits; third-party costs such as factory payments, freight charges, and inspection fees are billed separately and are not included in the membership fee.

Contact & Support

20. How can I contact your team directly for my sourcing project?

You can reach our team via WhatsApp at +86 18889605489 or send an email to buyagentchina@gmail.com. We also offer a free 15-minute one-on-one consultation to go over your product requirements, plan selection and full sourcing roadmap — you are welcome to book a slot with us anytime.

21. How fast will I get a reply, and what are your working hours?

We operate on GMT+8 (China Standard Time) and typically respond to all WhatsApp and email inquiries within 2–12 business hours. For time-sensitive projects or urgent issues, we recommend contacting us via WhatsApp for the fastest response.

22. Will I have a dedicated point of contact for my orders?

Yes. All membership clients are assigned a dedicated account manager to handle your ongoing sourcing needs. For one-time project clients, dedicated account support is automatically included with the Growth Plan and all on-site factory visit services.

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