“The company exists” and “the company can repeatedly make this product” are different findings. A registration record, marketplace badge, workshop video, sample and quote each support only part of the picture. This guide explains how to interpret and cross-check evidence. Record the work in the supplier verification form. FindBao does not currently offer on-site factory audits; buyers should separately appoint a suitable provider when one is needed.
Identify four transaction roles
Write down the legal names of the quoting company, actual producer, contracting party and payee. Compare public registration, company documents and independently established contact channels to understand their identities and relationship. Different parties can have a legitimate commercial explanation, but it needs evidence relevant to the present transaction. Similar names alone do not establish one entity.
Turn “we have a factory” into process questions
Ask who provides critical materials, equipment, processes, quality checks and capacity for the specific product, and mark each task as in-house or outsourced. A showroom, office and production site can have different addresses. Photos or videos should be linked to the current model, process and date. For outsourced steps, check who manages the partner, checks output and bears contractual responsibility for timing rather than rejecting all subcontracting by default.
Judge the strength and scope of evidence
Company statements and promotional images begin as leads. Samples, process records, detailed quotes and site material tied to the target product are more specific. Independent registration checks, sample performance and qualified verification can reduce uncertainty further. Any item may be old or relate to another model, so record source, date and coverage. Keep a claim pending if it cannot be checked.
Test product claims through samples
Assign a sample ID and log material, dimensions, function, appearance, packing and deviations from the brief revision. Ask whether production will use the same material and process, who approves changes and how defects are logged and corrected. A passing sample does not automatically make every later batch acceptable; connect the approved sample, production specification and subsequent check method.
Pause on payment or document conflicts
When the entity on a quote, contract, invoice or payee account suddenly changes, verify through a previously confirmed independent contact and retain both versions and the approval. Set a stop point when explanations of critical processes conflict, a certificate covers another model, verifiable documents are refused or urgent payment pressure appears. See the sourcing scam guide for more payment-warning detail.
Make a conditional decision
A useful review states what was checked, where the evidence came from, what remains open, who owns the next step and when it will be revisited. The decision may be to continue inquiries, sample first, commission further checks or pause. A single “trusted supplier” label hides the conditions. The buyer still approves the supplier, contract, payment and critical quality decisions.