A China sourcing agent can only quote what you describe. Since duty-free de minimis treatment for low-value parcels was suspended, a US-bound quote is no longer just a factory price plus freight: classification, entry type, duty, labelling and the delivery channel all change the number you plan your margin against. The fastest way to get an accurate landed-cost quote is a complete brief. This is the checklist we ask US Amazon FBA, Shopify DTC and wholesale sellers to send before we approach a factory.
Why the Brief Matters More After De Minimis
Almost every commercial shipment from China to the US now needs a customs entry with duties assessed, whatever its value. A parcel that used to clear on a manifest now carries a 10-digit HTS classification, possible Chapter 99 additions, an importer of record and a bond decision. Two suppliers can quote the same unit price and produce two very different landed costs once the product description, materials and destination are read by a broker.
For the regulatory detail, see what the end of de minimis means for dropshipping and our China-to-US customs, duties and entry guide. This article stays on the practical side: what to put in the brief so the quote you receive is one you can actually plan against.
The Nine Things to Put in a Sourcing Brief
01 · Product specification
Reference link or photos, dimensions, materials, colours, tolerances and acceptable substitutes. Vague briefs produce vague quotes.
02 · Sales channel and labelling
Amazon FBA, Shopify DTC or retail. FNSKU, polybag, carton marks and retail-ready packaging belong in the factory instruction, not in a later email. See FBA prep in China.
03 · Target landed cost per unit
Give the ceiling for product plus QC plus freight plus duty, in USD. It lets an agent tell you early if a product is viable instead of quoting an attractive ex-works price.
04 · Classification input
Your 10-digit HTS code if you have one, otherwise a full material and use description. Chapter 99 additions and exclusions must be confirmed by your licensed broker; see the duty stack explained.
05 · Quantity tiers and MOQ reality
Sample, trial order and projected bulk volumes. Factory MOQs vary by product; ask for the real number in writing before any deposit. More on low MOQ sourcing.
06 · Destination and Incoterm
FBA warehouse, 3PL, business address or customer door, plus FOB, CIF or DDP. DDP puts the duty in the quote; DAP leaves it with the consignee. See DDP shipping from China.
07 · Compliance documents
CPSC, FCC, FDA or product-specific test reports, and the certificate data your broker needs for eFiling. Ask for report numbers that can be verified with the issuing lab.
08 · QC standard and inspection point
A signed golden sample, written defect definitions, AQL 2.5 sampling and a dated pre-shipment report. Factory photos are not an inspection. See pre-shipment QC.
09 · Payment and balance terms
Deposit percentage and the condition for releasing the balance. Tying the balance to a passed inspection is the simplest protection a first-time importer has.
Amazon FBA vs Shopify DTC vs Wholesale: Three Different Briefs
Amazon FBA
Add FNSKU, polybag and carton rules, category compliance and the FC destination. A rejected shipment costs more than doing prep at the factory.
Shopify and DTC
Add branded packaging, single-unit fulfilment and a DDP parcel price with duty built in, so the customer never receives a carrier charge.
Wholesale and retail
Add carton marks, pallet pattern, ISF timing for ocean freight, formal entry and the importer of record decision.
What an All-In Quote Should Show
Ask for each line separately: unit price at each quantity tier, tooling or mould cost, sample cost and whether it is credited, QC scope, inland freight to the consolidation point, ocean or air freight, the duty assumption under DDP, and final delivery. A single number with no breakdown is impossible to audit when a rate changes.
Our quoted price already includes our margin. There is no separate sourcing fee or commission added on top, and we do not set a strict MOQ of our own. Every line is confirmed in writing before any deposit — see the sourcing agent pricing breakdown and the 2026 sourcing agent guide.
Five Red Flags in a Sourcing Quote
1. No factory name. If the quote hides the legal entity, you cannot verify the business licence or the production site. Ask for factory verification records before the deposit.
2. A unit price with no fee disclosure. A low headline price can hide a supplier-side markup. Require the fee model in writing.
3. No written MOQ. A verbal minimum becomes a surprise when production is scheduled. Factory MOQs should be confirmed for your SKU in writing.
4. Certificates without report numbers. Test reports must be current, product-specific and traceable to the issuing lab.
5. Inspection by factory photos. A dated third-party or agent inspection tied to a signed golden sample is the only evidence that survives a dispute.
Copy-and-Paste Brief Template
Sales channel (Amazon FBA / Shopify DTC / wholesale):
Target landed cost per unit (USD):
Quantity tiers (sample / trial / bulk):
Materials, size, colour, tolerance:
Packaging, labels, FNSKU or retail-ready:
10-digit HTS code if known, or full material description:
Compliance documents required (CPSC / FCC / FDA / test reports):
Destination, Incoterm and delivery address type:
QC standard and inspection point:
Deposit and balance terms:
Paste it into an email, a WhatsApp message or the quote form. A complete brief is usually the difference between a same-day shortlist and a week of back-and-forth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the HTS code before I ask for a quote?
Can I get a quote for just one sample?
Who pays US duty on a DDP shipment?
Ready to Get an Itemised Quote?
Send the brief above and we reply with a factory shortlist and an itemised landed quote within 24 hours. See our China sourcing agent service for US ecommerce sellers, or reach us on the contact page.