# Source products from an overseas supplier and order samples safely

Find and vet suppliers on B2B marketplaces like Alibaba, request samples, and judge them before placing a bulk order.

- Topic: Projects & Operations
- Framework: Few-Shot
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Finance, Sales, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/source-products-from-an-overseas-supplier-and-order-samples-safely

## Prompt

```text
Help me source a product from overseas suppliers and get samples before I place a bulk order.

**Product:** [WHAT, key specs, materials, packaging, any custom branding]
**Marketplace or region:** [e.g. Alibaba, Global Sources, Made-in-China; preferred countries]
**My business:** [where I'm based, sales channel, first order quantity]
**Budget:** [target unit cost and sample budget]
**Standards or certifications needed:** [e.g. CE, FCC, food-safe, toy safety - for my market]

Give me:
1. A supplier search and shortlist method: search terms, filters, how to tell a manufacturer from a trading company, and what verified badges, years active, and trade assurance do and don't prove.
2. A first-contact message template that asks for price tiers, MOQ, lead times, sample cost and shipping, certifications, and customization options.
3. A comparison table to fill in: supplier, unit price by quantity, MOQ, sample cost, lead time, payment terms, certifications, response quality.
4. How to order samples: paying safely through the platform, shipping options, and import costs to budget for (duties, taxes, broker fees).
5. A sample evaluation checklist: specs, materials, finish, packaging, function, and photos to compare against later bulk production.
6. Red flags of scams or unreliable suppliers, and steps before a bulk order (golden sample, written specifications, inspection, Incoterms).

Import rules, duties, and product-safety requirements vary by country and product. Mark them [CHECK] and tell me which authority or customs broker to confirm with.
```

## What to fill in

- WHAT, key specs, materials, packaging, any custom branding
- where I'm based, sales channel, first order quantity
- target unit cost and sample budget
- e.g. CE, FCC, food-safe, toy safety - for my market
- CHECK

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