FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers about sourcing, quality control, shipping and warehousing out of China.
What does Talea do?
Talea is a China sourcing partner. We handle product sourcing, supplier verification, purchasing, quality control, warehousing and freight out of China as one accountable team, with offices in Guangzhou, Yiwu, Zhili, Shishi and Dubai. We ship more than 800 containers per year to over 10 countries.
How does sourcing from China with Talea work?
In seven steps: you describe the product and market; we turn it into a technical brief a factory can quote; we shortlist and audit factories on the ground; we negotiate price, terms and samples in writing; we follow production with in-line and pre-shipment inspection; we book sea, rail or air freight with customs cleared at both ends; and your goods arrive at your warehouse or stay in ours.
How long does shipping from China take?
Typical door-to-door times from China to Europe are 30–45 days by sea, 18–25 days by rail, 5–10 days by air freight and 3–7 days by express courier. Exact times depend on the route, customs and the season — we confirm a realistic schedule when we book.
Should I ship by sea, rail or air?
Sea freight is the cheapest and best for full containers and non-urgent stock. Rail from China to Europe costs more than sea but roughly halves the transit time. Air freight suits urgent, light or high-value goods, and express courier suits samples and small parcels. We recommend the mode per shipment based on weight, volume, value and deadline.
Can you check a Chinese supplier before I pay?
Yes. Supplier verification covers the business licence, export history, factory audit on site and risk signals, so you know who you are dealing with before money moves. If you already have a supplier, we can act as your team on the ground without replacing them.
What is a pre-shipment inspection?
A pre-shipment inspection checks a statistically valid sample of your finished goods against your checklist — quantity, workmanship, measurements, packaging and function — before the shipment leaves the factory, using AQL sampling standards. You receive a photo-documented report within 24 hours, while there is still time to fix problems.
What are typical minimum order quantities (MOQs) in China?
MOQs vary by product and factory: often 500–1,000 pieces for consumer goods, more for custom or private-label products, less for standard items held in stock. Part of our sourcing work is finding factories whose MOQ matches your order size, or negotiating a lower first order.
How is my payment protected?
Price, terms, samples and payment protection are agreed in a written contract before anything is made. Goods are inspected before final payment is released, so you pay for what you approved — not for what the factory promises.
Can I combine goods from several suppliers into one shipment?
Yes. We receive goods from multiple suppliers into our warehouse in China, check and consolidate them into one shipment, and release it when your market needs it rather than when each factory happens to finish. This usually cuts freight cost per unit significantly.
Which countries do you ship to?
We export from China to more than 10 countries across Europe, the Middle East, North America, Africa and Asia-Pacific, by sea, rail and air, with customs clearance handled at both ends.
What does working with Talea cost?
Pricing depends on the services you use — sourcing, inspection, warehousing and freight are quoted separately or as one end-to-end package. Tell us what you want to buy and where it should go, and you get a concrete quote with real factory prices, not estimates. There is no obligation, and we reply within one working day.
How do I start?
Send a quick message or use the guided request form on the contact page. Describe the product you want to sell and your target market; we come back within one working day with sources, real prices and a plan to get it to your warehouse.
Ready to source with confidence?
Tell us what you want to sell. We come back with sources, real prices and a plan to get it to your warehouse.
Start sourcing