Contractor for Shipping from China: 8 Questions Before Payment
·7 min read·Delivery Pro China
Contractor for shipping from China: three types of companies, eight questions before payment, and seven importer risks. Find out what to check before your first shipment.
In brief: To choose a contractor for shipping from China, first determine the operating model you need – parcel operator, cargo, or full-cycle logistics. Then ask eight specific questions about the warehouse, documents, price breakdown, and insurance. The answers will show you who you are actually dealing with.
Three Types of Contractors: What Sets Them Apart
On the surface, the market looks the same: everyone offers "end-to-end delivery," "guarantees," and a rate per kilogram. The differences start where no one usually looks until the first problem arises.
An analysis of companies operating on the China – CIS and Europe route reveals three business models.
Parcel operators handle private purchases and small shipments: tracking is available, the delivery network is wide, but the rate per kilogram is several times higher and there are no business documents.
Classic cargo solves the cost problem for regular volumes. However, the goods do not belong to you according to the documents, there is nothing to offset VAT against, and there is no one to file a claim with in the event of loss.
Full-cycle logistics costs more upfront. In return, you get official importation, goods registered in your name, and documents in order – this matters when working with legal entities, retail networks, and tenders.
The practical conclusion is straightforward: first determine which type you need, and only then compare rates. The rate of a parcel operator and the rate of a cargo company are prices for different things, and comparing them with each other is pointless.
Eight Questions Before Payment
These questions work against any contractor – including those operating in a full-cycle format. The right-hand column shows what a normal answer looks like, not what you want to hear.
| Question | Normal answer |
|---|---|
| Do you handle the shipment yourselves or pass it on? | Your own warehouse and your own routes are named; if it is passed on – it is stated exactly to whom |
| Do you have a warehouse in China and can it be seen? | Photos or videos of the receiving area, storage zones, and packaging – not renders or stock images |
| Who files the declaration and in whose name is the cargo registered? | A direct answer, not "we will take care of everything." This determines whether the goods are yours |
| What does the price consist of? | Broken down line by line: transportation, packaging, insurance, documents, delivery |
| How is weight calculated? | The formula and calculation principle are stated; you can verify it yourself |
| What does the insurance cover and what does it not cover? | What is not covered is stated directly. The answer "everything is covered" is not true in this niche |
| Is there a manager who speaks both Russian and Chinese? | A live conversation before the deal, not correspondence through a translator |
| Is it possible to place a small test order? | Yes, with a clear price and without being pushed to ship a full volume right away |
The most telling question is the one about insurance. A company that answers "everything is insured" either does not know its own terms or expects that you will not read the contract. Carriers have basic coverage; it varies by route, and damage and moisture are not covered by either the basic coverage or voluntary insurance. That is an inconvenient answer – and it is the correct one.
Seven Importer Fears: What Actually Reduces Risk
The wording is market-standard – this is exactly how these fears are expressed in discussions and blacklists. For each one – what to check, rather than simply take on faith.
| Fear | What to check |
|---|---|
| The cargo will disappear along with the money | A legal entity and a contract, not a messenger chat; who is the payment recipient |
| The cargo will be damaged during transshipment | What packaging is offered for your goods and whether its cost is stated before shipment |
| The weight will be recalculated and additional payment demanded | Whether the weight calculation principle was explained before shipment and whether actual measurements are shown |
| The goods will not be inspected | What exactly is included in the receiving inspection and what is a separate service. The boundary must be stated |
| The manager will not understand the supplier | Whether there is a live staff member with Chinese language skills who can contact the factory directly |
| Delays with no explanation | Whether a specific route is named and who is responsible for the timeline |
| The documents will be incorrect | Who exactly handles customs declaration and which legal entity the importation is registered to |
The general principle is one: replace general assurances with specific documents and facts. A contract instead of messenger correspondence, warehouse photos instead of a polished website, a list of receiving services instead of the word "we will check."
How to Apply the List in Practice
The sequence is straightforward.
- Determine which type of contractor you need based on your task: volume, documents, import scheme.
- Put together a short list of candidates of the same type – only then do rates become comparable.
- Ask all eight questions to each candidate. Record the answers in writing: what is said verbally carries less weight in a dispute.
- Request a test order – a small one, with a clear price. A contractor's behavior on a small order predicts their behavior on a large one.
- Check the insurance terms separately, before shipment: what exactly is covered, for what amount, and what is the claims procedure.
This process does not take much time, but it eliminates most risks before any money changes hands.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you choose between cargo and official import from China? The choice depends on whether you need documents for VAT offsetting, working with legal entities, and tenders. Cargo is cheaper upfront, but the goods do not belong to you according to the documents. Official import costs more, but the cargo is registered in your name and there is a legal basis in the event of a dispute.
What should you do if the contractor does not provide information about the warehouse in China? This is a reason for concern. A legitimate operator with its own warehouse will show photos or videos of the receiving, storage, and packaging areas. If you receive stock images or a refusal instead – there is most likely no warehouse, and the cargo is being passed on to a third party.
How do you verify that the shipment weight is being calculated correctly? Ask the contractor to explain the calculation principle before shipment and to provide actual measurements after weighing at the warehouse. You should be able to verify the figures yourself. If you are denied this information or it is only explained after the invoice is issued – that is a red flag.
Is it mandatory to place a test order before a large shipment? Not mandatory, but practical. A small test order with a clear price lets you check how the contractor actually operates: response speed, receiving quality, document accuracy. Behavior on a small order generally repeats itself on a large one.
Last updated: 2025.
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