Buyer Checks, Payment Gates & Records

Q: I've already chosen the furniture and finishes. Do I need to choose everything again?

No. Your agreed selection stays as the starting point. We check the specifications, availability and quotations against it. If an item needs an alternative, we show what would change and why, separately from your main list. You decide whether to keep the original or use the alternative; we don't quietly substitute it.

Q: If you share a supplier contact, have you already spoken to them?

Not necessarily. We make the status clear: a contact we found, a supplier we have spoken to, or an offer we have checked are different things. If we have only shared public contact details, we'll say so. You can contact them directly, or ask us to help coordinate the next step within an agreed scope.

Q: What should be clear before I compare two quotations?

Start with the same items, quantities and specifications. Then check the currency, price unit, quotation date, validity and exactly what each price includes. A product-only quotation should not be presented as a delivered-and-installed total. If currency conversion is used for comparison, the original amount and the conversion basis should remain visible. Any fee for design or other services should state its own scope, so you can see what you are paying for.

Q: Can I see the original factory or supplier quotations?

Yes. For every route included in the formal supplier comparison, FoshanBuild provides the original seller-issued EXW or FOB quotation, or equivalent pro forma offer, together with traceable negotiated revisions.

Q: Will FoshanBuild compare at least three factories?

For each significant category where three suitable independent routes exist, yes. If the real market provides fewer suitable options, FoshanBuild states the actual number, the constraint, and why unsuitable routes were excluded.

Q: Is the around-5% service fee separate from product price?

Yes. For projects that proceed, the standard coordination-fee reference is around 5% of confirmed purchased goods value and is shown separately. Logistics, testing, duty, tax, local delivery, installation, and other third-party work are confirmed separately.

Q: Can I pay the selected factory directly?

Where the verified factory or exporter can legally and commercially receive the payment, yes. If consolidation, multiple suppliers, DDP, or export capability requires another entity, its identity and role are disclosed before deposit.

Q: Does this policy guarantee the cheapest or risk-free result?

No. It gives the buyer a traceable comparison and commercial flow. Product quality, compliance, production, packing, freight, customs, local delivery, and installation still require project-specific evidence and responsible parties.

Client feedback

What they said, and the work behind it.

Selected conversation excerpts, shared anonymously with permission and their project context. Each comment relates to the service stage described below.

01After-sales feedback

Support when something needs attention

“That really reflects your excellent after-sales service.”

Homeowner · after-sales support

A homeowner described the support received after problems with lighting and a machine purchased from China.

Project context and service notes

The customer described personal involvement with the lighting issue and arrangements to send a replacement machine part.

The customer specifically praised the after-sales response and the practical follow-up after the issue appeared.

02Visit completed · procurement continuing

A sourcing trip worth making

“Thanks so much for your help, and for making my whole trip enjoyable.”

Homeowner · Foshan sourcing visit

A homeowner travelled to Foshan to review materials for a residential project. The work included preparing and adjusting the visit itinerary.

Project context and service notes

The sourcing visit was coordinated around the buyer's material list. After returning home, the customer sent this feedback about the trip.

The customer thanked the team for its help and for an enjoyable visit. Product selection and supplier coordination continued afterwards.

03Concept review · revisions continuing

A design direction the client can build on

“This is excellent and I am grateful for your hard work. The direction is good.”

Homeowner · soft-furnishing concept

A homeowner reviewed an initial soft-furnishing concept shared by the design team.

Project context and service notes

The team shared the concept for review. The client welcomed the direction and asked for a little more colour, without making the rooms too vibrant.

The feedback gave the team a clear basis for the next revision and confirmed that the concept direction was working.

04Trade visit completed · collaboration developing

Time to work through the details

“It was a productive trip and I’m glad we could cover everything in detail.”

Trade partner · factory visit

A trade partner visited Foshan while exploring sourcing support for several residential projects.

Project context and service notes

The visit was followed by a written recap of the discussions and the items still to be followed up.

The partner described the trip as productive and valued the detailed discussions.

05Pre-sales consultation

An honest budget conversation at the start

“I also appreciate your honest comments regarding the budget.”

Prospective buyer · initial planning

A prospective buyer was exploring a whole-home furnishing project and wanted to understand how the desired finish related to the available budget.

Project context and service notes

The early conversation separated the intended scope from the budget and explained where expectations might need to be adjusted.

The buyer welcomed the realistic discussion and gained a clearer starting point for the whole-home plan.

06Pre-sales discussion · terms still being explored

A clear process the buyer can work with

“Thank you for your honesty and transparency. I appreciate you explaining your process and the reasons behind it.”

Prospective buyer · process discussion

A prospective apartment-project buyer was discussing the sourcing process, payment preferences and quality-control concerns.

Project context and service notes

The discussion explained the process, payment flow, and practical controls. The buyer appreciated the explanation and continued working toward a suitable arrangement.

The feedback shows that the process and its reasoning were communicated clearly enough for the buyer to continue the discussion.

Buyer protection

Trust is not a promise. It is something you can check at each step.

Before deposit, the scope should be understandable. During production, progress should be visible. Before balance payment, photos and records should exist. Before shipment, the forwarder and local installer should know what they are receiving.

Read real case articles

One person has to own the project

A real project should have one coordinator, one current item schedule, one issue list, and one next-step owner instead of scattered supplier chats.

Scope before price

The first useful answer should separate product categories, destination constraints, drawings, current quote basis, logistics assumptions, and what is still missing.

No rush to deposit

For mixed orders, deposit should wait until specifications, quote basis, payment milestones, and records are clear enough to review.

Proof before balance

Before final payment, buyers should see production photos, inspection notes, packing photos, missing-item records, and loading or handoff assumptions.

Records beat promises

Schedules, approval notes, inspection photos, packing records, and handoff notes make a mixed order easier to check.

Do not guess local rules

Customs, taxes, certification, structural engineering, local permits, and local code responsibility must be checked in the destination market.

First reply

The first reply should not just say "please send more details"

If you already shared the country, categories, drawings, or a supplier quote, the first reply should help decide the next step.

Is this worth doing from China?

We look at order size, timeline, country, product mix, and installation needs before pushing the route forward.

What is still missing?

Drawings, room list, sizes, finishes, budget, trade term, local delivery condition, installer responsibility, or compliance questions.

Where can it go wrong?

Price gaps, certification issues, breakage risk, wrong finish, wrong accessories, or local installation problems.

What is the next step?

Build a schedule, review a supplier quote, request samples, compare factories, or stop and source locally.

Before deposit

Before a deposit is paid

Does the quote include material specs?
Are dimensions confirmed?
Is packaging included?
Are colors and finishes confirmed?
Is there a delivery and shipping plan?
Who checks the goods before final payment?
One room-by-room schedule exists for the confirmed scope.
Product photos, dimensions, material, finish, quantity, and room tags are recorded.
Quote basis is separated: EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP, packing, inland trucking, freight, tax, local delivery, and installation guidance.
Critical samples, drawings, colors, hardware, glass, stone, or fabric decisions are documented.
Payment milestone, balance-payment proof, replacement responsibility, and production timeline are clear.
Packing method, fragile handling, label rules, and CBM estimate are not ignored.

Commercial transparency

Compare real routes, see original quotes, and know exactly how FoshanBuild is paid.

FoshanBuild now publishes a written buyer-side policy covering supplier count, original seller-issued quotations, separate fees, conflict disclosure, and payment roles.

Read the full written policy

At least three comparable routes

For each significant category where three suitable options exist, the same controlled RFQ goes to at least three genuinely different factories or suppliers. The comparison keeps specification, material, accessories, quantity, packing, trade term, lead time, payment, warranty, and exclusions aligned.

Original seller-issued quotes are visible

For every route in the formal comparison, the buyer receives the original factory or supplier EXW/FOB quotation, or equivalent seller-issued pro forma offer. Negotiated revisions remain traceable instead of being replaced by an unexplained all-in price.

Service fee is a separate line

For projects that proceed, FoshanBuild's standard procurement-coordination reference is around 5% of confirmed purchased goods value. Product value, service fee, samples, testing, packing, inland transport, freight, insurance, duty, tax, local delivery, installation, and other third-party work remain separately identifiable.

No undisclosed supplier-side benefit

FoshanBuild does not keep an undisclosed supplier commission, rebate, referral payment, kickback, or supplier-funded benefit. Any such benefit must be disclosed in writing before the supplier decision, together with whether it is credited, offset, rejected, or otherwise handled.

Supplier and payment roles stay visible

For formally compared routes, the legal seller, manufacturer where relevant, exporter, payment beneficiary, location, and responsible contact are recorded. Where commercially and legally practical, the buyer may pay the verified factory or exporter directly; consolidation, multi-supplier, or DDP payment entities are disclosed before deposit.

Payment boundaries

Payment and scope boundaries

Service fee is separate

Buying and coordination fees should not be confused with product value, freight, duties, tax, insurance, inspection, or local delivery.

If the order does not proceed

If the project does not move into purchase or no order is completed, only the actual working days already used are charged.

Avoid full upfront payment

For higher-value mixed orders, payment should follow scope confirmation, production proof, QC, packing, and handoff evidence.

Supplier risk can be checked, not erased

No buying agent can make every supplier risk disappear. The value is comparison, records, and stopping weak routes early.

Third-party work stays third-party

Freight forwarders, customs brokers, local installers, engineers, and certification bodies need their own confirmation where required.

Common buyer questions

What buyers ask about factory comparison, original quotations, fees, conflicts, and payment.

I've already chosen the furniture and finishes. Do I need to choose everything again?

If you share a supplier contact, have you already spoken to them?

What should be clear before I compare two quotations?

Can I see the original factory or supplier quotations?

Will FoshanBuild compare at least three factories?

Is the around-5% service fee separate from product price?

Does FoshanBuild receive commissions or rebates from suppliers?

Can I pay the selected factory directly?

Does this policy guarantee the cheapest or risk-free result?

When China sourcing may not fit

When we may say China sourcing is not worth it

Check carefully

The order is too small after freight, tax, and local delivery are included.

Check carefully

The deadline is too urgent for samples, production, QC, and shipping.

Check carefully

The category is highly regulated in the destination market and the buyer has no local compliance support.

Check carefully

The project needs heavy local installation or engineering but no qualified local installer is involved.

Check carefully

The buyer only wants the absolute cheapest option and does not want records, samples, or quality control.

Downloads

Files buyers can take away.

Send project details

TXT

Buyer checklist

A checklist for the first reply, deposit stage, balance payment, and shipment handoff.

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JSON

Structured trust notes

A structured version of the payment, record, and handoff checks.

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Continue researching

See how real buyer concerns were handled

When an Overseas Buyer Wanted to Speak Directly With an Existing Customer

An overseas homeowner remained unsure about the authenticity of a cross-border sourcing process. With both customers' consent, we arranged a private customer-to-customer conversation and kept formal due diligence separate.

Open

When the First Project Visit Did Not Prove the Right Thing: A Dubai Joinery Case

A Dubai villa buyer cared about site measurement and local installation, not showroom appearance. The first reference visit missed that question, so we acknowledged the mismatch and arranged a second, technically relevant site.

Open

Anonymized Evidence Library

Trace BOQ, site, comparison, QC, packing, and handoff records by evidence type.

Open

Real project cases with photos

See practical examples from delivery, installation, factory checks, and quality control.

Open

Before paying, check the parts that usually go wrong.

What they said, and the work behind it.

Support when something needs attention

A sourcing trip worth making

A design direction the client can build on

Time to work through the details

An honest budget conversation at the start

A clear process the buyer can work with

Trust is not a promise. It is something you can check at each step.

The first reply should not just say "please send more details"

Is this worth doing from China?

What is still missing?

Where can it go wrong?

What is the next step?

Before a deposit is paid

Compare real routes, see original quotes, and know exactly how FoshanBuild is paid.

Payment and scope boundaries

What buyers ask about factory comparison, original quotations, fees, conflicts, and payment.

When we may say China sourcing is not worth it

Files buyers can take away.

Buyer checklist

Structured trust notes

See how real buyer concerns were handled

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