How our sourcing fee works: flat 10% of the goods value (US$50 minimum)
Short answer: For sourcing and buying orders, Yiwu Buddy charges one flat 10% service fee on the goods value only, with a US$50 minimum per order. Supplier unit prices are shown at real receipt cost without hidden markups. Quotes are free, and samples, international shipping, and third-party lab tests are billed separately at cost.
- Sourcing & buying rateFlat 10% of goods value
- Minimum per orderUS$50 (applies under US$500 goods)
- Supplier pricingOpen-book · receipts shown
- Asking for a quoteFree, no obligation
The simple rule
Before you wire money to anyone in China, you should know to the dollar what goes to the factory and what pays for local work on the ground. Our pricing has just two numbers:
- 10% flat rate on the total goods value paid to suppliers
- US$50 minimum fee per sourcing order (when 10% of goods value is below US$50)
The percentage applies strictly to the goods value — never to international freight, sample couriers, or lab testing. You can also test your own numbers on our interactive order fee estimator.
Worked math examples
Here is how the math looks across four sample order sizes (excluding shipping):
| Total goods value | Rule applied | Calculation | Service fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| US$300 | US$50 minimum | 300 × 10% = US$30 → minimum applies | US$50 |
| US$500 | 10% flat rate | 500 × 10% | US$50 |
| US$3,500 | 10% flat rate | 3,500 × 10% | US$350 |
| US$12,000 | 10% flat rate | 12,000 × 10% | US$1,200 |
Because the US$50 floor applies to orders below US$500 in goods value, buyers testing the market often combine three or four SKUs into one consolidated trial order so the minimum covers multiple products at once.
What the 10% service fee includes
- Walking Yiwu International Trade City to find booths, or contacting suppliers you already chose
- Negotiating unit prices, packaging specs and minimum order quantities in Chinese
- Placing orders in RMB and chasing each supplier’s production schedule
- Opening cartons in Yiwu to count pieces, check quality and send photos/video before shipping
- Consolidating goods from multiple booths into export cartons for a single shipment
- Coordinating export invoices, packing lists and Chinese export customs with shipping partners
What is billed separately, at real cost
- Product samples and sample courier fees. You pay what the booth and express carrier charge.
- International shipping. We quote express, air, sea or DDP options for your city before you pay.
- Printing plates, moulds or third-party lab tests (SGS, TUV and similar), only when your product or market requires them.
Standalone parcel consolidation (when you pay suppliers yourself)
Already bought small parcels directly from Chinese sellers and only need a Yiwu receiving address to count and combine boxes into one export carton? Our trial rates for standalone parcel consolidation are:
- ¥5 RMB per inbound parcel (basic receiving check, up to 5 items per parcel)
- ¥20 RMB per outbound repacked carton up to 10 kg (packing materials quoted by size if extra reinforcement is needed)
- 30 days of free storage for small parcels while your booths finish delivering
Always message us on WhatsApp first to confirm item types (no counterfeits, liquids/powders/batteries or restricted goods) before sending any parcels — we share the receiving address once confirmed.
How payment works
We send a clear line-item invoice first showing goods value, service fee and quoted shipping. You pay by company bank transfer (T/T) in China or by PayPal (PayPal transaction fees are shown on the quote).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 10% fee charged on international shipping?
No. Our 10% service fee is calculated strictly on the goods value paid to suppliers. International freight, pre-order samples and third-party lab tests are billed separately at real cost.
When does the US$50 minimum fee apply?
Whenever 10% of your total goods value is under US$50 — that is, on sourcing orders below US$500 in goods value. Above US$500, you simply pay 10% of the goods value.
Do you mark up factory or booth prices?
No. Supplier unit prices are open-book and we show supplier receipts. Our revenue comes from the stated 10% service fee, never hidden factory kickbacks.
What if I already paid my Chinese suppliers myself and only need parcel consolidation?
For buyers who paid suppliers directly and only need Yiwu parcel intake and repacking, standalone parcel consolidation starts at ¥5 RMB per inbound parcel (up to 5 items) and ¥20 RMB per repacked carton up to 10 kg, with 30 days of free small-parcel storage. Always message us on WhatsApp first to confirm items and get our warehouse address before shipping parcels.
Does asking for a quote cost anything?
No. Quotes are completely free and carry no obligation to order.