This page is a tool, not a sales pitch. Below is a complete, printable supplier verification checklist you can run through with any Chinese manufacturer before you send a deposit — free, no signup, no strings attached.
If you have read our complete guide to Alibaba supplier scams, you already know the 12 scam patterns to watch for. This page is the practical companion to that guide: a fast, scored checklist you can actually run through in 15–20 minutes on a real supplier you are currently evaluating.
Print it, screenshot it, or bookmark this page. Use it every time you consider a new supplier — regardless of how trustworthy they seem in conversation.
| 🛠️ How to Use This Tool
Work through the 6 sections below in order. Check every box you can verify — do not skip steps because a supplier ‘seems fine.’ At the end, add up your checked items using the scoring guide in Section 7 to get an objective readiness score before you commit to a sample order or deposit payment. |
The Verification Checklist
| 1. Identity Verification (5 items) |
| ☐ Obtained the supplier’s 18-digit Unified Social Credit Code (USCC) |
| ☐ Verified the USCC at gsxt.gov.cn — registration status shows ‘In business’ |
| ☐ Company name on the registry matches the Alibaba/1688 listing name exactly |
| ☐ Business scope includes manufacturing (not only trading) for your product category |
| ☐ Company registered more than 2 years ago |
| 2. Physical Verification (5 items) |
| ☐ Conducted a live video factory tour (not pre-recorded footage) |
| ☐ Observed an active production line matching your product category |
| ☐ Confirmed the factory address is in an industrial zone (checked via Google Maps satellite view) |
| ☐ Requested and received a photo of the factory floor with today’s date on a whiteboard |
| ☐ Worker count and equipment visible are plausible for the factory’s claimed production capacity |
| 3. Track Record Verification (4 items) |
| ☐ Searched the company name on ImportYeti.com and confirmed US export history |
| ☐ Received contact details for at least 1 current US Amazon seller client |
| ☐ Contacted that reference directly and confirmed the relationship |
| ☐ Alibaba/1688 account is 2+ years old with visible transaction history |
| 4. Communication Assessment (4 items) |
| ☐ Response time to inquiries is consistently under 24 hours |
| ☐ Technical questions about the manufacturing process were answered specifically, not vaguely |
| ☐ No pressure to move communication or payment off-platform before trust is established |
| ☐ Consistent answers across multiple separate conversations |
| 5. Payment & Contract Safety (4 items) |
| ☐ First order will be placed entirely through Alibaba Trade Assurance |
| ☐ Deposit structure confirmed in writing: 30% deposit / 70% balance after passed inspection |
| ☐ Bank account name matches the USCC-registered company name exactly |
| ☐ Written purchase order with full specifications will be signed before production begins |
| 6. Sample & Quality Readiness (3 items) |
| ☐ Sample pricing is reasonable relative to expected bulk unit cost (not more than 10x) |
| ☐ Supplier has confirmed relevant certifications for your product category (FCC, CE, RoHS, etc. as applicable) |
| ☐ Supplier has agreed to accommodate a third-party pre-shipment inspection before balance payment |
Your Verification Score — What It Means
Count every box you were able to check across all 6 sections — 25 items total. Here is what your score means:
| Score | Verdict | What to Do |
| 20–25 checked(80–100%) | Strong candidate | Proceed confidently to sample order. This supplier has cleared a rigorous, objective verification bar. |
| 15–19 checked(60–79%) | Proceed with caution | Identify exactly which items are unchecked and try to close those specific gaps before committing to a bulk order. A sample order is reasonable; a large deposit is not yet. |
| Below 15 checked(under 60%) | Do not proceed | Too many verification gaps remain. Either continue investigating or move to a different candidate — regardless of how attractive the pricing looks. |
| ⚠️ One Rule That Overrides the Score
Regardless of total score: if a supplier refuses a live video factory tour, cannot produce a valid USCC, or pressures you to pay off-platform before trust is established, treat this as an automatic disqualifier. These three items are non-negotiable red flags even with a high score elsewhere. |
What to Do If a Supplier Fails Verification
A failed or low-scoring verification does not necessarily mean fraud — sometimes it means the supplier is simply unresponsive, new to export, or not a good operational fit. Here is how to respond depending on the specific gap:
| Verification Gap | Recommended Response |
| Missing or unverifiable USCC | Hard stop. Do not proceed under any circumstances — this is the foundational identity check every other verification step depends on. |
| Refuses live video tour | Hard stop. A legitimate factory accommodates this for a serious buyer. No exceptions. |
| No US export history found | Proceed cautiously with a small pilot order only. This may simply be a newer exporter — not necessarily fraudulent, but unproven for your specific market. |
| Slow or vague communication | Weigh against product uniqueness. If this is the only strong option for a specialized product, proceed with extra documentation and a mandatory pre-shipment inspection. Otherwise, keep evaluating alternatives. |
| No reference contacts provided | Ask again with more specificity, or search ImportYeti for other companies that have imported similar products from this factory as an alternative reference point. |
Want This Done For You?
This checklist gives you the same framework we use internally — but running it properly takes real time: verifying the USCC, scheduling and conducting a live video audit, searching customs records, and calling references. Most sellers spend 3–7 hours per supplier doing this thoroughly.
Vetted Source Hub runs this exact verification process — plus deeper checks not practical to do yourself, like direct Mandarin-language factory communication and access to our private verified factory network — for every supplier we recommend to clients. You receive a completed Supplier Verification Report, not just a checklist to fill in yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this checklist really free, or is there a signup required?
Completely free, no signup, no email required. Use it, print it, bookmark it, and return to it for every new supplier you evaluate.
How long does it take to complete this checklist for one supplier?
Most sellers complete all 25 items in 15–25 minutes if the supplier is responsive, and 2–4 hours spread over several days if you are also waiting on reference calls and video tour scheduling. The USCC check alone takes under 5 minutes once you have the code.
What is the single most important item on this checklist?
USCC verification at gsxt.gov.cn. It is the only step that independently confirms the company legally exists as registered — every other item builds on this foundation. If a supplier cannot or will not provide a valid USCC, no other verification step matters.
Can I use this checklist for suppliers found outside Alibaba, like on 1688 or through referrals?
Yes — and you should apply it with equal or greater rigor, since off-platform suppliers do not have Alibaba’s Trade Assurance protection layer. The USCC check, video audit, and reference calls apply identically regardless of where you found the supplier.
What if a supplier scores well but I still feel uncertain?
Trust that instinct enough to investigate further, but do not let it override a strong score without a specific, articulable reason. If you can name the specific concern, add it as a follow-up verification step. If you cannot name anything concrete, a strong score across all 6 sections is a solid basis to proceed with a sample order.
| Related Reading on the Vetted Source Hub Blog
→ Supplier Scams on Alibaba: How to Verify Chinese Manufacturers → China FBA Inspection: Complete Pre-Shipment Guide for Amazon Sellers |
