The short answer: order a sample when your bulk-order decision depends on details you cannot confirm from the listing or chat alone. Before paying, define the exact sample, what it is meant to answer, what the fee and delivery quote cover, and where it will be received. When it arrives, inspect it against the same written brief and keep the result as a dated reference.
A sample gives you evidence about that unit and that order interaction. It does not certify the supplier, guarantee that bulk production will match, or replace pre-shipment inspection. This guide stays with the sample-order stage. The account, supplier search, bulk payment and export steps belong in How to Buy from 1688 as a Foreigner.
Choose the sample type before asking for a price
“Sample” can refer to different things. Ask the supplier which type is being quoted and what will differ from the later bulk order.
| Sample type | What it can help you check | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Stock sample | The selected in-stock SKU, basic material, dimensions, function, finish and current packaging | Your custom logo, custom packaging or a future production run |
| Existing reference sample | A product the supplier has made before and can send as a capability reference | Your exact specification or an approved production standard |
| Custom or pre-production sample | The supplier’s attempt to make the version in your written brief | Consistency across every bulk unit or an unchanged production process |
| Packaging or print proof | Artwork placement, colour reference, label content, print method or packaging construction | The finished product unless the product itself is included and identified |
Decide what question you need the sample to answer. A stock sample may be enough to check size and basic function. It cannot answer whether a custom logo or retail box will meet your specification. A custom sample can answer those questions only when the supplier states which bulk materials and processes it represents.
The image above uses inherited wording about supplier reliability. Treat the sample as an order-specific signal, not a reliability certificate. Supplier identity and wider due diligence belong in How to Find Reliable 1688 Suppliers Before You Pay.
Send a sample request the supplier can quote
A product link by itself leaves room for the wrong colour, material, size or packaging. Send a compact brief and ask the supplier to repeat the selected version in the quote.
1688 sample request
- Product URL: [insert]
- Supplier SKU / selected option: [insert]
- Sample type: stock / existing reference / custom / packaging proof
- Material and finish: [insert]
- Dimensions and tolerance, if relevant: [insert]
- Colour / size / model: [insert]
- Function or use test: [insert]
- Logo / artwork version: [insert or none]
- Unit packaging: [insert]
- Sample quantity: [insert the quantity needed for your test]
- Delivery address: [buyer address or named China receiving point]
- Questions this sample must answer: [insert]
Please confirm the exact version you will send, what is included in the price, the current preparation window and how it differs from the proposed bulk order.
Use screenshots or marked-up reference images when words are not enough. For message structure and Chinese-language confirmation, use How to Communicate with 1688 Suppliers rather than trying to compress the full communication workflow into the sample brief.
Confirm the fee, preparation and delivery scope in writing
There is no universal 1688 sample fee or delivery window. Ask for the current quote for the exact sample and keep each cost line visible.
| Cost or term | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Sample item | Exact SKU, sample type and quantity covered by the quote |
| Custom work | Any logo, tooling, printing, artwork or setup line included |
| Packaging | Whether the quoted sample includes stock or custom packaging |
| China domestic delivery | Cost and address for delivery inside China, if used |
| International delivery | Whether it is included, quoted separately or not arranged by the supplier |
| Preparation window | The current starting event and quoted working-day window |
| Payment record | Payee/counterparty, currency, method and receipt or transaction reference |
| Refund or bulk-order credit | Whether the supplier offers one, its written conditions and what triggers it |
| Dispatch evidence | Tracking number, dispatch photo or other record the supplier will provide |
Do not assume a sample fee will be refunded or credited later. If the supplier offers that term, ask for it in the same written quote. Keep the receipt with the product link, selected version and delivery address so the payment can be tied to the correct sample.
Choose a manageable comparison set
Sampling more suppliers can improve comparison, but it also adds sample fees, delivery records and inspection work. There is no correct platform-wide number. Choose enough suppliers to answer the differences that matter without creating a set you cannot inspect consistently.
Sample more than one supplier when:
- the product specification can be held constant across the comparison;
- the material, construction or packaging differences affect the buying decision;
- you have a receiving and inspection plan for every sample;
- the total sample and delivery cost fits the decision you are making.
A single sample may be appropriate when you are checking one defined stock item from a supplier already selected through a separate process. In that case, record what the single sample cannot tell you. Do not convert “one acceptable unit” into a conclusion about all future production.
Choose where the 1688 samples will be received
The receiving route depends on what you need to do with the samples. Confirm that the selected supplier can ship to the address and obtain a delivery quote before paying.
| Route | Useful when | Questions to settle first |
|---|---|---|
| Direct international delivery to the buyer | The buyer needs to handle, wear, operate or test the item personally | Does the supplier arrange the route? What is included in the quote? Who handles destination requirements? |
| China-side receiving point | Someone in China will log, photograph or check one sample before onward shipment | Who receives it? What checks are included? How is the sample identified? What is the onward-shipping decision? |
| Shared China receiving point for several suppliers | Samples need a common arrival record before comparison or combined shipment | How will parcels be labelled, held, compared and released? What fees and timing apply? |
A China-side address is an option, not a universal best route. It is useful only when the receiver’s scope is written down. A warehouse that accepts a parcel does not automatically inspect the product. For the full receive-label-compare-release workflow, see China Sample Consolidation.
Inspect the sample against the brief
Start by confirming identity. The sample must be tied to the supplier, listing, selected option and quote before a quality comparison means anything.
Use a record like this:
| Check | Reference | Observation | Evidence | Decision / question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supplier and sample ID | Quote, SKU, tracking | Label/photo | ||
| Material and finish | Written specification or approved reference | Close-up photos/notes | ||
| Dimensions / weight | Stated measurement and tolerance | Measurement photo | ||
| Colour | Approved swatch, Pantone or reference image | Controlled-light photo | ||
| Function | Defined use or operation test | Test note/video | ||
| Workmanship | Product-specific inspection points | Close-up photos | ||
| Logo / print | Approved artwork version and placement | Photo/measurement | ||
| Unit packaging | Written packaging brief | Packed-sample photos | ||
| Labels / accessories | Approved list | Count/photo | ||
| Cleanliness / odour | Buyer-defined acceptance note | Observation | ||
| Damage after delivery | Receiving condition | Parcel and product photos |
Write observations rather than verdicts such as “cheap,” “good” or “factory quality.” “Zipper catches at the corner after repeated opening” gives the supplier something to answer. “Bad quality” does not.
If a test is safety-critical, regulated or outside your expertise, use a qualified laboratory or professional for that test. This article does not replace product-specific compliance work.
Compare samples without creating a false reliability score
When several samples arrive, compare the same rows for each one. Keep product evidence separate from order-process evidence.
| Comparison area | Supplier/sample A | Supplier/sample B | Open question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exact sample identity | |||
| Match to written brief | |||
| Material / finish | |||
| Dimensions / function | |||
| Logo / packaging | |||
| Observed defects | |||
| Quote and fee matched | |||
| Preparation/dispatch record | |||
| Supplier response to documented issue | |||
| Next action |
Dispatch timing, packaging care and the supplier’s response to a documented issue are useful signals from this transaction. They do not prove what the supplier will do on every later order. Keep unresolved questions visible and complete the wider supplier-verification workflow separately.
Move from the sample result to the bulk-order decision
A sample review should end with a named decision, not a vague “looks fine.” Choose one of these outcomes and record why:
- Accept as a dated reference. Identify the sample, specification version, photos and any accepted deviations.
- Revise and re-sample. List each requested change and issue a new version; do not edit the old approval record silently.
- Reject for the intended order. State the observed mismatch and whether another configuration or supplier will be considered.
- Hold. Record the missing test, answer or cost that prevents a decision.
For branded products, Private Label on 1688 covers logo, packaging and OEM/ODM scope. If the supplier proposes a change after sample approval, use the China Supplier Sample Deviation Log to preserve the old and new versions.
Sample approval still does not approve unseen bulk goods. Build a separate inspection gate before shipment; the Pre-Shipment Inspection China Checklist explains that stage.
FAQ: order samples from 1688
Can I order a single sample from 1688? Ask the supplier whether the selected item is available as a paid sample or separate test order. The answer depends on that listing, product and supplier.
How many 1688 suppliers should I sample from? Use the smallest comparison set that answers your buying question and that you can inspect on the same brief. Do not use a fixed number across every product.
Should I order a stock sample or a custom sample? Start with the question you need to answer. A stock sample can check the listed product; a custom sample is needed when logo, packaging, material or construction changes are part of the decision.
What should I confirm before paying a sample fee? Confirm the sample identity, what is included, custom/setup lines, domestic or international delivery scope, current preparation window, payee and receipt, and any refund or bulk-credit condition offered in writing.
Should a sample go directly overseas or to a China address? Direct delivery lets the buyer perform hands-on tests. A defined China-side receiver can log, photograph or compare samples before onward shipment. Compare the actual scope and quote for your case.
Does a good sample guarantee the bulk order? No. It is a dated reference for defined checks. Bulk production still needs its own specification, change control and inspection plan.
Is sample MOQ the same as bulk MOQ? Not necessarily. Ask for separate sample and bulk terms. The 1688 MOQ guide shows how to map the bulk minimum by product, variant, customization and packaging.
Sources and limits
- Alibaba Group: 1688 business overview — used only for the description of 1688 as a domestic wholesale marketplace.
- 1688 official App Store listing — confirms that the current app advertises global-buyer functions. Feature availability still needs to be checked for the buyer’s market, account, listing, supplier and product.
This guide does not state a universal sample fee, supplier count, preparation time, refund policy, payment method or shipping route. Confirm each one for the sample order in front of you.
If you already have a sample brief or received samples that need a documented review, see the current scope of our Quality Control Service in China.
