The questions buyers ask us most.

Sometimes you should. If your order is one high-volume SKU from one factory, buy direct — we'll tell you so. Sourcing partners exist for the other case: 20 factories in one shipment, someone who already knows which one is right, staff who answer in English in your timezone, payment terms a small factory won't give you, a partner who won't disappear mid-order, and a production slot a small buyer can actually get. Direct sourcing saves money on paper; it costs money when the factory treats your order as a gap-filler. And if you're hunting for something you can't find anywhere — send us the spec. Finding it is free, and it's the fastest way to see how we work.

Two honest numbers first: the gap between a factory price and what a direct buyer pays is commonly quoted at 5–30% depending on category and volume — that's an industry range, not our rate. Whether it's worth paying depends on what goes wrong without it: the wrong factory, a failed QC, a shipment that doesn't match the sample, a deposit lost to a supplier who stops replying. One more thing a single factory can't do: if your order spans categories — hardware plus packaging plus a custom power supply — we source all of it, from different factories, on one PO. If your order is simple, large and repetitive, buy direct. If it isn't, our fee is usually the cheapest line on the quote.

We take no commission and no kickback from any factory — not on your order, not on any order. Our service fee sits on your quote as its own line, next to the factory price, freight and local charges; the unit price you see is the factory's price, not ours marked up. Ask, and we'll send you the factory's own quotation so you can compare line by line. If a sourcing partner won't show you that arithmetic, it isn't a partner — it's a markup.

Here is what buyers on sourcing forums say makes them walk away — and where we stand. A "zero-fee" agent (usually kickbacks from the factory): our fee is on the quote. Refusing a factory audit or an office video: ask, and we'll arrange it. A hidden commission: we take none from the factory. Replies that take days: same working day. Skipping pre-shipment QC: never. A deposit that goes quiet: you get photos from the line, not a certificate.

Proof of our work is never a document we could have bought. It's photographs of your own goods, on the line, before they ship.

Landed cost is the FOB price plus six lines most quotes leave out: freight (and whether it is charged on actual or volumetric weight), insurance, duty and the flat per-item charge where it applies, customs entry and broker fees, destination terminal or port charges, and inland delivery to your door. On a small order those fixed lines can add more to your unit cost than the goods themselves. What we do: every quote comes with a landed-cost sheet — each line separate, nothing bundled into an "all-in" number you cannot audit — and each line marked as fixed per shipment or scaling with quantity, because that is what tells you whether doubling the order halves your unit cost or barely moves it. Ask three things before comparing quotes: is the freight all-in or port-to-port, are destination charges included, and is duty calculated on FOB or on CIF. Two suppliers quoting the same FOB can land at very different costs.

Every commercial shipment from China now needs a formal customs entry — the low-value exemption that let small parcels in duty-free is suspended (since 29 Aug 2025; CBP made it indefinite on 24 June 2026). Three things change: your goods need a 10-digit HTSUS code, they need a bonded importer of record or a licensed broker, and duty is assessed at entry instead of never. What we do: the 10-digit code goes on the invoice and packing list before the goods leave; where classification is genuinely arguable we say so instead of quietly picking a code; and we send the factory's own material and spec sheets so your broker can confirm the line. Before booking freight, ask your broker three things: which HTSUS line they will file, whether an extra Section 301 or 232 line applies, and what entry fees and bond will add. We do not quote duty rates — we are not a customs broker. Facts as of October 2026.

Since 1 July 2026 the EU's 150-euro duty-free threshold no longer applies, and low-value consignments are charged a flat amount per item — 3 euros per item under the transitional scheme — instead of entering duty-free. The trap is the word "item": it is charged per article in the consignment, not per parcel, so 200 pieces of one SKU is not one charge. Import VAT is separate and still applies. What we do: we declare the article count correctly on the invoice, we do not split one order into parcels to stay under a limit, and we show the per-item charge as its own line on your landed-cost sheet so you can price retail before you commit. Three things to confirm with your broker: whether the charge is per article or per invoice line, how it interacts with normal duty above the threshold, and whether the processing fee announced for late 2026 is already billed on your entry. Figures as of October 2026.

Sumudu Trading supplies a wide range of products including industrial machinery, electronic components, building materials, and textile & apparel. We also offer sourcing services for customized products based on your specific requirements.

Yes, we offer comprehensive OEM and ODM services. From custom logo printing and packaging design to full product development and mold opening, our engineering team can assist you at every stage. Minimum order quantities for custom orders are flexible and negotiable.

Both, and the answer became more favourable in 2026. The floor is set by the factory, not by us: machinery and equipment usually start at one unit, hardware and metalwork at a few dozen pieces, small accessories and packaging at a few hundred. Where a sourcing partner actually earns its fee is mixed orders — three or four low-volume SKUs from different factories consolidated into one shipment, so the fixed freight and entry costs are spread over everything instead of pressing on one thin order. On a first order we do three things: quote the factory's real MOQ rather than an inflated one, tell you plainly when your target quantity is below what a factory will start up for, and name the quantity at which your unit price actually drops. Have three numbers ready: target quantity per SKU, whether this first order is a market test or a production run, and your target landed cost. The last one decides quantity more than anything else.

We offer multiple shipping options: sea freight (FCL/LCL), air freight, and international express (DHL, FedEx, UPS). We have long-term partnerships with Maersk, COSCO, DHL and other top logistics providers. We support FOB, CIF, DDP and other trade terms, and can arrange door-to-door delivery.

We accept T/T (Telegraphic Transfer), L/C (Letter of Credit), PayPal, and Western Union. For new customers, standard terms are 30% deposit + 70% balance against B/L copy. Long-term合作客户 may apply for more favorable payment terms. All transactions are protected by secure banking channels.

Our company is located in Chang'an Town, Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, China — known as the "Factory of the World". This strategic location gives us easy access to thousands of manufacturers and suppliers across the Pearl River Delta.

We implement a three-stage quality control process: factory initial inspection, pre-shipment re-inspection, and container loading final inspection. We also support third-party inspection by SGS, BV, Intertek, and other certified agencies. Every batch comes with detailed quality reports.

For stock products, we can ship within 3-7 working days. For custom or OEM orders, lead time is typically 15-45 working days depending on product complexity and order quantity. We will provide a detailed production schedule after order confirmation.

Yes, under DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) terms, we can handle full customs clearance at both origin and destination, including import duties and taxes. We work with reliable customs brokers in major destination countries to ensure smooth clearance. For FOB/CIF terms, clearance at destination is the buyer's responsibility, but we provide all necessary documentation.

Absolutely. We are a legally registered trading company in China with verifiable business credentials. We only accept payments through official company bank accounts. For added security, you can use L/C (Letter of Credit) which provides bank-level protection, or use PayPal for sample orders. We never request payments to personal accounts.