Protect your business by identifying warning signs early in the supplier selection process
Bluglo Team
Risk Management Experts
Finding the right supplier can make or break your business. Whether you're sourcing electronics, homeware, apparel, or raw materials from China, Vietnam, Thailand, or any other manufacturing market, the goal is always the same:
Find reliable suppliers who deliver consistent quality, fair pricing, and on-time production.
But not all suppliers meet these standards.
Spotting red flags early can save you from costly mistakes. Here are the five most important warning signs to watch for.
Trustworthy suppliers are open from day one.
Warning Signs:
What to Do:
Request business registration, factory location, certifications, video calls, or third-party audits
"Too good to be true" usually is.
Warning Signs:
What to Do:
Compare specs (not just price), request samples, ask for bill of materials, verify they're not traders
If supplier is slow/inconsistent at the start, it never gets better.
Warning Signs:
What to Do:
Evaluate communication during vetting, keep written records, test their understanding
A supplier without QC will deliver inconsistent quality.
Warning Signs:
What to Do:
Insist on PSI, ask who performs internal QC, request QC station photos, avoid resistant factories
Payment terms reveal a lot about trustworthiness.
Warning Signs:
Common Signs of:
What to Do:
By identifying these five red flags early, you dramatically reduce your chances of receiving poor quality goods, losing money, or damaging your brand.
Transparency
Pricing
Communication
Quality Control
Payment Terms
Payment terms reveal a lot about a supplier's trustworthiness.
BluGlo specialises in:
Our Asia and South Africa teams work together to find trustworthy, high-quality suppliers so you can import confidently.
Contact us for supplier vetting support