How to Quickly Judge If a Supplier Is Reliable: A 2-Minute Checklist
- 03/18/2021
- Posted by: Charles.YANG
- Category: Knowledge Sharing
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How to Quickly Judge If a Supplier Is Reliable: A 2-Minute Checklist
You found a new supplier. Their brochure looks great. Their price seems fair.
Now comes the real question:
Can I trust them?
Here’s a fast, field-tested checklist you can use in under 2 minutes—especially useful before issuing that first PO.
The 8-Point Reliability Check
| # | Checkpoint | What to Look For |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business License | Match the name, type & legal person with the bank info |
| 2 | Factory Photos | Must be recent, not catalog-style; look for people, layout, real activity |
| 3 | Response Logic | Do they just say “yes”? Or explain how they’ll do it? |
| 4 | Quote Consistency | Is the lead time & MOQ realistic—or copy-pasted? |
| 5 | Certs with Validity | ISO/CE/FDA—double check date & issuing body |
| 6 | Reference Transparency | Will they name real clients or vague “overseas buyers”? |
| 7 | Account Type | Avoid personal bank accounts unless justified |
| 8 | Quality Ownership | Ask: “Who signs off on outgoing QC?”—the answer reveals a lot |
Remote Consulting: What Works
This case confirmed a few things we’ve learned over the years:
- Screensharing is better than PowerPoint
- Real-time registry checks (like Qichacha, Tianyancha) expose shell entities fast
- Suppliers who hesitate to show floor photos = risk signal
- Asking “Can I speak to your quality manager?” in a first call is a great stress test
Pro Tip
Ask this in your first call:
“Can you show me a product you shipped this month and walk me through the process?”
Reliable suppliers will either happily screen-share or tell you when they can.
Suspicious ones will panic, delay, or disappear.
“The best suppliers don’t just sell—they show.”
— Stefan.BOHN