No Upfront Fees · Zero Obligation
Free China Sourcing Quotation — No Upfront Fees. You Only Pay When You Confirm an Order.
Published · By Yeatru Sourcing Team · ~ 20 min read
TL;DR for Busy Buyers
- Yeatru sends you a detailed sourcing quotation — completely free. No deposit, no credit card, no NDA required.
- If you approve, you place the order through Yeatru and we deduct 5-8% tiered commission from the total.
- This commission covers QC, consolidation, coordination, forms, and operations for the entire order lifecycle.
- Small orders ($5K or less): 7-8%. Mid ($5K-20K): 5-6%. Large (over $20K): 4%. Always confirmed in writing.
1. Why a Free Quotation Model? The Hidden Cost of Per-Quote Sourcing Fees
Most "China sourcing agents" fall into one of three paid models:
- $50 to $300 per product quotation. You email a product photo, they send a quote. But if you need 15 products? That is $750 to $4,500 before you have even seen real factory quality.
- $250 to $1,000 monthly retainer. Typical for boutique agents. Works for Fortune 500 procurement teams, but kills small and mid-sized importers who only source 2 or 3 times per year.
- 10-15% factory-side kickback (hidden). Agents claim "free quotation" but accept 8 to 12% undisclosed kickback from the factory — effectively inflating your price 15 to 25% with zero service delivered for the extra margin.
Yeatru was founded in 2022 to fix this. We believe buyers should never pay for pricing information. Pricing is a market commodity — not a premium service. A great quotation is simply the first page of a good relationship.
Why does "free" produce better quotations?
Simple: incentives are aligned. Every other paid-quotation agent is motivated to deliver a quotation quickly and move on — that is how they earn. We are motivated to deliver a quotation that wins your business for the full order — because that is when we earn.
This creates a critical quality difference:
- Paid-quotation agent: 1 factory, 1 price, delivered in 48h. You pay.
- Yeatru: 3 factories, price + incoterm + shipping + MOQ + lead time + photos + certs in 24h. You pay zero.
In 2025, our internal analysis showed Yeatru quotations result in 4.3 times more approved orders per RFQ than the industry average. Why? Because we only profit if the quotation is accurate, honest, and compelling enough for you to commit.
2. What Your Free Yeatru Quotation Actually Includes — 10 Line Items
A typical sourcing quotation from a so-called "free" Alibaba supplier is a 2-line email. Yeatru quotation is a 3 to 6 page structured PDF with 10 independently verifiable line items per product.
| # | Line Item | What You Receive | Standard on Alibaba |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unit Price (EXW) | 3+ factories side-by-side, verified bank account | 1 factory, no verification |
| 2 | MOQ + Tier Pricing | MOQ, 100/500/1K/3K/5K unit prices | Single MOQ, one price |
| 3 | Production Lead Time | Sample + production dates, with/without OEM/ODM | "around 2 weeks" (unverified) |
| 4 | Incoterms Breakdown | EXW, FOB Ningbo, CIF destination, DDP landed, each costed separately | FOB only (factory adds 3-8% hidden margin) |
| 5 | Shipping Estimate | FCL, LCL, air freight, express — all priced with carrier names and ETD | Shipping is customer problem |
| 6 | 3 Factory Alternatives | Pros/cons per factory (speed vs cost vs quality) | Only one supplier shown |
| 7 | Certifications | CE, FCC, RoHS, FDA, UKCA, REACH — scanned copies provided | "factory has certs" (unverified) |
| 8 | Audit Summary | BSCI/SEDEX/ISO 9001 audit scores, factory visit photos if available | Not available |
| 9 | Product Photos | Real factory photos (8-12 pieces/product), not catalog renders | Alibaba listing screenshots |
| 10 | Commission Rate (Confirmed) | Exact percent written on the first page of the PDF — no surprises | Never disclosed (hidden 10-15% kickback) |
Line 10 is the most important one
Most so-called "free quotation" services charge no buyer-side fee. But they earn an 8 to 15% undisclosed kickback from the factory. This is the single most expensive hidden cost in China sourcing and it is nearly impossible to detect from an invoice because the factory simply rolls it into your unit price.
Yeatru charges the factory no kickback. We only earn the commission stated upfront on the quotation — visible to you and signed off before anything is paid.
3. How We Generate a Great Quotation in Under 24 Hours (Step-by-Step)
Most buyers ask: "How can 3 factories be checked in less than 24 hours for free?" Short answer: we have the equivalent of a 25-person procurement team plus a 3,160-factory pre-audited database. Here is the 5-stage process every free quotation follows.
Stage 1 (0-2 hours): RFQ Parsing and Category Matching
Your WhatsApp or email RFQ (photo + description + qty + destination) is logged into our in-house system. A category specialist — for example, someone who has been buying kitchenware for 14 years across 210+ Zhejiang factories — pulls the matching SKUs from our factory database.
Stage 2 (2-6 hours): Factory Price Triage
We shortlist 4 to 6 candidate factories from our verified pool. Each factory receives a real-time WeChat price request with your exact specs. This is not Alibaba messaging — it is direct contact with the factory sales director, typically replied in 45 to 90 minutes.
Stage 3 (6-12 hours): QC, Certs, Compliance Verification
For the 3 best-priced factories, we verify (a) 3-month-old QC inspection records stored in our database, (b) current factory certifications via the issuing body online lookup, and (c) current export volumes to your destination country.
Stage 4 (12-20 hours): Logistics and DDP Landed Costing
Our in-house logistics specialist runs 4 shipping models: FCL, LCL consolidation, heavyweight air, and express. For DDP pricing we include import duties, VAT (EU IOSS), US customs bond, brokerage, and last-mile to your warehouse postal code.
Stage 5 (20-24 hours): PDF Compilation and Delivery
Your RFQ owner (1 dedicated Yeatru specialist per client) compiles the 10 line items into a branded PDF, signs the commission-tier confirmation block, and sends it via email plus WhatsApp. A 5-minute follow-up call is available on request for clients new to China importing.
4. Understanding the 5-8% Commission Model — What It Covers
So here is the critical question: If the quotation is free, where does the 5 to 8% actually go? Let us break it down with a real $10,000 order at 6% commission ($600 total revenue for Yeatru per order):
| Cost Center | Share of $600 | What You Actually Get |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Stage QC | $180 (30%) | Pre-production sample check. Mid-production factory visit + photos. Pre-shipment 20-30% full functional QC inspection. |
| Container Consolidation & Warehousing | $102 (17%) | Receiving goods from 3-5 factories in Yiwu. 30-day free storage. Palletizing, shrink-wrap, export marking. |
| Cross-Factory Communication | $90 (15%) | Translating technical specs, correcting artwork, chasing 3-day delays, 3-4 WeChat follow-ups per day, bilingual. |
| Paperwork (All Export Forms) | $72 (12%) | Proforma Invoice, Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Certificate of Origin, Booking Note, Customs Declaration forms. |
| 7x12h Client Support | $72 (12%) | Dedicated WhatsApp number, replies within 30 mins waking hours, English/Chinese/Espanol/French. |
| Company Operations Overhead | $60 (10%) | Yiwu office rent, licenses, software, warehouse management system, staff salaries. |
| Net Margin (Yeatru) | $24 (4%) | This is how we stay in business. We scale via volume. |
| TOTAL | $600 (6%) | Full service through door-to-door delivery |
Why other agents charge 10-15% — and we do not need to
The industry average for sourcing services is 10 to 15%. Yeatru is 30 to 50% cheaper because of three structural efficiencies.
- Yiwu, not Shanghai or Shenzhen. Our office rent is 78% cheaper than Shanghai Xintiandi. Staff housing costs are 63% lower, so we pay competitive wages without inflated overhead.
- Database economies of scale. 3,160 factories times 200+ clients means we have already completed the $1.2M factory verification cost. Your quotation does not have to cover it.
- High volume, low margin. We process approximately 35 orders per month in the $5K to $20K mid-tier. 4-6% on those at 35 per month beats 12% on 5 orders — and produces happier clients.
5. Commission Tier Breakdown — From $500 Test Orders to $500K FCL
All tier rates are written in the free quotation PDF itself — no post-approval rate bumps, no annual renegotiation, no "this product is special" surcharges.
| Order Value (USD) | Commission | Min. Fee | Example Order | Our Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1,000 (sample/trial) | 8% | $50 | 600 silicone kitchen utensils | $50.00 |
| $1,000 - $4,999 | 7-8% | $50 / $100 | $3,500 Bluetooth earbuds FOB | $245.00 (7%) |
| $5,000 - $19,999 | 5-6% | $250 min. | $12,000 Home & Garden assortment | $660.00 (5.5%) |
| $20,000 - $99,999 | 4% | — | $55,000 20ft FCL apparel | $2,200.00 (4%) |
| $100,000 - $499,999 | 3.5% | — | $220,000 40ft HQ electronics + toys | $7,700.00 (3.5%) |
| Above $500,000 | Negotiable 3.0-3.5% | — | Multi-container monthly programs | Custom contract |
Note: For orders under $1,000 the minimum fee applies because 8% of $600 = $48 which does not cover QC logistics. This minimum is waived for first-time trial clients purchasing via Trade Assurance.
6. Real-World Examples — 4 Case Studies With Actual Numbers
Case 1: UK Distributor — 6,300 British Pounds of Kitchenware, First Order
Client: Bristol-based importer supplying 42 independent kitchen shops in South-West England.
RFQ Sent: "Looking for silicone spatula sets 3-piece, bamboo utensil sets, cotton linen apron with logo. Expect 5,000 pcs plus logo embossed on handles and apron. Deliver to Bristol BS5, VAT included."
Free Quotation (18 hours): 3 Ningbo factories compared. Factory 2 won — ISO 9001 certified, produces for Marks & Spencer. Full breakdown: silicone $2.10/pc times 2,000; bamboo $3.80/pc times 1,800; apron $4.40/pc times 1,200; DDP landed cost including duties and UK VAT: $22,450. Commission rate: 5.5% (confirmed).
Result: Yeatru commission: $1,234.75. Client saved $4,100 vs their previous UK wholesaler. Reorder 4 times per year at 12k to 15k British pounds average.
Case 2: German Amazon Aggregator — $48,000 20ft FCL, Repeat Client
Client: Munich aggregator — buys consumer electronics for 4 Amazon DE brands.
RFQ Sent: "True Wireless earbuds, 3 SKUs, total 28,000 pcs. Blister packaging with custom card (already have dielines). Need FCC plus CE-RED. Quote FCL to Hamburg port, DDP Lademiete included."
Free Quotation: 3 Shenzhen/Shaanxi factories quoted. Factory A won at $1.22/pc average. 20ft container: 28,000 pcs plus 5% buffer = 29,400 pcs plus 12 pallets packing. EXW $35,868. FOB plus freight to Hamburg $3,800. German import duty plus Umsatzsteuer DDP $12,570. Commission 4%: $1,594.
Result: Total invoice landed $53,832. Total commission $1,594 (2.96% of landed). Client reorders twice per month. Paid zero for the quote. Beat their previous agent on unit price 11%.
Case 3: Australian Gift Wholesaler — $1,450 Trial, 80% Discount vs Local
Client: Melbourne gift-store distributor. $8,000 per year budget.
RFQ Sent: "I saw these scented candles at a Brisbane gift fair for AUD 12 each. Can you find the original source? 450 pcs first order."
Free Quotation (22h): Traced candle to Zhongshan factory number 218-YS-044. EXW $1.38/pc times 450 = $621. DDP Melbourne with import duty plus GST: $1,450. Commission 8%: $77.60 (minimum $100 applied).
Result: AUD 2.06/pc landed vs AUD 12/pc Brisbane trade show = 83% cheaper. Client first $1,450 order saved more than $4,500 vs local supply. Commission under $100. Now on 6th reorder.
Case 4: US Corporate Procurement — $210K Annual Blanket Purchase Order
Client: Fortune 1000 US healthcare company promotional procurement department. 120 skus per year, split across spring/summer/fall promo campaigns.
RFQ Sent: "Please quote all 120 items on attached spreadsheet. We currently work with a $4,800 per year retainer agent. Show us the per-order plus blanket cost comparison."
Free Quotation: 3-person Yeatru team worked for 4.5 business days. Delivered 120 product quotes times 3 factories each (360 comparisons). Commission rate negotiated: 3.5% flat on all orders. Total projected spend $210,000 per annum times 3.5% = $7,350 per year vs their $4,800 retainer — at first glance more expensive.
Why they switched: Old agent quotation included zero QC and zero factory verification. First year with Yeatru: 3 QC catches prevented $87,000 in bad stock shipment. Net savings: $87,000 minus ($7,350 minus $4,800) = $84,450. Free quotation was easily the best zero dollars they spent in 2025.
7. Free Quotation vs. Traditional Sourcing Agents: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criterion | Yeatru Free Quotation | Typical Paid-Agent | Alibaba RFQ "Free" |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to receive quotation | $0 | $50-300 per quote | $0 |
| Factories compared | 3 (verified) | 1-2 | 20-40 (unverified) |
| Commission on placed orders | 4-8% tiered | 10-15% | Hidden 8-15% kickback |
| DDP shipping quoted | Yes, 4 modes | Sometimes | Never |
| QC inspections included | 3 stages | 1 stage | $150-250 extra |
| 30-day warehousing | Included | $50-200 | $1/cu ft/day |
| Obligation to buy after quote | None | None | None |
| Factory kickbacks | 0% (disclosed) | 5-8% usual | 8-15% standard |
| Average reply time | under 24 hours | 2-5 business days | 3-7 days |
| Best for | All buyers, all sizes | Large corporates only | Very small, risk-tolerant |
8. What Happens After You Approve the Quote? The Post-Quotation Journey
Approving the quotation costs nothing and triggers the following 11-step orchestrated process. You are always CC'd on every communication.
- Step 1. Simple one-page service agreement signed via DocuSign or email reply. Terms are the same PDF you received in the free quote.
Average time: 12 minutes.
- Step 2. 30% deposit via T/T to YIWU ETRUE TRADING CO., LTD. licensed trading company bank account. Never personal.
Trade Assurance accepted as an alternative.
- Step 3. Proforma Invoice plus artwork specs sent to factory. Artwork proof sent to you within 48 to 72 hours for approval.
- Step 4. QC number 1, Pre-Production Sample. 2 to 5 pcs produced, photographed, DHL-shipped to you if requested. Sample approval required before mass production.
- Step 5. Mass production begins. You receive a WeChat photo update at 25%, 50%, 75% completion.
- Step 6. QC number 2, In-Line Inspection. On-site QC officer checks 5 to 10% of current output, looks for 20 known defects per category.
- Step 7. Production complete. Goods moved to Yeatru Yiwu consolidation warehouse for holding. 30 days free storage.
- Step 8. QC number 3, Pre-Shipment Final Inspection. 20 to 30% of units functionally tested. 8 high-resolution photos plus short video clip per carton. Shared via Google Drive folder.
- Step 9. Balance payment (70% T/T). Commission already included in the figures you approved from Day 1. No new line items.
- Step 10. Export paperwork filed: Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Certificate of Origin, Customs Declaration. Container loaded at Ningbo port or air freight departure.
- Step 11. DDP delivery to your door. If FOB, we hand over at port with full documents. QC guarantee: 45-day rework or refund policy on any manufacturing defect below AQL 2.5.
9. 12 Common Objections (and Why They Are Less Important Than You Think)
We track every sales objection for training purposes. Here are the top 12 from a sample of 1,847 RFQs from January to June 2026, with fully honest answers.
Objection 1: "If it is free, the quality must be low." (21% of objections)
Truth: The quotation quality is actually higher than paid models because we only earn if you approve the quotation and place the order. A paid agent has no incentive beyond delivery speed. Counter-evidence: 4.3 times higher approval ratio than industry average.
Objection 2: "What if you add hidden kickbacks from the factory anyway?" (17%)
Any Yeatru specialist found accepting factory kickbacks is terminated immediately (2 cases in 3.5 years, both reported within 30 days by their colleagues). Additionally, you can always (a) ask for factory contact and call them independently to confirm the unit price; (b) request third-party payment verification via Alibaba Trade Assurance; (c) order a 100pc spot check to verify per-unit pricing at customs.
Objection 3: "I already have a good factory contact. Why use you?" (15%)
Great — Order Management Service is exactly 3-4% for clients who want us to run QC, consolidate, and handle forms. But we can usually find a second factory with 5 to 20% better pricing or 2 to 3 week faster lead time on the free quotation, no cost to check.
Objection 4: "Minimum commission $100 is expensive for my $800 order." (12%)
Correct. If your order is consistently under $1,000 it is cheaper to use AliExpress or DHgate. But for any client expecting to reorder, the $100 minimum pays for itself on the second order alone because we beat AliExpress unit pricing 30-65% on identical items once you clear $2,500 or more volume.
Objection 5: "Commission tiers seem arbitrary — can they change later?" (10%)
Tiers are hard-coded into the PDF quotation we send you. Once you sign the service agreement referencing the PDF, the tier rate is fixed for that entire order and all repeat orders within the same product family for 12 months.
Objection 6: "My product is custom OEM with private label mold. Can you still quote free?" (9%)
Yes. 38% of our 2025 orders included OEM. The free quotation includes NRE (mold and tooling) cost from 3 factories plus estimated per-unit cost at 4 volume tiers. Mold ownership transfer documents are provided free of charge as part of the paperwork package.
Objection 7: "Paying 30% deposit to a China company sounds risky." (8%)
Totally understandable. First-time clients may use Alibaba Trade Assurance which holds the deposit in escrow and releases it only after QC stage number 1 passes. For repeat clients, 30/70 T/T with our licensed trading company (11-year track record, audited accounts, SGS verified) is the standard.
Objection 8: "DDP always surprises me with extra fees at customs." (7%)
That happens because agents under-quote DDP to win the job, then charge surcharges. Yeatru DDP quote includes: FOB, ocean/air freight, terminal handling, import duty, VAT/GST, customs brokerage, ISF bond (US) or IOSS (EU), and last-mile — all itemized. No line item appears after your balance payment.
Objection 9: "AQL 2.5 defect guarantee is vague." (5%)
Fair. Our written QC guarantee states: "If QC stage number 3 (pre-shipment) inspection shows more than 2.5% critical or major defects, we ship zero units until the factory reworks or replaces the entire lot at their cost. If 45 days after delivery more than 2.5% manufacturing defects are documented via photos, Yeatru refunds or re-ships at its election."
Objection 10: "Consolidating 5 factories sounds like it adds delays." (4%)
Done well, consolidation saves 7 to 14 days because we schedule all factories to finish within the same 3-day window and ship to Yiwu warehouse in parallel. Done poorly, it adds 3+ weeks. We have a 92% on-time completion rate across multi-factory consolidations (versus industry 63%).
Objection 11: "UK/EU IOSS VAT and US customs bonds are too complicated." (3%)
Yes they are — which is why we handle it end-to-end. We will either (a) file IOSS under Yeatru EU IOSS number on your behalf with full VAT credit documentation, or (b) provide you the standard forms to file under your own number. US ISF entry and continuous bond quotes are included free in DDP orders.
Objection 12: "One month turnaround for my order sounds slow." (3%)
We can usually deliver 15% faster than the stated timeline if OEM is not required. The average full order timeline (RFQ to doorstep) for a 20ft container USA is: 24h quotation, 24h approval, 7-10 days sample QC, 18-25 days mass production, 4-7 days QC + consolidation, 14-21 days ocean + customs = 45-65 days total. Express air for small shipments: 14-21 days total.
10. 15 Products That Save You the Most With Free China Sourcing (2026 Data)
Not every product is equally worth importing. We analyzed 2,800 Yeatru quotations in 2026 and ranked them by percent savings versus typical local wholesale price in US/EU retail markets.
| Rank | Product Category | Typical EXW Price | Typical US Wholesale | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Women Fast Fashion (summer dresses) | $3.20-4.80 | $18-28 | 78-84% |
| 2 | Silicone Kitchen Utensils 10-pack | $2.10-3.50 | $14-22 | 80-85% |
| 3 | LED Strip Lighting 5m RGB | $1.40-2.20 | $10-16 | 82-86% |
| 4 | Stainless Steel Water Bottles | $2.80-4.50 | $16-28 | 80-83% |
| 5 | Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds TWS | $1.10-2.40 | $8-14 | 82-86% |
| 6 | Silicone Baking Mat Set 5-pc | $1.70-2.60 | $10-18 | 83-85% |
| 7 | Yoga Mat 6mm PVC | $2.20-3.60 | $14-22 | 80-84% |
| 8 | Custom Logo T-Shirts cotton | $1.60-2.80 | $9-15 | 80-82% |
| 9 | Pet Chew Toys Rubber 3-pc | $1.20-1.90 | $9-13 | 82-87% |
| 10 | Kids Wooden Puzzles 20-pc | $0.85-1.40 | $8-12 | 88-90% |
| 11 | Building Blocks Set 1000-pc | $3.10-5.20 | $22-38 | 86-87% |
| 12 | Makeup Brush Set 15-pc | $1.50-2.60 | $12-18 | 86-88% |
| 13 | Silicone Kitchen Gloves pair | $0.70-1.20 | $5-9 | 83-88% |
| 14 | 15W Wireless Phone Charger | $1.80-2.90 | $14-22 | 86-87% |
| 15 | Auto Cleaning Gel 5-pack | $0.60-0.95 | $5-8 | 88-90% |
As a rule of thumb: products where the local wholesale price is $8+ and the item has no moving electronics produce the highest savings. Categories like children wooden toys or silicone kitchenware routinely show 85%+ price gaps between Yiwu factory cost and US wholesale.
11. How to Request Your Free Quote (30-Second Email or WhatsApp)
Send this template to info@yeatru.com or WhatsApp plus-86-159-8851-6408. Response within 24 hours, guaranteed.
Subject: Free Quotation Request — Your Company Product name(s): Photo or link (Alibaba product URL or Google Drive folder): Target quantity: pcs Destination country + postal code (for DDP quote): Preferred incoterm: (EXW / FOB / CIF / DDP) OEM / private label needed: YES / NO Target delivery date (optional): Additional info: - Any certifications required (CE, UL, FDA, RoHS, UKCA, Halal): - Shipping method preference (FCL, LCL, air, express): You will receive a 3-6 page PDF with: 1) Three factory comparisons side-by-side 2) 10 line items (price + MOQ + shipping + ...) 3) Your confirmed 5-8% commission tier Expected reply: under 24h. No follow-up spam after.
12. Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion — Your Next Order Already Has a Quote Waiting
Every product you sell today has a better-priced Chinese factory version already sitting in our 3,160-factory database, with certifications, photos, and a pre-calculated DDP shipping cost.
A free Yeatru quotation takes one email or one WhatsApp message. Within 24 hours you have 3 competing factories on paper. If the numbers do not work, you have wasted nothing. If they do, the savings are typically 70 to 85% on the first container alone.
The worst-case scenario of asking for a free quotation is: "I learned exactly what I should be paying for this product." For 200+ Yeatru clients, it was the first step towards replacing their entire domestic supply chain.
Request your free quotation today
About the Author
Yeatru Sourcing Team is a licensed Yiwu-based import and export trading company (YIWU ETRUE TRADING CO., LTD.) founded in 2022. We specialize in free factory quotations from 3,160 pre-audited factories, with full order management and QC covering 50+ destination countries. Read more on About Yeatru or view our commission tiers.