One of the biggest fears new importers have: "What if I pay and the supplier runs away with my money?"
It's a valid concern. China has millions of suppliers — some are honest factories, others are trading companies, and a few are outright scammers. Here's how to pay safely.
Common Payment Methods Compared
| Method | Safety | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| T/T (Bank Wire Transfer) | Medium | Low ($20–50/transfer) | Bulk orders, verified suppliers |
| Alibaba Trade Assurance | High | Low (included in price) | Alibaba suppliers, first orders |
| PayPal | High | High (4–5% fee) | Samples, small amounts |
| RMB via Sourcing Agent | Highest | Low (1–3% service fee) | All orders, especially bulk |
| Western Union / MoneyGram | Very Low | Medium | Never use for business |
1. T/T (Telegraphic Transfer) — The Standard
T/T is the most common payment method for Chinese trade. Here's how it works:
- You agree on a price with the supplier.
- You pay 30% deposit to their company bank account.
- They start production.
- Before shipment, you inspect (or we inspect on your behalf).
- You pay the remaining 70% balance.
- They ship the goods.
Safety tips:
- Only pay to a company bank account (not a personal account).
- Verify the company name on the bank account matches the supplier's business license.
- Never pay 100% upfront. The standard is 30/70.
2. Alibaba Trade Assurance — Buyer Protection
If you found your supplier on Alibaba, use Trade Assurance. This is Alibaba's escrow service:
- You pay Alibaba, not the supplier directly.
- Alibaba holds the money and only releases it when you confirm delivery.
- If the supplier doesn't deliver as agreed, you get a refund.
Best for: First-time orders with new suppliers you found online.
3. PayPal — Good for Samples Only
PayPal offers strong buyer protection, but fees are high (4–5% of transaction value). It's fine for paying $50–500 for samples, but too expensive for bulk orders.
4. RMB Payment via Sourcing Agent — Safest Option
This is the method we recommend for Bangladeshi importers. Here's how it works:
- You pay MashXpress in USD or BDT (Bangladeshi Taka).
- MashXpress pays your Chinese supplier in RMB (Yuan) from our China office.
- We only release payment to the supplier after quality inspection at our warehouse.
- If the goods are defective, we don't pay — and you don't lose money.
Why agent payment is the safest
Your money is protected at every step. We inspect the goods, take photos, and confirm quality before releasing payment. If something is wrong, we negotiate a fix — or a refund. You never send money directly to an unknown Chinese bank account.
Learn About Our RMB Payment Service →Never Use These Methods
- Western Union — completely untraceable. If you pay and get scammed, there's no refund.
- MoneyGram — same problem as Western Union.
- Personal bank accounts — a real supplier uses a company account. Personal accounts are a red flag.
- Cryptocurrency — irreversible, no buyer protection.
Red Flags That Mean "Scam"
- Supplier pressure you to pay immediately or at a "discount"
- They ask you to pay to a different company name than the one on their website
- Prices are 50%+ lower than all other suppliers
- They refuse to accept Trade Assurance or any protected payment method
- Their email domain doesn't match their company name
The Ideal Payment Workflow for Bangladeshi Importers
- Find a supplier (Alibaba, Canton Fair, or via MashXpress)
- Order samples (PayPal, small amount)
- Approve samples
- Place bulk order — pay via MashXpress RMB service (protected)
- We inspect goods at our China warehouse
- We ship to you DDP
- You receive goods at your door