Frequently Asked Questions

Alibaba gives you breadth (millions of suppliers) but no curation, quality verification, or end-to-end management. A sourcing agent gives you a pre-filtered shortlist, factory visits, quality control inspections, and logistics handling. For first-time importers or any order over a few thousand dollars, an agent typically saves 15-30% on landed cost and prevents quality disasters that Alibaba's escrow doesn't fully cover.

A trading company buys from factories and resells to you with a markup — they have a financial incentive to push their own suppliers. A sourcing agent works for you, charges a transparent service fee, and is incentivized to find the best factory for your needs regardless of supplier relationship. Lara Source operates as an agent — our fee is disclosed up front, not hidden in product markup.

Yes — first-time importers are a significant share of our clients. We guide you through MOQ negotiation, sample evaluation, Incoterms selection, customs documentation, and HS code classification. You don't need prior import experience; we operate as the experienced party on the import side so you can focus on selling the product.

The biggest practical difference is speed: Lara Source averages 5 hours to factory match versus 2-3 weeks at platform-style competitors. We also bundle quality control and logistics into one transparent quote, where most sourcing platforms charge separately or require you to coordinate with freight forwarders independently.

Typical match time is 5 hours from when we receive your product requirements. Traditional sourcing agencies take 2-3 weeks because they cold-search factories on request; Lara Source maintains a pre-vetted network of 150+ factories so we can match against existing partners instead of starting from scratch.

After factory matching (5 hours), sample timing depends on whether the factory has stock samples (1-3 days to ship) or needs to produce a custom sample (5-15 days for most categories). Sample shipping uses express courier (DHL, FedEx) and typically arrives within 3-5 business days of dispatch.

Lara Source has pre-vetted manufacturers across 50+ countries. Our main hubs are China (Yiwu, Shenzhen, Guangzhou), Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh), India, and Turkey. Country selection depends on your product category, target cost, and lead time — we match the right hub to your specifications.

MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) is the smallest order a factory will accept. It varies dramatically by category — apparel often starts at 300-500 units, electronics at 1,000-5,000, simple plastics at 5,000+. Lara Source negotiates the lowest workable MOQ for your category and can arrange smaller pilot runs (100-300 units) before scaling to full production.

A legitimate verification includes: business license check, factory audit (on-site visit), production capacity validation, sample testing, and certification review (ISO 9001, BSCI, Sedex). Lara Source completes all five steps before adding a factory to our network — you skip the verification phase entirely and start with a pre-cleared shortlist.

Yes. Private label means a stock product with your branding (faster, lower MOQ). OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) means custom-engineered to your specifications (longer timeline, higher MOQ, fully proprietary). Our network includes factories experienced with both — we match the right model to your product goals.

Our network covers apparel, accessories, consumer electronics, home goods, kitchenware, beauty and personal care, sports and outdoors, toys, packaging, and industrial supplies. If you have a specialized category (medical devices, food, regulated goods), tell us up front so we match against factories with the right certifications.

We conduct pre-shipment inspections using AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit) sampling at the factory before goods leave the facility. Inspectors verify dimensions, function, packaging, and label accuracy against your spec sheet, then deliver a photo + video QC report. If the order fails inspection, the factory reworks or replaces defective units before shipment.

Defects caught during pre-shipment QC are reworked or replaced by the factory before shipment — at no cost to you. For defects discovered after delivery, Lara Source documents the issue, negotiates with the factory on your behalf, and arranges rework, replacement, or credit against the next order. Our network agreement holds factories accountable for quality misses.

Yes — Lara Source provides end-to-end logistics. We manage freight forwarding (sea or air), customs clearance at origin and destination, and last-mile delivery to your warehouse or 3PL. You receive real-time tracking from factory floor to final delivery, and a single point of contact for any logistics question.

Incoterms define who pays for and controls each leg of shipping. EXW (Ex Works) means you handle everything from the factory door — riskiest for first-timers. FOB (Free On Board) means the factory handles export; you take over at the port. DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) means the seller handles everything including import duties. Lara Source typically operates DDP so you have one invoice and one accountable party.

Pricing depends on your product, order volume, and service scope. After we understand your requirements, we provide a transparent quote covering sourcing fees, quality control, and logistics — no hidden markups on product cost. Quotes are typically delivered within 24 hours of submitting your requirements.

Factory payments are usually structured as 30% deposit on order confirmation, 70% balance against shipping documents or bill of lading. For larger orders, L/C (Letter of Credit) and escrow arrangements are available. Lara Source can hold supplier payment until quality inspection clears, protecting you from upfront-payment-for-defective-goods scenarios.