10 Questions to Ask an Indian Supplier Before Your First Order
1. Do you manufacture this product, or trade it?
Both models can work, but you need to know which you are dealing with. Manufacturers control production and customisation; traders add a margin but sometimes offer consolidation across factories. Ask directly, and verify the answer against their product range and factory details.
2. Can you produce to my exact specification and standards?
Share your written specification and ask for written confirmation, not a verbal yes. Gaps between 'similar' and 'exact' are where disputes are born.
3. What quality control processes do you run in-house?
Listen for specifics: incoming material checks, in-process inspection, final random inspection, test equipment on site. Vague answers about 'best quality' are a warning sign.
4. Can you share business registration and references?
A legitimate supplier will share registration details and, where possible, export references. Reluctance here deserves scrutiny.
5. What is your pricing structure at different quantities?
Ask for price breaks at realistic volumes, and clarify what is included — packaging, inland freight, documentation. A low headline price that excludes packaging is not a low price.
6. What are your sample terms?
Sample cost, courier cost and lead time tell you how the supplier treats small commitments — usually a preview of how they treat large ones.
7. What is your realistic production lead time?
Ask for the lead time from order confirmation to dispatch, not from first conversation. Then add buffer for your first order, when everything takes longer.
8. What payment terms do you offer first-time buyers?
Typical structures include advance plus balance against documents. Be cautious of 100% advance demands from unverified suppliers, and of terms that sound too relaxed to be real.
9. Which export documents can you provide?
Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and product-specific certificates should be routine for an export-ready supplier. If they are not, factor in the gap.
10. Can a third party inspect before shipment?
Suppliers confident in their quality accept pre-shipment inspection. Resistance to independent inspection is one of the clearest risk signals in sourcing.
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