Factory payments
stay direct.
You pay the factory for your products. Groundline’s service fee is separate.
YOUR SOURCING PARTNER IN CHINASource in China.
Source in China.
Move with clarity.
Supplier sourcing, samples and inspections—with clear fees and direct factory payments.
120+orders handled
40+factories visited
12buyer countries served
✓ Written scope first✓ No commitment to order
GUANGDONG, CHINA
WORKING GLOBALLY
WORKING GLOBALLY
FROM FIRST BRIEF TO NEXT STEPCloser to the source.
Your product. Your decisions.
A CLEAR PLACE TO START
What brings you here?
Select your goal. We’ll show you a suitable starting point.
YOUR STARTING POINT
Build my brief ↗Per-order sourcing 4% · $40 minimum · 50% off
Compare 3–5 suppliers, discuss quotes and MOQs, and coordinate samples and your order.
All fees in USD. Final scope agreed in writing. Samples, testing, travel and shipping quoted separately.
01 / THE GROUNDLINE APPROACH
Good sourcing starts
with clear answers.
Who am I paying? What will be checked? What happens next?
Groundline helps you work through the practical details of buying from China. Define your requirements, understand the options, and agree on the support before work begins.
Factory payments
The scope comes
before the work.
Confirm deliverables, fees and responsibilities in writing before proceeding.
Extra costs need
your approval.
Samples, testing, travel and logistics are quoted separately before approval.
GROUNDLINE / ON THE GROUND
ILLUSTRATIVE INDUSTRY PHOTOGRAPHYPractical support.
At the point you need it.
02 / OUR EXPERTISE
One task.
Or the next chapter.
Find the right starting point.
Compare potential suppliers, quotations and minimum order quantities against your product brief.
Supplier comparison · Quote & MOQ negotiationDiscuss this service ↗Resolve the details before the order.
Coordinate sample requests and clarify materials, dimensions, branding and packaging with the supplier.
Sample requests · Product specificationsDiscuss this service ↗See what’s ready to ship.
Agree on inspection criteria, then review quantity, packaging and product findings through a photo and video report.
Agreed checks · Inspection findingsDiscuss this service ↗Keep the next step in view.
Coordinate the production follow-up and shipping handover included in your agreed scope.
Order readiness · Freight coordinationDiscuss this service ↗03 / THE DETAILS THAT MATTER
From product checks
to packed orders.
Packaging, product condition and shipment readiness. Choose the support you need to discuss your order.
01 / PACKAGING CHECKSCheck the packing details.↗
02 / PRODUCT INSPECTIONSCheck the details.↗
03 / SHIPMENT COORDINATIONPlan the next move.↗Stock photography illustrates the services discussed here; these are not photos of Groundline’s team or client orders. Inspection scope and shipping arrangements are agreed for your brief.
Gallery photography: Shipping checklist · Product measurement · Packed cartons. Pexels stock photography.
YOUR NEXT ORDER, BETTER PREPAREDA little preparation.
Start my brief ↗
A little preparation.
A clearer starting point.
Use this checklist to organise your first conversation. Tick what you have ready—you can discuss the rest with us.
0/ 5
YOUR PREPARATION
Start with your product.
A reference photo or product link is enough to begin.
Optional planning tool. Your selections stay on this page and reset when you refresh.
THE BUYER’S FIELD NOTESG / 01
You stay in control.
Agree the scope before work begins.
04 / FROM BRIEF TO NEXT STEP
No guesswork
about what comes next.
Four stages. Clear decision points.
Select a stage to see what to prepare.
Start with what you know.
Send a product link, specification, or reference photo. Add your quantity, target budget, destination, and timing so the discussion starts with the right requirements.
YOUR CHECKLIST
- Product link or specification
- Estimated quantity and budget
- Destination and required date
05 / CLEAR SERVICE FEES
Choose the support.
Know the fee.
50% off all three service plans. Your factory payments remain direct. Choose one order, one inspection day, or ongoing coordination.
Per-order sourcing
4% of order value
- 3–5 supplier comparison
- Quote and MOQ negotiation
- Sample and order coordination
- QC and freight support
Monthly partner
$150 / month
Cancel anytime
- Ongoing product sourcing
- Supplier communication
- Reorder coordination
- QC and issue follow-up
Inspection only
$30 / inspection day
Scope agreed before the inspection
- Pre-shipment product check
- Quantity and packaging review
- Photo and video report
- Pass, conditional, or fail verdict
All prices in USD. Samples, testing, travel, freight, duties and taxes are separate. Final scope and terms are confirmed in writing.
A CLOSER LOOKCompare the three plans+
| What to compare | Per-order sourcing | Monthly partner | Inspection only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best starting point | A specific sourcing project | Ongoing supplier coordination | An order ready to be checked |
| Discounted service fee | 4% · $40 minimum | $150 / month | $30 / inspection day |
| Main focus | Supplier comparison, quotes and order coordination | Ongoing sourcing, communication and reorder follow-up | Product, quantity and packaging checks |
| What to discuss first | Product requirements and order value | Recurring needs and expected workload | Location, products and inspection criteria |
| Next step | Discuss an order ↗ | Discuss a partnership ↗ | Discuss an inspection ↗ |
All fees in USD. Samples, testing, travel, freight, duties and taxes are separate. Agree final scope and terms in writing.
Estimate your sourcing fee
Per-order service fee only.
4% of order value, with a $40 minimum (50% off).
Discounted service fee$2,500 × 4%You save $100.00 on the service fee
05.5 / CLIENT REVIEWS
Buyers who
started where you are.
★★★★★
"Groundline found us three suppliers in ten days, negotiated samples, and caught a finish defect in the pre-shipment photos before anything left the factory. First time I've felt calm ordering from China."
M
Marcus BennettHome goods brand · Austin, USA
✓ Verified sourcing order
★★★★★
"Their inspection reports are the best I've seen — dated photos, measurements, packaging checks. We rejected one batch on their findings and got a remake at no cost."
E
Elena RodriguezSkincare brand · Barcelona, Spain
✓ Verified inspection
★★★★★
"I started with one 300-unit order and now they run my monthly sourcing. Direct factory payments, clear fees, fast answers on WhatsApp. It just works."
J
James WhitfieldEDC gear store · London, UK
✓ Verified monthly partner
CLIENT CASES
Proof,
not promises.
★★★★★
Ceramics brand · USA
Defect rate cut from 12% to 2% before a holiday launch. Three pre-shipment inspections across two factories; the batch that failed was remade at no cost.
✓ Verified sourcing + QC order
★★★★★
Skincare brand · Spain
One rejected batch, zero losses. Inspection photos and measurements caught a fill-level issue; the supplier remade the run under the agreed terms.
✓ Verified inspection
★★★★★
EDC gear store · UK
A 300-unit first order became an ongoing partnership. Supplier sourcing through 1688, then monthly sourcing and QC as the store scaled.
✓ Verified monthly partner
BOOTS ON THE GROUND
The people
behind the cartons.
Groundline Sourcing is a small team of sourcing specialists based in Guangdong, China. We visit factories, open cartons, measure, photograph, and check your goods before your money moves.
No trading-company markups hidden in the unit price. No mystery middlemen. You pay factories directly, and you pay us a clear, written fee for the work.
Illustrative industry photography06 / LET’S TALK SOURCING
A good order
starts with a
good conversation.
Three simple steps. Share your product, add the details you know, then review your brief before opening WhatsApp.
DIRECT WHATSAPP CONTACT+86 131 8609 7257 ↗EMAIL US[email protected] ↗
Groundline SourcingGuangdong, China · Working globally
Prefer email?
Not on WhatsApp? Send your brief by email — we reply within one business day at [email protected].
BEFORE WE BEGIN
A little more
clarity.
The details worth knowing.
Do I pay you or the factory for the products?
You pay the factory directly. Groundline’s service fee is separate from the product payment. Confirm supplier payment terms and the scope of work before proceeding.
What does the discounted sourcing fee cover?
The per-order plan lists supplier comparison, quote and MOQ negotiation, sample and order coordination, and QC and freight support. The fee is 4% of order value, with a $40 minimum (50% off). The final scope and fee basis are agreed in writing.
What costs are separate?
Samples, testing, travel, freight, duties, and taxes are quoted separately before you approve them. The calculator estimates only the per-order service fee.
What does an inspection confirm?
An inspection reports the checks performed against the agreed scope and criteria. It cannot guarantee every unit, replace laboratory testing, or establish regulatory compliance unless those services are separately arranged.
Can you help with a small first order?
Share your product and quantity. Minimum order quantities depend on the supplier, product, and customization. Availability and practical options must be checked for your specific requirements.
What should I send to get started?
A product link or specification, estimated quantity, target budget, destination, and required date. Include materials, dimensions, packaging, branding, and any applicable testing requirements if known.
How do I pay suppliers?
You pay the factory directly — we never touch your product money. Our sourcing fee is separate, agreed in writing before any order. This keeps your costs transparent and your supplier relationship yours.
What happens if the quality is bad?
Inspections happen before final payment or shipment. If goods fail, you get dated photos, measurements, and a written report — then we negotiate a remake, repair, or refund with the supplier on your behalf.
Do you handle shipping?
We coordinate with your freight forwarder and prepare export-ready packing. If you don't have one, we can recommend options for sea, air, or express — freight, duties, and taxes are quoted separately.
Why not just order from Alibaba myself?
You can — for simple, low-risk orders. We earn our fee where the risk is higher: verifying suppliers, negotiating in Mandarin, checking goods on the ground, and resolving problems before your money is gone.
YOUR NEXT MOVE STARTS HERELet’s get to work.↗