China Product Sourcing: Hard-to-Find Items from Photos
No product link? Send photos, model numbers or specifications for manual China product sourcing. Confirm exact matches, alternatives, supplier minimum quantities, samples and project fees before purchasing.
Reviewed: · ChinaCarty LLC
| Provide | Make it specific | What it helps confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Photo or model number | Overall view, label or model; identify the item in the image | Complete product versus a component or lookalike |
| Required specifications | Dimensions, material, colour, use and essential quality requirements | Whether a candidate meets more than its appearance |
| Acceptable alternatives | Exact item only, or which details may change; approval before substitution | Your decision rules for candidate products |
| Quantity and samples | Quantity per variant, sample needs and customization | Supplier minimum quantities and sample terms |
| Budget and deadline | Goods budget, project-service budget and preferred delivery date | Search scope; a preferred date is not a delivery promise |
| Destination and contact | Country or region, city and email, WhatsApp or WeChat | Shipping feasibility and follow-up questions |
This checklist prepares an inquiry. It is not evidence that a product has been found. Availability, supplier terms, scope and shipping require manual confirmation.
Start with a photo, model number or specification
You do not need a Taobao or 1688 listing before asking for sourcing help. Select Professional Sourcing on the homepage and describe the product, quantity, intended use, budget, deadline and specifications. Identify the relevant object if a photo contains several items. Include labels, model numbers, dimensions or packaging details where available. A photo is a search reference: it does not establish the material, function, manufacturer or current stock of a matching-looking product.
Approve exact matches and alternatives separately
State whether you require the exact item or would consider a specification-based alternative. For an exact match, confirm the brand, full model, seller details and selected options; a similar appearance does not prove the same product or factory. For alternatives, specify allowed changes in dimensions, material, colour and budget. Review the candidate and its differences before approving purchase. If the original cannot be confirmed, the next step is to discuss the search scope, rather than buy a lookalike without your permission.
Agree the scope of supplier searches and offline checks
Buying a known listing and finding a supply source are different jobs. ChinaCarty can assist with market research, supplier searches, business-detail checks, quote comparison and communication. You may request offline sourcing, factory site checks or remote checks, but locations, feasibility, tasks, scheduling, costs and deliverables require project agreement. Sending an inquiry does not mean a site visit has been arranged. Supplier checks and reports reflect the agreed scope and available information; they do not guarantee performance, credentials or every product's quality.
Confirm supplier minimum quantities and samples
Give quantities for each variant, not only a total. Supplier minimum order quantities, mixed-variant terms, stock and custom-production prices need verification; single-unit purchasing is not guaranteed. For samples, confirm specifications, price, production time, domestic delivery and what you want checked. Custom projects need material, dimensions, branding and packaging requirements, plus approved sample and production terms. An acceptable sample does not guarantee a defect-free batch. Specialist inspection or laboratory testing needs a separately agreed scope and fee.
Separate ordinary buying fees from sourcing-project costs
Ordinary purchasing uses the confirmed actual goods amount in CNY: CNY 6 up to and including CNY 100, or 5% above CNY 100. Domestic delivery is excluded from that fee base. Supplier searches, offline sourcing, custom samples, factory audits, specialist inspection, reports and laboratory coordination require their own agreed scope and quote; they are not automatically included in the ordinary purchasing fee. Each item includes 2–3 free warehouse photos; extras are optional. There is no service fee on international shipping; freight, agreed extras and applicable destination taxes remain separate.
Check purchase and shipping feasibility before approval
Include the intended use, destination and relevant attributes, such as batteries, liquids or special materials. Chinese export rules, destination import rules and carrier acceptance all need checking; availability in China does not imply eligibility for every country. Brand and marking requests must also be lawful and appropriately authorized. Confirm the selected goods, quantities and project scope before approving a quote. International freight normally needs package dimensions, weight and available routes, so a reference photo alone cannot establish a shipping price or arrival date.
Select Professional Sourcing on the homepage
Enter contact details, destination, product or project name, estimated quantity and specifications. Text requests can be submitted directly. Sign in to your customer account before uploading reference images: up to four JPG, PNG or WebP files, no larger than 5 MB each. Separate must-have requirements, acceptable alternatives, sample or customization needs, budget and preferred deadline. Images remain private to your account and administrators. The team will contact you to confirm requirements and pricing; submission is not a purchase or a promise to find the item.
Frequently asked questions
Can you guarantee the exact product in my photo?
No. Photos, model numbers and specifications are search references. Candidates and supplier details require verification. If the original cannot be confirmed, we discuss the next step; alternatives require your approval.
Can I request just one item?
You can state that quantity in your inquiry, but acceptance depends on the product, supplier minimum quantities and project terms. Sourcing, sample or customization work may also have separately agreed costs.
What if I already have a 1688 link?
For a known listing, supplier and specification, start with the 1688 purchasing process. Photo-based sourcing is useful when you have no purchasable link, only a reference, or need another supply source. Both routes require confirmation of actual terms.
What does sourcing cost, and how long does it take?
First define the search scope, specifications, quantities, offline checks or customization and preferred deadline. Feasibility, costs and arrangements can then be agreed. This page does not promise a fixed sourcing price or completion time.
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