China Sourcing Agent for Electronics
2 resources tagged with "China Sourcing Agent"
A China sourcing agent sits between you and the factory floor, handling supplier vetting, sample rounds, price negotiation, and pre-shipment QC so an overseas buyer never has to fly to Shenzhen to chase a delayed PCBA line. Pricing usually runs as a 5–8% commission on order value or a flat monthly retainer, and a good agent earns it on the first order by catching a non-compliant FCC/CE setup before it ships. The pages here compare how agents are structured and when one beats buying direct on Alibaba.
When you actually hire one, the value is in the parts you can't see from a quote: who owns the tooling, whether the "factory" is really a trading company, and whether QC is independent of the supplier. A common pitfall is paying commission to an agent who is quietly marking up the factory price too — always ask how they are compensated.
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FAQ
How much does a China sourcing agent cost?
Most charge a 5–8% commission on order value, or a flat monthly retainer of roughly $1,000–3,000 for ongoing programs. Project-based fixed fees also exist for one-off sourcing jobs.
When should I use a sourcing agent instead of Alibaba?
Alibaba is fine for repeat orders with a supplier you've already audited. Use an agent for new factories, custom electronics, FCC/CE certification, or orders above about $10,000 where a bad supplier choice is expensive to unwind.
Will an agent double-dip on commission and factory markup?
Some do. Ask directly how they are paid and whether they receive any kickback from the factory, and request the raw factory invoice so you can see the real unit price.
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