Straight answers to what people usually ask before buying through me.
Just me, Felix Zhang. I’m based in Yantai, China, and I’ve worked in export sales for four years. I do the searching, buying, checking and packing myself.
Not yet. TrueSource is currently run by me as an individual. I’ll update this answer when my business registration in China is complete.
Yes. I’m happy to talk through your project on a video call, or to show you your items live before they ship.
6 pm to midnight Beijing time, which is the morning on the US East Coast and the afternoon in the UK. I reply to every message within 12 hours.
From the service fee on your invoice, and nothing else: 10% of the goods value, with a $10 minimum per order and lower rates for bigger orders. The goods and China domestic shipping are charged at exactly what I pay.
No. If I took money from sellers, I’d be working for them instead of you. My only income is the fee you can see.
Yes. For every item I buy, you get the product link and the order screenshot. Open the link and compare.
Yes, for up to 5 products per request, with no obligation. It’s the quickest way for you to see how I work.
“Free” agents still get paid, usually through a markup hidden in the product price or a commission from the seller. A visible fee is cheaper in the long run, and it means the agent works for you.
They’re China’s domestic online marketplaces. 1688 is Alibaba’s wholesale site for Chinese businesses, Taobao is China’s largest shopping site, and Pinduoduo is a discount marketplace run by the same company as Temu. They’re in Chinese, take Chinese payments and mostly ship only within China — which is why most overseas buyers need someone like me.
Often, for the same kind of product, because 1688 sellers price for Chinese buyers. But not always, and the cheapest listing isn’t always the best value. That’s why I compare several sellers and check the goods.
No minimum quantity. Each order has a $10 minimum service fee. For very small orders, international shipping is usually the bigger cost, so I’ll tell you honestly if an order isn’t worth shipping on its own.
Counterfeits or brand replicas, products with batteries, products for children under 3, food or food-contact items, and cosmetics.
Yes, on items like mailer bags, pouches, stickers and tote bags, through sellers who offer printing. I confirm your artwork, send you photos of the proof, and check print quality. I only print logos and designs you own or have the right to use.
The price check comes back within 24 hours. After you pay, your goods are usually ready for your forwarder within 7–10 days.
I count every item, inspect its appearance, measure it, and test what can be tested by hand. You get photos of every product type, and video on request. For lab testing, I can arrange a third-party inspection company at cost.
I catch it when the goods arrive and sort it out with the seller — exchange or refund — within the platform’s return window. Domestic return shipping is charged at cost.
No. I hand your goods to your freight forwarder’s warehouse in China. If you don’t have a forwarder, I’ll introduce one at no charge, and you pay them directly.
You, as the importer, pay them through your forwarder. Duties depend on the product and your country, and US tariffs on Chinese goods have changed often. Ask your forwarder for a DDP (delivered duty paid) quote, so everything is in one price.
In two steps. You pay for the goods and domestic shipping before I buy, and my service fee after you’ve seen your checked goods. I accept bank transfer via Wise (USD, GBP, EUR and other major currencies), or PayPal on request, with the PayPal fee added at cost.
You don’t have to take my word for it. Within 48 hours of paying for the goods, you get every order screenshot — or a full refund. You get tracking numbers for every seller’s parcel. My service fee is only due after you’ve seen your checked goods. And your goods go to a forwarder you choose, who weighs every carton on arrival. If you’d like extra protection, pay your first order by PayPal and start small.
The official USD/CNY central parity rate published by the China Foreign Exchange Trade System (CFETS) for the People’s Bank of China on the invoice date. The rate is shown on your invoice, and you can check it on the CFETS website.
If I buy the wrong item or quantity, or miss a visible defect my checks should have caught, I fix it at my cost or refund the affected goods and their share of my fee. If goods are lost or damaged while they’re with me, I refund them in full. The details are in my Terms of Service.
Yes. For my first 10 clients, the first order has no service fee (on goods up to $1,000), in exchange for an honest review and permission to share the order as an anonymous case study.