Procurement Agency
We buy from China on your behalf — you keep control of the order.
Send us your specs and we run the order: supplier selection, price negotiation, sampling, production follow-up, quality control, and shipment. You get one accountable partner in China on a transparent commission — not a price marked up behind your back.
Procurement Agency
Our procurement agency service is for buyers who want to purchase directly from Chinese factories, with the specs and the commercial decision staying in their hands — but who need someone in China to run the sourcing and the order.
You hold the contract with the factory. We do the work: find and screen suppliers, negotiate price and terms, coordinate samples, follow production, arrange inspection, and manage shipment. You pay us a commission on the order value — never a hidden markup on the goods.
How an Agency Model Works
A traditional trading company buys from the factory and resells to you at a markup. You never see the real factory price, and you are locked to that one middleman.
An agency works differently: the factory quotes you, you contract the factory, and we are paid a clear commission for the work we do. That keeps our interests aligned with yours — we are paid to get you the right supplier at a fair price, not to protect a margin on the goods.
| Trading company | TongSourcing agency | |
|---|---|---|
| Factory price | Hidden behind a markup | Transparent — you see the quote |
| Your contract | With the trading company | With the factory |
| Supplier choice | Theirs | Yours |
| How we are paid | Margin on the goods | Commission on the order |
| Supplier kickbacks | Often hidden | None — ever |
What We Do
Depending on your project, we take on as much or as little of the order as you need:
| Stage | What we do |
|---|---|
| 1. Requirements brief | We turn your drawings, specifications, quantities, and target price into a brief the factory can quote against. |
| 2. Supplier selection | We research and screen manufacturers, compare quotations, and shortlist the ones that genuinely fit your spec. |
| 3. Price negotiation | We negotiate price, MOQ, payment terms, and lead time on your behalf — and show you the result. |
| 4. Sampling & approval | We coordinate samples and revisions until the product matches your agreed specification. |
| 5. Production follow-up | We monitor the production schedule and keep you updated on progress, delays, and changes. |
| 6. Quality control | We arrange pre-shipment inspection and follow up on corrective actions before goods leave China. |
| 7. Shipment coordination | We coordinate packaging, consolidation, and shipping so your goods arrive safely and to spec. |
What You Receive
On a typical agency order you receive:
- A shortlist of screened suppliers with a profile and verification notes
- Comparable quotations, so you can see what the market looks like
- A written summary of supplier strengths, risks, and our recommendation
- Sampling coordination and approval against your specification
- Production updates from order placement to shipment
- Pre-shipment inspection results and corrective-action follow-up
- Shipment coordination and export documentation support
All reports and communication are delivered in English, Japanese, or Russian. Verification evidence (licence, audit report, certifications) is provided as part of your report. Full supplier names, addresses, and contacts are provided once we are contracted and you have placed an order — see our supplier information policy.
How Much It Costs
5% of the FOB order value. No hourly billing, no markup on the goods.
| What you pay | How it is calculated |
|---|---|
| 5% commission | 5% of the FOB order value, tiered down to 3% on large annual volumes. |
| Minimum service fee | USD 150 per order — so small orders are still worth running properly. |
| Third-party costs | Laboratory testing, certification bodies, freight, and inspection are passed through at cost with no mark-up. |
We never charge both a commission and a trading margin on the same order. An order is handled either on agency commission or on a trading quotation — never both. If you would rather we handle the factory and deliver a finished product to you, ask about our trading option.
Agency vs. Trading vs. Order Follow-up
These three options sound similar but solve different problems. Pick the one that fits:
| Service | Best when | How you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Procurement Agency | You want to buy directly from the factory and keep control of the order, but need someone in China to run sourcing and the order. | 5% commission on the order |
| Trading | You want a finished product delivered and would rather not manage the supply chain at all. | A quoted price for the goods |
| Order Follow-up | You already have your own Chinese supplier and just need us to monitor production, quality, and shipping. | USD 280 / month / order |
You can also start with a single service — for example a factory audit before you commit — and add the agency on top once you decide to place an order.
Who This Is For
This service is a good fit if you:
- Have clear specs or drawings and want to buy directly from the manufacturer
- Do not have a procurement team in China, or do not want to build one
- Want transparent factory pricing instead of a reseller’s markup
- Need someone accountable on the ground for negotiation, follow-up, and quality
- Import machinery, automation components, precision parts, electrical equipment, or OEM products
Frequently Asked Questions
How is your commission calculated?
Our commission is 5% of the FOB order value, tiered down to 3% for large annual volumes. There is a minimum service fee of USD 150 per order so that small orders are still managed properly. We bill in USD.
Do you also take commission from the factory?
No. We take no supplier kickbacks of any kind. Our only income on an agency order is the commission you pay us — which is why we work for you, not the supplier.
Do I sign with the factory or with you?
For an agency order, you contract directly with the factory, and we are appointed as your sourcing and management partner in China. For a trading order, we contract the factory and deliver to you at a quoted price.
Can you handle just part of the order?
Yes. Some clients use us for supplier selection and negotiation only; others ask us to run production follow-up, inspection, and shipping as well. The commission applies to the order value we manage.
What is the difference between the agency and order follow-up?
Agency means we run the whole sourcing and purchasing process on a commission. Order follow-up is for buyers who already have their own Chinese supplier and just need us to monitor production, quality, and shipping for a flat monthly fee.
Do you guarantee the lowest price?
No — and you should be cautious of any agent who does. We negotiate hard and show you comparable quotes, but we screen for capability, quality, and reliability first. The cheapest supplier is rarely the cheapest order.
How quickly do I receive supplier details?
Verification evidence — licence, audit report, certifications, capacity, samples — is provided as part of your report. Full supplier names, addresses, and contacts are provided once we are contracted and you have placed an order.
Ready to place your next order in China?
Send us your specification and target price — we will tell you what is realistic and how the order would run.