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China sourcing · Singapore

A China sourcing agent that invoices you locally

We find suppliers in China, negotiate in Chinese, arrange samples, consolidate and import the shipment, deliver in Singapore, and invoice your company in Singapore dollars as a local vendor.

Most sourcing agents that serve Singapore are in China. That is fine for the sourcing itself and awkward for everything after it: you are contracting with an overseas entity, paying in a foreign currency, and holding paperwork that your finance team has to work around rather than through. If the goods are wrong, your counterparty is in another jurisdiction.

Onevendor is registered in Singapore. We buy the goods in our own name and sell them to you here, which means the company you have a contract with, the company you pay, and the company you chase if something goes wrong are all the same company, and it is a local one.

What we do

Find the supplier

From a link, a photograph, a drawing, a specification or a sample. We search Taobao, 1688, Tmall, Pinduoduo and Alibaba, and approach factories directly where there is no listing worth linking to. You get options with prices and the trade-offs between them, not a single take-it-or-leave-it quote.

Check who we are dealing with

Trading history, how long the shop has operated, what the seller will and will not confirm in writing. A seller who will not put the specification in writing is telling you something useful.

Negotiate in Chinese

Price, minimum quantity, lead time, packaging, and the specification detail that decides whether the goods are actually usable. This is where most of the value is, and it is not work that translation software can do for you.

Sample before production

For anything you have not bought before, at quantity, we will suggest a sample first and quote it separately.

Consolidate, import and deliver

Goods from several suppliers are gathered in China and shipped as one consignment, which is normally the cheapest route. We handle the Singapore import and deliver to your premises during business hours.

Invoice you as a local vendor

One quotation to approve, one purchase order to raise, one invoice in SGD, one payment by bank transfer or PayNow.

What we are not

We are not a freight forwarder: if you have already bought the goods and only need them moved, a forwarder will do it more cheaply than we will. We are not a consumer parcel service, and we do not sell to individuals. We do not source counterfeit or trademark-infringing goods, anything illegal to import into Singapore, or anything requiring a permit we do not hold.

What it costs

10% of the value of the goods, or 15% where the supplier makes or alters the item to your specification. The first two suppliers on an order are included and each additional supplier is S$10; the minimum fee per order is S$30. The fee is shown as its own line. Goods at the supplier's price converted to SGD at the rate we obtain when we pay them. Freight, consolidation and import charges at cost. No GST, as we are not GST-registered.

Questions we get asked

What does a sourcing agent do?

A sourcing agent finds suppliers, checks them, negotiates price and specification, places and follows up the order, and arranges shipping. A buying agent only does the last part. Onevendor does both, and adds the piece most agents leave out: we sell the goods to you as a Singapore vendor, so your company buys locally and pays in SGD.

Can you find a supplier if I do not have a link?

Yes. Send a photograph, a drawing, a specification or a physical sample, and we will search Chinese platforms and come back with candidate suppliers, prices and the trade-offs between them.

Do you handle samples and quality checks?

We arrange samples before a production order, which we recommend for anything you have not bought before. For checks on the goods themselves, tell us what matters at enquiry stage and we will quote the inspection with the order rather than assume it.

Can you consolidate orders from several suppliers?

Yes, and it is usually the cheapest way to ship. Goods from several suppliers are gathered in China and moved as one shipment, which cuts freight and leaves you with one delivery and one invoice.

Do you handle the import into Singapore?

Yes. We import the goods and pass the import charges through at cost on your quotation. You receive the goods delivered to your premises, not a customs notice.

What are your payment terms?

Bank transfer or PayNow in Singapore dollars. Full payment, including our service fee, is due before we place the order. Established customers and orders above S$3,000 can pay the service fee on delivery instead; ask when you request a quotation.

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