Broker, sourcing agent or platform
Three ways to buy in China. Only one where you carry neither the contract, nor the stock, nor the risk.
"Agent", "buying office", "platform": the words look alike, the responsibilities do not. The question is not who finds the supplier, but who signs, who pays and who answers when a container arrives non-compliant.
| A platform | A standard agent | Sorva | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who signs the contract | You, with the factory | You, with the factory | We do, in our own name |
| Who pays the supplier | You (deposit to a factory you never met) | You | We do, from our account |
| Who carries the risk | You, alone | You (the agent keeps the commission) | We do, through to delivery at your door |
| Inventory to fund | Yes | Yes | No |
| Presence on the ground | None | Variable | Permanent, in Guangzhou |
| How they earn | Margin not itemised | Commission | Pack + fee + commission, all published |
| Your counterpart | An interface | An intermediary | A dedicated team |
One name on the contract: ours.
The marketplace introduces you, then leaves you alone
A directory with a search engine. It shows you factories, then steps aside the moment you message the supplier. Contract, deposit, quality control, dispute: all of it falls on you. Handy to explore, dangerous to commit money.
The agent represents you, but the contract stays yours
An agent knows the ground, negotiates, sometimes inspects. But you still sign with the factory and pay it; they take a commission and keep a distance from the outcome. Their interest is closing, not carrying the delivery.
The broker puts its name on it, you buy a result, not a risk
A brokerage house contracts in its own name, pays the suppliers and answers for the delivered result. No deposit to a stranger, no stock to carry, no factory relationship to manage: a single counterpart, who put their name on the contract.