The hardest part of importing from China isn't shipping — it's trust. You're often sending money thousands of kilometers away to a company you've never met. Most import losses happen here: a supplier that takes the deposit and disappears, or delivers goods nothing like the sample.
The good news: almost every scam follows a pattern, and a proper verification process catches it before you pay.
Common red flags
- A price that's far below everyone else — it's usually too good to be true.
- Pressure to pay quickly, or to pay the full amount upfront.
- Requests to pay a personal account instead of the registered company.
- Vague or evasive answers about the company, factory, or certifications.
- A brand-new company history with no verifiable track record.
- Reluctance to allow inspection or to provide a sample.
The 14-check verification approach
We check 14 things in three groups, in order: seven before you pay, one when you order, six before shipment.
- Before you pay — licence and registry, factory or trading company, bank details, track record, certificates incl. EAC, factory walk-through, samples.
- When you order — written terms: specification, quantity, packing, deadlines and what counts as a defect.
- Before shipment — quantity count, AQL quality sampling, match to the approved sample, packing and marking, photo and video report, loading supervision.
Protect yourself with payment terms
Never pay 100% upfront to an unverified supplier. Structuring payment — for example a deposit and the balance after a successful pre-shipment inspection — keeps leverage on your side and limits what you can lose.
Always inspect before shipment
Approving a sample isn't enough — the production run can differ. A pre-shipment inspection with photos confirms the goods match what you approved, while they're still in China and problems can be corrected.
Why a buyer-side partner helps
The catch with verification is that it's hard to do well from Armenia — language, time zones, and distance get in the way. An independent, buyer-side partner verifies and inspects on the ground, working for you rather than the factory.
That's exactly what Mira Sente does: independent 14-check verification and quality control, from the business licence to container loading, so Armenian businesses import from China without the risk.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common China import scam?
Supplier fraud — taking a deposit and disappearing, or shipping goods that don't match the approved sample. It's the leading way importers lose money.
How can I check if a Chinese supplier is legitimate?
Verify legal registration and history, confirm real production capacity, and check quality systems and certifications — before paying. Use safe payment terms and inspect before shipment.