Journal

Field notes from the supply side.

Plain writing about how Chinese sourcing actually works, what product imagery has to do for a seller, and where money quietly leaks out of an order. No growth tactics, no listicles — only things I have had to work out in practice and would have wanted written down first.

Why the same product gets four different quotes on 1688

Four suppliers, one photo, four prices twenty percent apart. None of them are lying. A quote is not a price — it is a set of conditions, and most buyers compare prices without comparing conditions. Here is how to put four quotes on one basis, plus the seven-question message that gets you a comparable answer the first time.

Sourcing 30 Oct 2026 9 min

Something specific you want written down?

Most of these notes start as a question from a client. If you are stuck on a sourcing or listing problem, ask — the answer may become the next one. [email protected]