The Question Behind the Question
Most buyers evaluating a Chinese supplier ask about price and lead time first, because those are the numbers they can compare. Those two numbers are also the least predictive of whether the shipment will work. A supplier who quotes a month earlier and fifteen percent cheaper than the market is frequently quoting a board they bought in, not one they designed.
What predicts field quality is structural. Here are the nine signals worth asking for, in the order that gets the clearest answer.
The Nine Signals
| Signal | What it looks like | How to verify | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Own PCBA design | They designed the board, not a trading house | Can show a board revision history | Hardest to fake |
| Own housing tooling | They own the moulds | Can name the machine that presses the part | Enables private label |
| Test reports that ship | Documentation accompanies the batch | Model number on report matches the order | Prevents customs delay |
| 100% functional test | Every unit tested before packing | Stated as standard, not as an option | Cheaper than returns |
| Batch traceability | Date codes at batch level | Can trace a field query to a run | Needed for field issues |
| Named contact after the sale | Someone answers in eighteen months | Will give you a name and a direct line | Hardest to fake |
| Pre-shipment sample offered | Sample of the actual production batch | Not the sales sample | Cheapest insurance available |
| MOQ stated per SKU | Minimum applies per reference | Lets you spread the minimum | Shows supply depth |
| All terms quoted | EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP available | Explains the cost drivers | Indicates real cost structure |
The Question That Separates Manufacturers from Trading Companies
Ask who designed the PCBA. A manufacturer answers with a board revision history and can explain what changed in revision three. A trading company changes the supplier between orders and cannot answer at all. That single question resolves more uncertainty than any specification sheet.
Nine out of ten catalogues look identical on the front page. The difference is in what happens when you ask a question the catalogue does not answer.
What to Ask Before Placing a First Order
- Who designed the PCBA, and can you show the revision history?
- What test reports ship with the batch, and does the model number on the report match my purchase order?
- Can I have a pre-shipment sample of the actual production batch rather than the sales sample?
- Who do I contact in eighteen months when a field issue appears?
- What happens to my deposit if the batch fails inspection?
The last two matter more than the first three, because they describe the supplier’s behaviour under stress rather than under scrutiny.
Request a Quotation — Supplier Evaluation
Send your target market, product line and annual quantity. We reply with a written EXW quotation, MOQ, lead time and a sample offer within one business day. MOQ 100 pcs per SKU.
Send Inquiry on WhatsAppEmail: Joanna@rfmando.com · MOQ 100 pcs per SKU · 1 free sample per SKU ($30 DHL, buyer pays) · Lead time 7-15 days · T/T 30/70 · EXW Xiamen
Catalogue references for the specification above: RF Mando compatible XTCE032C01B 32A 3-pole contactor, 220-240V coil with 1NC auxiliary contact and RF Mando compatible XTCE115G00B 115A 3-pole contactor, 190-240V coil for heavy industrial motor control. All are MOQ 100 pcs per SKU, 7-15 day lead time, one free sample per SKU, and are supplied on our own PCBA and housing tooling with AQL 5% inspection available.
Where to Order
- RF Remote Controls — garage, gate and RTS compatible handsets
- Eaton DILM Contactors — frames, aux contacts and coils
- Locksmith Tools — duplicators, shells and blanks
- RF Manda — full product range and technical guides
| Term | Means | Who pays what | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXW | Ex Works, seller’s premises | Everything is the buyer’s cost | Cheapest on paper, most work for the buyer |
| FOB | Free On Board, port of loading | Export clearance and loading on the seller; main freight on the buyer | Useful for consolidating suppliers |
| CIF | Cost, Insurance and Freight to named port | Freight and minimum insurance included; duty and VAT not included | Convenient, still not door-to-door |
| DDP | Delivered Duty Paid | Everything including import duty | Most expensive to quote, often cheapest landed |