# How to vet a supplier remotely

> A practical way to check a Chinese manufacturer before paying: documents to request, video audits, samples, third-party inspection and warning signs.

Source: https://petlivinggear.com/guides/vetting-chinese-pet-product-suppliers/
Updated: 2026-10-25

**Short answer:** You can reduce supplier risk without visiting. Check the business registration, ask for specific documents, run a live video tour, order a sample, and use a third-party inspection before the final payment. Be wary of pressure to pay quickly or to a personal account.

## Know who you are dealing with

Ask whether the company is a manufacturer or a trading company, and for its registered company name and address. Compare that name with the name on the quote, the bank account and the contract. A mismatch needs a clear explanation.

## Documents to request

- Business registration details and the registered address.
- Photos and a short list of the machines or workshop lines used for your product.
- Test reports for similar products, with the lab name and date.
- References or examples of similar work that they are allowed to share.
- The materials and component suppliers for the parts that matter.

A document proves little by itself, so cross-check it with other evidence and ask follow-up questions that only the real maker could answer.

## A live video tour

Ask for a live call from the workshop, not a pre-recorded video. Ask them to show the cutting, sewing or assembly of your product type, the storage of materials and the quality checking area. Choose what to see on the call, and ask them to follow up in writing.

## Samples

Pay for a sample so that the factory takes it seriously, and test it against your specification. Keep the approved sample sealed, and ask the factory to keep an identical reference sample. The production run must match it.

## Third-party inspection

Before you pay the balance, hire an independent inspector to check quantity, appearance, measurements, function and packaging against your specification and an agreed sampling plan. Agree the pass and fail criteria beforehand.

## Warning signs

- Prices far below every other quote with no explanation.
- A request for full payment upfront, or payment to a personal account or a different company.
- Unwillingness to do a live video call or to share the company name.
- Test reports that do not match the product, the model or the date.
- Vague answers to specific technical questions.

## Our role

We introduce buyers to manufacturers and say what we have and have not checked. We do not guarantee any supplier, and the contract is between you and the supplier. Read [how we label our data and checks](https://petlivinggear.com/methodology/).

## Frequently asked questions

### Do you verify the manufacturers you introduce?

We say clearly what has and has not been checked. Unless a listing states that a check was made, treat the supplier as unverified and run your own checks using this guide.

### Is a trading company a problem?

Not necessarily, but know which you are dealing with. A trading company adds a margin and may have less control over quality, a factory has direct control but may require higher volumes.

### What is the single most useful check?

A paid sample that you test yourself, followed by an independent inspection of the production batch before you pay the balance.

## Related

- [How to compare factory quotes](https://petlivinggear.com/guides/how-to-compare-factory-quotes/): How to compare quotes from Chinese manufacturers fairly: price terms, what is included, sample and tooling fees, minimums, packaging and payment terms.
- [Safety claims and test reports](https://petlivinggear.com/guides/pet-product-safety-claims-and-test-reports/): How to read supplier test reports and decide which safety claims you can make about pet carriers, strollers, car restraints, bowls and mats.
- [How to source pet products from China](https://petlivinggear.com/guides/how-to-source-pet-products-from-china/): A step-by-step process for sourcing private-label pet products from China: define the product, request quotes, test samples, check suppliers, order and ship.
- [Pet car seats and harnesses](https://petlivinggear.com/products/pet-car-seats-and-harnesses/): Sourcing pet car seats, booster seats and seat-belt harnesses from China: what to specify, why safety claims need evidence, and how to compare test reports and quotes.