Why Your Factory Quotes Keep Rising — And How to Stop It
- Sal Orozco
- Aug 11
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 4
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” – Abraham Lincoln
You’re sourcing on Alibaba. You send out 10 quote requests.
One supplier gives you a great price. You move forward…
And suddenly the price creeps up.
“Oh, you wanted 10mm thickness? That’s $0.20 extra.”
“You need custom packaging? That’s another setup fee.”
Sound familiar?
One that happens because the way most people source from Alibaba is broken.
The Real Reason Your Quotes Keep Changing
Suppliers know they’re one of thousands fighting for your business.
To stand out, they lead with the lowest possible price, for the lowest possible spec.
That first quote?
It’s a placeholder. A guess.
It’s based on minimal input.
Once you clarify the real requirements, the price starts climbing.
That’s not always bait-and-switch, it’s just misalignment.
You’re essentially asking for a different product than what they quoted.
The Common But Broken Sourcing Workflow
Here’s how most importers operate:
Search Alibaba
Request quotes from 10 suppliers
Choose the 3 cheapest
Clarify specs later
Get hit with revised pricing (and delays)
This seems efficient.
You get numbers quickly and narrow down fast.
But in reality, it leads to:
Miscommunication and wasted time
Low-quality samples from factories that can’t deliver
Reliable suppliers dropping off because you asked for too much, too late
Specs that never stabilize, until customer reviews expose them
This is how product launches flop before they even start.
The Better Way to Source: Flip the Process
Step 1: Lock In Your Product Specs
Most people want to skip this step.
It feels slow. But it’s essential.
You wouldn’t build a house without a blueprint, why would you build a product without one?
Take the time to write out:
Exact dimensions
Material choices
Finish details
Packaging
Compliance requirements
Any brand-specific features (logos, colors, etc.)
If you can’t describe it clearly, you can’t source it properly.
Step 2: Vet Factories Based on Capability—Not Just Price
Here’s what real supplier due diligence looks like:
What markets do they export to? (U.S.? Europe? These imply higher standards.)
How long have they been in business?
Are they a manufacturer or a trading company?
Do they actually make your product, or just list it?
This last one is key. Many suppliers show products they don’t manufacture, they outsource, mark up, and pass on the risk to you.
If a supplier makes power banks, silicone mats, and backpacks, they’re probably not a factory. They’re a broker.
Bonus Tip: Speak With the Production Manager
Sales reps will say “yes” to anything.
Production managers will tell you what’s actually possible.
If you can get on a call (or better, visit) and talk with the person running the production line, you’ll get real answers:
What tolerances can they meet?
How do they handle defects or rejects?
What tooling will be required?
What’s a realistic timeline not just what looks good in a quote?
This level of insight is what separates experienced importers from everyone else.
Quality Issues Don’t Start at Inspection
—They Start Earlier
A lot of people assume that inspections prevent problems.
They don’t.
By the time you’re inspecting, the problems are baked in.
The factory already ordered materials, made the tooling, and produced your product.
Quality control doesn’t begin at the end. It starts with:
Choosing the right supplier
Giving them clear specs
Validating their real capabilities
If you skip that foundation, inspections are just a band-aid.
Fix the Process, Not the Supplier
If your quotes keep changing, your suppliers seem unreliable, or quality feels inconsistent
—the issue isn’t just them. It’s your sourcing system.
The Fix:
Clarity over speed.
Specs before quotes.
Capability before price.
It’s slower upfront.
But it saves you months of headaches, returns, and bad reviews down the road.
