Need help sourcing?
From China or somewhere else?
Transparency. Accountability. Communication.
Know who you’re dealing with, put the work in writing and make responsibilities clear. These principles guide the Sourcing Partner Network we’re building.
The Network is still in development.
Learn about the Sourcing Partner Network →Not ready to describe a sourcing need? Get Network updates only →
Live now: supplier screening
Already have a supplier in mind?
Search available company records, legal signals, US import activity and community reports before deciding what to check next.
You found a listing. Did you find the factory?
A low price, a reassuring badge, a helpful reply. Before you commit, look beyond the listing to the agreement, the delivery and what happens if something goes wrong.
The price gets your attention. The real cost comes later.
The listing looks like a bargain. Then your quantity, material, packaging and delivery requirements produce a very different quote. What were you comparing in the first place?
This is a Transparency problem.
You found a factory. Or someone using its photos.
Several sellers show the same production video. You still cannot tell who makes the goods, who you are paying, or who can fix a problem. A badge does not answer those questions for this order.
This is a Transparency problem.
Everything was agreed in chat. The order says something else.
Delivery included in the conversation. Different terms on the order. Your specifications scattered across messages. You thought you had one agreement; the records describe several.
This is a Communication problem.
You arranged an inspection. Now you have to fight for it.
Access is delayed, the booking is challenged, or you are asked to cancel. The check meant to give you confidence becomes another negotiation while your money is already committed.
This is a Transparency and Accountability problem.
They have your goods. Now the price changes.
Another freight charge. A different weight calculation. An unexplained handling fee. Once your order is sitting in someone else’s warehouse, challenging the bill becomes much harder.
This is a Transparency and Accountability problem.
The goods arrived. The product you paid for did not.
Damaged packaging, missing parts, a different model, or a machine that cannot do the agreed job. You have received something, but you still cannot use or sell it as intended.
This is an Accountability problem.
A refund is offered. Getting it can cost you again.
Return postage, packing, paperwork and unresolved fees can leave you choosing between an expensive return and a partial refund. Even recovering the purchase price may not recover what the order cost you.
This is a Transparency and Accountability problem.
Your case is closed. Is the seller still selling?
What happens after substantiated misconduct? Does the seller face consequences, and can the next buyer see the relevant history? A reassuring badge tells you little about how complaints were handled.
This is an Accountability problem.
These are the questions shaping the Sourcing Partner Network: who is involved, what was agreed and who is responsible when something changes.
Before you commit, make the important things clear.
Find out who you’re dealing with, what the order includes and which responsibilities need to be agreed in writing.
Check who you’re dealing with.
Review available company registry records, legal and court records, and community-reported concerns. Identify what still needs checking before you pay.
Check a supplier →See what similar products cost in China.
Explore domestic-market listings to put overseas quotes in context. Check specifications and quantities carefully. Local prices may exclude export services, international shipping and import charges.
Explore local-market prices →Work out the cost of getting it to you.
Estimate goods, freight and import charges using your assumptions. Identify missing costs before treating a quote as your final budget.
Estimate landed cost →Tell us where you need help.
Register your broad sourcing interest while the Network is in development. Detailed specifications can wait.
Register for early access →Sourcing Partner Network
We’re building a network for serious, responsible buyers and sourcing partners to work together on one-off assignments and ongoing sourcing relationships.
Clear expectations, shared accountability and no platform commission on partner service fees or goods transactions.
We plan a monthly Network subscription for buyers and partners. Prices are still to be decided.
Choose one or more countries you may want to source from. China is our first planned active source region; other selections help us decide where to expand.
Planned standards include permanent removal after one substantiated serious violation, with evidence review, an opportunity to respond and an appeal for mistakes. A shared IP address alone would not justify permanent removal.
Read the planned Network rules and standards →
Planned preview · Fictional data · Network still in development
The information behind a supplier check.
Start free. Add the help you need.
Explorer is free. Insider is US$24.99 per month for supplier checks and available research tools. Network access is separate and is not available yet.
- ✓ Check a few suppliers each day
- ✓ Preview registry records and export activity
- ✓ Estimate one landed cost for free
- ✓ Access suspected scam reports
- ✓ Pay-as-you-go supplier lookup ($14.99)
- ✓ Run unlimited supplier checks with full visibility
- ✓ Complete registry, export, and legal risk signals
- ✓ Know your true landed cost before you commit (unlimited uses)
- ✓ Full suspected scam reports and sourcing discoveries
- ✓ Full access to domestic factory verification results
- ✓ Unlimited supplier registry lookups included
Planned preview · Not available yet
Chaperoned
Extra help with the work and the working relationship.
Scope and price agreed separately
Optional human support to help buyers and partners put expectations in writing, communicate clearly and keep responsibilities visible.
The service is still being developed. It is not payment protection or a guarantee of the outcome.
Explore planned supportPlanned Network access
We plan a monthly subscription for buyers and partners, with no commission on partner service fees or goods transactions. Prices are still to be decided.
Compare available supplier tools
Compare available supplier tools
| Feature | Explorer | Insider |
|---|---|---|
| Supplier checks (search & preview) | Limited daily | Unlimited |
| Full supplier data (registry, export, risk signals) | Preview only | Full access |
| Supplier lookup (registry + legal records) | $14.99 each | Unlimited |
| Domestic factory verification results | Limited | Full access |
| Landed cost calculation | 1 free try | Unlimited |
What are you looking to source?
Tell us the kind of product and help you’re interested in. Detailed specifications can wait.
Register for early access →The Network is still in development. Sign up or sign in to register. Your 30 free days start when you activate your invitation once access is available to you.
Help buyers source? Explore becoming a sourcing partner →
Not ready to describe a sourcing need? Get Network updates only →