Custom OEM Metal Pens Manufacturer & Global Supplier
Payment is the point where a sourcing decision stops being commercial and becomes personal. Everything up to that moment has been specification and price; this is the part where you have to decide whether to send money to someone you have never met, in a country you may never have visited, and trust that goods will follow.
It is also the question buyers are most reluctant to ask directly — which is unfortunate, because the answers are entirely standard and asking about them signals experience rather than suspicion.
This article sets out our actual production payment terms, the payment methods we can accept, and the checks that help protect both sides. Our standard is straightforward: 30% deposit and 70% before shipment. We do not accept letters of credit, and we generally do not accept payment against shipping documents or after shipment.
The standard structure
For production orders, our standard terms are 30% deposit and 70% before shipment. The balance must be received before the goods are dispatched. We do not accept letters of credit, and we generally do not accept 70% against shipping documents or payment after shipment.
The deposit covers the initial production commitment — materials, setup and any agreed customisation. The remaining balance is paid before shipment under the terms stated in the pro forma invoice. If you need to discuss a different arrangement, confirm it with us in writing before placing the order; do not assume that payment after dispatch or against shipping documents is available.
| Order type | Our usual terms | When the balance is due |
|---|---|---|
| Custom pen production order | 30% deposit / 70% balance | Before shipment |
| Repeat production order | Usually 30% deposit / 70% balance | Before shipment |
| Samples or special arrangements | Confirmed in the quotation or pro forma invoice | As stated in the written order terms |
Use the payment schedule and recipient details shown on the confirmed pro forma invoice. Before sending money, verify any payment instructions through a contact channel you already trust. If a bank account, platform order, or transfer recipient changes unexpectedly, pause and confirm it directly with your sales contact.
How the payment methods compare
| Method | Can we accept it? | How it works for our orders |
|---|---|---|
| T/T bank transfer | Yes | Our usual method for production orders. Standard terms are 30% deposit and 70% before shipment; verify account details through a trusted channel |
| PayPal | Yes | Accepted; confirm any transaction fees and the written payment schedule in advance |
| Alibaba.com platform payment | Yes | Accepted for orders arranged through the platform; follow the confirmed platform order and payment instructions |
| Western Union | Yes | Accepted; verify the recipient details with us before sending. The standard production balance remains due before shipment |
| Letter of credit (L/C) | No | Not accepted by us |
T/T: the default, and where the risk actually sits
Telegraphic transfer is what nearly all Chinese manufacturers use, and it is not inherently risky — the risk is in account verification, not the method. Business email compromise is the single most common way buyers lose money in international trade: an attacker intercepts the email thread, sends a revised invoice with new bank details, and the buyer pays a fraudster. The fraud usually happens in the week before a balance payment, when both sides are exchanging documents.
The one control that prevents almost all of it: before sending any payment, confirm the bank details through a channel that is not email — a phone call to a number you already had, a video call, or a signed document exchanged through your sales contact’s verified messaging account. Do this every time the account details change, and treat any mid-thread “our bank details have changed” email as a fraud attempt until proven otherwise. We would rather take an extra phone call than have a customer lose a payment.
Other accepted channels: PayPal, Alibaba.com and Western Union
Alongside T/T bank transfer, we can also accept payment by PayPal, through Alibaba.com for orders arranged on the platform, or by Western Union. The available channel, any fees and the recipient or order details should be confirmed in the quotation or pro forma invoice before payment.
For Alibaba.com payments, use the order and payment instructions shown in the confirmed platform transaction. For PayPal or Western Union, verify the payment request and recipient details directly with your established sales contact. Do not rely on an unexpected change sent only by email.
One method we do not accept: L/C
We do not accept payment by letter of credit. For production orders, our normal arrangement is 30% deposit and 70% before shipment. We generally do not accept the balance against shipping documents or after shipment.
What actually reduces your risk
Payment method is the least effective lever you have. These four do more:
- Start with a trial order. A small first order converts every promise into evidence and costs far less than a defective production run. This is the single most effective protection available, and it is free.
- Agree the inspection standard in writing before you pay the deposit. Specify the acceptable defect threshold, who inspects, and what happens if the goods fail. See our QC process for what a normal inspection covers.
- Agree the inspection process and payment schedule separately. Arrange any quality check before shipment, and make sure the written terms state when the balance is due. Our normal production terms are 30% deposit and 70% before shipment; we generally do not accept payment against shipping documents or after shipment.
- Verify the legal entity. Ask for the company’s registered Chinese name and business licence number, and check that the bank account name matches the company name. A mismatch between the beneficiary name and the company you contracted with is a serious red flag.
Walk away if…
Reassuring signs
What we accept, and what we do not
Being specific seems more useful than being diplomatic, so here is our own position.
| We accept | Our usual terms / limits |
|---|---|
| T/T bank transfer | Standard production schedule: 30% deposit and 70% before shipment |
| PayPal | Payment by letter of credit (L/C) is not accepted |
| Payment through Alibaba.com for orders arranged on the platform | We generally do not accept payment against shipping documents |
| Western Union | We generally do not accept payment after shipment; the balance is due before dispatch |
| Alternative payment details are confirmed in the quotation or pro forma invoice | Any exception must be agreed in writing before the order is placed |
These are the payment arrangements we currently offer. If you want to use one of the accepted alternatives, confirm the method, any applicable fees, and the exact payment instructions with us before paying. We will state the agreed terms in writing rather than leave them open to interpretation. That clarity — a supplier who tells you what they can and cannot do — is covered in our supplier vetting guide.
Planning the cash flow
One practical point that buyers often overlook: the deposit is not the only payment you will make before the goods arrive. Budget for the full landed cost, not the invoice.
| Payment | When | Roughly |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit | Order confirmation | 30% of goods value |
| Sample and tooling charges | Before sampling | Varies; often credited against the order |
| Balance | Before shipment | 70% of goods value |
| Freight | At booking, or on the invoice from your forwarder | Depends on method — sea, air or express |
| Duty and import VAT | At import clearance | Percentage of assessed value |
| Inland delivery and any brokerage fees | On arrival | Fixed per shipment |
For a first order, the practical advice is to keep it small enough that the total exposure — deposit plus balance plus freight plus duty — is an amount you would be comfortable writing off. Not because you will need to, but because that is the level at which you can evaluate a new supplier calmly rather than anxiously. Once they have performed, scale up. That is how every long-term supply relationship we have started.
Frequently asked questions
Is 30/70 payment normal for orders from China?
Our standard terms for production orders are 30% deposit and 70% before shipment. We generally do not accept payment against shipping documents or after shipment. The exact schedule will be written in the quotation or pro forma invoice before you place the order.
Is it safe to pay a Chinese supplier by bank transfer?
T/T is a commonly used business payment method, but you should verify the recipient details before sending. Confirm bank details through a trusted channel separate from the email that supplied them, and independently check any change to the account. The beneficiary should match the company named in your confirmed order documents.
Which payment methods do you accept?
We accept T/T bank transfer, PayPal, payment through Alibaba.com for orders arranged on the platform, and Western Union. Our standard production terms are 30% deposit and 70% before shipment. We do not accept payment by letter of credit (L/C).
What if the goods arrive defective?
This should be agreed before you order. Put the inspection standard, acceptable defect threshold and remedy — remake or credit — in writing. Arrange any agreed quality inspection before shipment, while keeping the payment due date clear: the 70% balance is normally due before shipment. See the QC process for how inspection is normally structured.
Can I pay by PayPal, Alibaba.com or Western Union?
Yes. These are accepted alternatives to T/T, subject to the payment details confirmed for your order. For Alibaba.com, use the confirmed platform order; for PayPal or Western Union, verify the recipient and instructions with your established sales contact before sending funds. Any applicable fees should be confirmed in advance.
Can I pay against shipping documents or after shipment?
We generally do not accept those arrangements. Our standard production terms are 30% deposit and 70% before shipment, and the balance must be received before dispatch. Please confirm the written terms in your quotation or pro forma invoice.
Want to start with something small?
Tell us what you are sourcing and how you would like to pay. We will confirm the available method, state the 30% deposit and 70% before-shipment schedule in writing, and verify payment instructions before you send anything.