Gemu RF

From 1688 to Factory Direct: 6 Questions to Vet a Chinese RF Supplier

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by

曼多
in

Excerpt: The 6 questions that separate a real Chinese RF manufacturer from a 1688 trading company. What to ask in the first 10 minutes, what answers signal which type of supplier, and the red flags that mean walk away.

Introduction

The 1688 / Alibaba sourcing experience is fine for samples. For 500-piece MOQs and ongoing supply, you need a factory, not a trading company. Six questions will reveal which one you’re talking to.

Question 1 — ‘Do you own the PCBA design, or do you source from a third-party PCB house?’

Factory answer: ‘Our 15-person R&D team designs the schematics and layout; we send Gerbers to a long-term PCB house for fabrication.’ Trading company answer: ‘We work with several factories, you can pick whichever you prefer.’ The first answer means you have IP, BOM, and version control. The second means the trading company has none of these.

Question 2 — ‘Can I see the test report for CE-RED / FCC Part 15 / RCM for a representative SKU?’

Factory answer: attaches a PDF test report within 24 hours, with a DoC that names a specific lab. Trading company answer: ‘We have all the certificates, just let us know which one you need.’ If a supplier cannot produce a test report for a specific SKU family in writing, do not buy.

Question 3 — ‘What is your 100% functional test process?’

Factory answer: ‘Every unit is paired to a reference receiver and tested for TX/RX before packaging. AQL 5% sampling on incoming inspection at the buyer side.’ Trading company answer: ‘We do visual inspection.’ Visual inspection catches cosmetic defects. It does not catch dead transmitters.

Question 4 — ‘How many active SKUs do you produce per year?’

Factory answer: a specific number, like ’30 SKUs in current production, 8 new SKUs added in 2025.’ Trading company answer: ‘We have 100+ models.’ 100+ models is a trading-company pattern — factories have a tighter portfolio. A factory that claims 300+ models is almost certainly a trading company.

Question 5 — ‘What is your typical lead time for a 500-piece repeat order?’

Factory answer: ’15-20 days from PO + 30% deposit.’ Trading company answer: ‘It depends, 30-45 days usually.’ Factory lead times are predictable because they control production. Trading company lead times depend on whether the underlying factory has capacity.

Question 6 — ‘Who owns the injection moulds for the housings?’

Factory answer: ‘We own the moulds. If you want a custom colour or logo, we can modify tooling in 15-20 days for an additional fee.’ Trading company answer: ‘We can do custom colours.’ If the supplier claims they can do custom colours but does not own the moulds, they are a middleman. You’ll find out the hard way when a reorder is 3 months late because the mould owner is busy with another customer.

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For factory pricing, sample kits, or compliance documentation, submit your inquiry at our Contact Form. Native English, German, and Spanish sales support; 4-hour response during UTC+8 working hours.

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