Service file · Sourcing support
A sourcing agent should reduce risk, not add a layer.
We turn a brief — or a WWTop Yupoo reference — into a shortlist, a comparable quote, a verified factory, and a sample you can approve. The fee is disclosed separately from the factory price, so you can see what you are paying for.
Independent representation. We do not accept undisclosed factory commissions, and we do not source branded or counterfeit goods.
Catalogue lens
A catalogue is not a supplier record.
The catalogue can show a product and a style. It cannot show who owns the factory, whether the line is running, or who answers when the goods miss the specification. An agent’s job is to close that gap before money moves.
Find the business behind the listing
A listing name, a WhatsApp profile, and a payment QR code are not a legal entity. We match the business licence, registered address, factory site, and payment-account name before a quote is treated as real.
Convert the reference into a comparable quote
Two factories can quote the same photo and mean different fabric, fit, and finishing. We issue one written specification so the prices are comparable and the sample is judged against the same measures.
Know who holds the contract
The useful question is not only “can you make it?” but “who is responsible if it is late, short, or off-spec?” We keep the contract, payment trail, and inspection terms visible.
We do not accept undisclosed factory commissions, and we do not source branded or counterfeit goods. A WWTop Yupoo reference is a starting point for an original unbranded product, not a supplier credential.
Want the visual reference behind this page?
Browse the WWTop Yupoo catalogueScope
What we do — and what we refuse to pretend.
An agent is useful when the work is explicit. The scope below is the difference between representation and a vague promise to “find a good factory”.
What we do
- Turn a brief into a written specification and quote request
- Shortlist factories and compare quotes like for like
- Verify identity, production site, QC process, and payment account
- Coordinate samples, corrections, and approvals
- Follow production, inspection, packing, and shipment
What we do not do
- Source branded, counterfeit, or brand-infringing goods
- Publish seller albums or claim a catalogue is stock
- Guarantee a factory’s quality without evidence
- Hide our fee inside the factory unit price
- Take a factory commission that conflicts with your interest
Fee models
Who pays the agent changes the incentive.
An agent paid by the factory may earn more when the order is larger or the supplier is more expensive. That does not make every commission-based agent dishonest, but it is a conflict you should see and price in.
We prefer a disclosed buyer-paid fee: a fixed project fee for a defined scope, or an agreed percentage of the order value. The factory invoice is shown separately, and the fee is not buried inside it.
Scroll the table sideways if needed.
| Model | Paid by | Incentive | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed project fee | Buyer | Scope completion | Scope creep and change orders |
| Percentage of order | Buyer | Order value | Pressure to increase quantity |
| Factory commission | Factory | Supplier selection | Undisclosed conflict of interest |
| Retainer | Buyer | Ongoing availability | Hours without a clear deliverable |
What a sourcing assessment covers
- Product and quantity feasibility
- Likely fabric and construction route
- Planning MOQ and sample path
- Verification level needed
- Freight and Incoterm options
- Risks we can see before quoting
Compare the models
Agent, trading company, or marketplace?
None is universally better. The right model depends on your order, your specification, and how much control you need over the factory.
Scroll the table sideways if needed.
| Question | Independent agent | Trading company | Marketplace / album |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who holds the contract | You, with the factory | The trading company | The platform or seller |
| Who receives payment | The factory, verified in writing | The trading company | The platform |
| Product specification | Written and approved by you | Often standardised | Usually a listing |
| Factory visibility | Named and verified | May be undisclosed | Usually undisclosed |
| Recourse | Contract and inspection terms | Trading company terms | Platform policy |
| Best for | Repeatable private-label programs | Simple stock sourcing | Small, low-risk purchases |
How it runs
Five stages, with a document at each one.
A stage is not complete until its output is written down and shared.
Specification
Product, quantity, colours, fabric direction, destination, deadline, and compliance constraints.
Comparable quotes
Same specification, same Incoterm, same exclusions. Otherwise the numbers cannot be compared.
Evidence file
Licence, production address, QC process, payment account, and references.
Signed approval
Measurements, materials, comments, and corrections recorded before bulk.
Inspection record
In-line updates, final inspection results, packing list, and shipping documents.
Fit
When a sourcing agent is worth it.
An agent earns their fee when the specification, verification, or follow-up would otherwise cost you more time or money than the fee itself. That is usually a first private-label run, a new category, or a supplier switch where the risk is not yet understood.
Worth considering
- First production run in a new category
- Multiple factories to compare
- Private label with labels and packaging
- You cannot visit or inspect the site
Probably not needed
- A repeat order with a proven supplier
- A single stock item under a low value
- You already have a verified QC partner
- You need a marketplace checkout, not a program
FAQ
Questions buyers ask
If your question is not here, send a brief. We answer in plain language, with conditions.
What does a China sourcing agent do?
A sourcing agent turns a product brief into a supplier shortlist, obtains comparable quotes, verifies the business and production site, coordinates samples, and follows the order through inspection and shipment. The useful part is not access to factories; it is the specification, comparison, and follow-up that reduce avoidable risk.
How are sourcing agents paid?
Common models are a fixed project fee, a percentage of the order value, a commission paid by the factory, or a retainer. A commission paid by the factory can create an incentive to choose the highest-value supplier rather than the best fit. We disclose our fee model in writing before work starts and separate it from factory pricing.
Do I still need a factory audit?
Yes, if the order value or risk justifies it. A desktop verification checks identity, documents, and references. A factory audit adds a physical or live inspection of the site, equipment, capacity, and quality process. The right level depends on the order, not on the agent’s confidence.
Can you source from a specific Yupoo album, such as WWTop?
We can use a WWTop Yupoo listing as a visual reference, but we do not treat it as a supplier record. We identify the actual business, confirm it can make the unbranded product, and verify the factory and payment account. We do not source branded, counterfeit, or brand-infringing goods, and we do not publish seller catalogues.
What is the difference between an agent and a trading company?
A trading company buys and resells the goods, often managing production through a factory. An agent is paid to represent the buyer’s interest and coordinate the process. The lines blur in practice, so ask who holds the contract, who receives the money, and who is responsible if the goods miss the specification.
How long does a sourcing project take?
A shortlist usually takes 3–7 business days after a complete brief. Verification adds 3–7 days, a sample 10–15 business days, and production 25–45 days after approval and deposit. These are planning windows, not guarantees; capacity, fabric, and corrections can extend them.
Next step
Bring the brief. We will show the risk before the quote.
Tell us the product, quantity, destination, and deadline. The assessment covers feasibility, verification level, sample path, and the costs you should expect.