What a sourcing agent in China should do for you, the main fee models, the warning signs of hidden commissions and the questions to ask before you hire one.
A sourcing agent can save you months and protect you from bad suppliers, or add a hidden layer of cost you never see. The difference lies in what the agent does, how it gets paid and how transparent it is. This article helps you tell them apart.
What a good agent does
- Finds and compares suppliers based on your specification.
- Verifies the companies: licenses, capacity and documents.
- Negotiates price, MOQ, payment terms and lead times.
- Coordinates samples and consolidates them before shipping.
- Follows up production and organizes inspections.
- Coordinates shipping, documents and customs.
- Communicates clearly in your language and with the factory in Chinese.
Not every agent does all of this. Ask exactly which steps are included.
How agents get paid
- Percentage of the order value: common and simple, but check what it covers.
- Fixed fee per service or project: predictable and easy to compare.
- Monthly retainer: suits continuous work with many products.
- Commission from the supplier: the agent is paid by the factory, hidden in your price.
The last model is the one to watch: an agent paid by the supplier is not fully on your side. They may favor the supplier who pays them best instead of the best supplier for you.
Questions to ask before hiring
- What exactly is included, and what is charged separately?
- Do you receive any commission or payment from suppliers?
- Will I know the supplier’s identity and receive its original quote?
- Can I pay the supplier directly?
- How do you report on production and inspections? With photos, videos and reports?
- What happens if the goods fail inspection?
Warning signs
- Refusing to reveal who the supplier is.
- Prices that cannot be checked against the original quote.
- Asking you to pay everything to the agent’s personal account.
- No written contract or service terms.
- Vague answers to how they are paid.
Agent, trading company or import service?
The lines are blurry. A trading company buys and resells, earning a margin. An agent works on your behalf for a fee. An end-to-end import service coordinates the full chain, from supplier to delivery, under one process. What matters is not the label but transparency: you should know what you pay for and to whom.
How Zyntral works
Zyntral works with clear costs: what we quote is what you pay, with no hidden commissions. You can use one service, such as price negotiation or sample management, or the full End to End import service.
To compare other ways to buy from China, read 10 ways to import from China.
