Chinese supplier wants the balance before production is finished? What to ask for first
Short answer: do not pay the balance until you have independent proof the goods exist and match your order: a pre-shipment inspection by a company you choose, dated photos and video of your finished goods with your markings, and a packing list. Offer to pay the balance against the inspection result or against shipping documents. If the supplier refuses all evidence, or the deposit has gone and the supplier has gone quiet, act within days: the refund routes have short deadlines.
Why do suppliers ask for the balance early?
Usually for cash flow: the factory has paid for materials and labour and wants the money before the goods leave. Sometimes the order is late and the supplier wants to lock in payment before you find out. Occasionally the goods do not exist. A buyer on Global Sources described the problem exactly: there is "no guarantee we will get our goods if we pay the balance".
The usual 30% deposit and 70% balance only protects you if the balance is paid after you know the goods are right. Paying it before inspection turns your order into 100% prepayment.
What evidence should I ask for before paying the balance?
| Evidence | What it proves | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Supplier's own photos | Something exists | Weak: photos can be old or of another order |
| Live video call on the production floor, showing your goods, cartons with your marks and today's date on paper | Your goods exist now, at that site | Medium |
| Pre-shipment inspection by an inspection company you book and pay | Quantity and quality against your specification, sampled to a standard | Strong |
| Site visit by someone you trust | The factory is real and your goods are on site | Strong |
| Bill of lading copy after loading | The goods have shipped | Strong for existence, not for quality |
How do I negotiate without stopping the order?
- Agree that you will pay, and when. Suppliers fear never being paid. Say clearly: "We will pay the balance the same day the inspection passes."
- Book the inspection yourself with an independent inspection company, and share the inspector's date. A real factory with real goods will accept.
- Offer a middle step if they push back: part of the balance after a satisfactory video call, the rest after inspection.
- Put it in writing, in English and Chinese, so the person who decides at the factory, not just the salesperson, sees it.
- Watch the reaction. A supplier who refuses every form of evidence, or suddenly changes bank details, is telling you something.
The supplier has my deposit and stopped replying. What now?
- Check the deadlines today. Alibaba refund claims, card chargebacks and PayPal disputes all have time limits; our money-back guide lists them.
- Check the company still exists and is not on the court enforcement list. A company with assets and a real factory is worth pursuing; an empty shell usually is not.
- Contact them in Chinese, by phone and in writing, to the company's registered contacts, not just the salesperson. Silence in English is often a person, not the company.
- Keep all evidence: contract, proforma invoice, payment proof, chats and emails.
- If it was a deception from the start, report it to Report Fraud (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or Police Scotland.
Our China Disputes service starts with an assessment of whether the company is real and worth pursuing, then negotiates in Mandarin.
Common questions
Is 30% deposit and 70% before shipment normal in China?
Yes, it is the most common term. The protection comes from when the 70% is paid: after an inspection or against shipping documents, not before production is finished.
Can I book a pre-shipment inspection myself?
Yes. Independent inspection companies work across China and report against your specification. Book them yourself so the factory cannot choose who checks its goods.
The supplier says the goods are ready but refuses an inspection. What does that mean?
It may mean the goods are not ready, not as ordered, or do not exist. Do not pay the balance until you have independent evidence.
Sources
- Global Sources: Supplier didn't ship the order and kept our deposit (buyer question and expert answer)
- City of London Police: Report Fraud service goes live (December 2025)