Introduction
“Hi, I just need you to contact this factory in China for me. I already emailed them, but they didn’t respond. I only need the WeChat of the owner and maybe a video call. Shouldn’t take more than 2 minutes. I’ll pay you $15.”
If you’re a sourcing or procurement professional, you’ve probably come across requests like this. We certainly have.
As a professional sourcing team based in Shanghai, serving clients across Europe, Australia, and North America, we’d like to share why we gracefully turn down this kind of request — and what kind of clients we do look forward to working with.
Who We Are
At TOM SOURCING, we provide full-spectrum supply chain services: sourcing, supplier vetting, product development, sampling, QC, warehousing, and logistics. We have our own office and warehouse in Shanghai and have served hundreds of clients since 2020, from small beauty brands to large-scale industrial firms.
We’re not freelancers — we’re a structured team with clear SOPs, defined roles, and long-term relationships with both clients and suppliers.
Why We Decline “Just Contact This Factory” Projects
1. We’re Not Factory Insiders
Clients often assume that, because we are based in China, we must have personal relationships with every factory. That’s not how this works. Factories don’t respond (even to locals) unless you’re bringing real business. If they didn’t respond to your email, it’s probably for a reason.
Sourcing professionals build trust with factories over time. Our value lies in knowing which factory is worth approaching — not just getting a name on WeChat.
2. It Devalues Professional Work
These “2-minute” tasks are rarely 2 minutes. They often involve:
- Identifying the real factory contact (not a trading company)
- Bypassing auto-responders and generic inboxes
- Making a professional introduction (often in Chinese)
- Negotiating credibility for a cold lead
All for $15 and no promise of future collaboration.
We value our time, knowledge, and networks. Serious clients do too.
3. One-Time Requests Are High Risk, No Return
We’ve had cases where:
- We successfully connected the client and factory
- The client went direct and never replied
- No compensation was offered for our time
When information is the only thing we provide, and there’s no agreement or protection in place, the risk of being bypassed is nearly 100%.
What We Look for in a Client
We love working with:
- Startup brands with long-term vision
- NGOs with defined project scopes
- SMEs looking for reliability and quality
- Buyers who value transparency, not just cheap prices
We offer value when we can provide:
- Product strategy consultation
- Full-stack sourcing (from factory search to doorstep delivery)
- Ongoing order and inventory management
Sourcing is a Process, Not a Transaction
If you treat sourcing like a two-minute phone call, you’ll probably get:
- A scammy supplier
- Missed quality red flags
- Hidden costs at customs
But if you treat it like a process, with the right partner, you’ll get:
- Long-term cost savings
- Fewer headaches
- A competitive supply chain advantage
Final Thoughts
We’re not here to say no — we’re here to say: let’s work the right way.
If you’re looking for a sourcing partner who values trust, transparency, and long-term collaboration, we’d love to hear from you.