Cambridge China Bridge

A UK-based China sourcing agent

A China sourcing agent finds suppliers, checks who makes the goods and coordinates the order. Cambridge China Bridge finds and verifies factories, compares quotes, coordinates samples, arranges agreed inspections and shipping to the UK. You contract with our UK company, with an English-law contract and a UK VAT invoice; we agree the importer and delivery responsibilities in your quote.

What you get

How it works

  1. Agree the role and brief

    • We can be the primary supplier, qualify a second factory or manage your existing Chinese supplier.
    • Confirm product, destination, volume, drawings or samples, and buyer approval gates.

  2. Verify the factory

    • Agree a factory-audit scope covering identity, processes, capacity and quality records.
    • Agree whether our team, a China-based organisation or an independent third party issues the report.

  3. Approve samples and first articles

    • Check samples, packaging artwork and any drawing revision against the agreed brief.
    • For engineered parts, agree first-article measurements and buyer release before production.

  4. Control production quality

    • Arrange agreed in-production and pre-shipment checks, including packaging print and batch evidence.
    • The manufacturer normally arranges laboratory tests; the buyer approves the applicable evidence and deviations.

  5. Ship on agreed terms

    • Quote ex-works, to a Chinese port or to the buyer's destination port.
    • UK door-to-door is available; overseas door-to-door depends on destination and shipment.

  6. Deliver and release

    • For UK door-to-door goods orders, agree the delivered price and import handling before dispatch.
    • Outside the UK, the importer and local broker confirm permits, taxes and clearance; the buyer approves final release.

How It Works →

Prices and fees

Quotes to suit how you buy: one delivered price, or an itemised quote with the factory cost, freight, duty and our service fee shown separately. Open-book detail is available on request. Our margin is included in the quoted price or shown separately as a service fee. The service fee depends on the agreed scope, including products, samples, inspections and ongoing supply.

Audits and inspections are usually included in the quote for an order placed with us; complex checks that need a third party are charged extra, agreed first.

For a first order, there is no separate sourcing fee: our margin is already included in one price per unit delivered to your UK address. Off-the-shelf products receive a free landed price within 72 hours.

Send 1–3 products you buy now and what you pay. We compare the same specification, quantity, inspection and delivery scope to establish a cost benchmark.

  • Desk check: From £195 per supplier, plus VAT, paid before the check starts
  • Factory audit: From £395 a visit (one day on site), plus VAT; the final price depends on location and scope and is confirmed before we start
  • Pre-shipment inspection: From £275 per inspector-day (Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu), plus VAT; the final price depends on location, product and scope and is confirmed before we start

Pricing →

Evidence you can check

UK company
Cambridge China Bridge · Piggy Pineapple Ltd
Company number
14385590
Registered office
1 Anglers Way, Cambridge, CB4 1TZ, United Kingdom

Member, Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce

CCB Verification Standard

About →

How to choose a China sourcing agent

  • Check the UK company record and the legal company named in your contract.
  • Ask how the agent is paid: margin or a stated service fee, and no hidden supplier commission on top.
  • Ask how factory versus trading-company status and actual production capability are checked.
  • Request a sample inspection report with dated photos, the sampling plan and the named report issuer.
  • Agree the deposit, balance, inspection and release terms before paying.
  • Ask for relevant project references, with the client's permission.

Questions about using a China sourcing agent

How much does a China sourcing agent cost?

Quotes to suit how you buy: one delivered price, or an itemised quote with the factory cost, freight, duty and our service fee shown separately. Open-book detail is available on request. Our margin is included in the quoted price or shown separately as a service fee. The service fee depends on the agreed scope, including products, samples, inspections and ongoing supply. For a first order, there is no separate sourcing fee: our margin is already included in one price per unit delivered to your UK address. Off-the-shelf products receive a free landed price within 72 hours. Audits and inspections are usually included in the quote for an order placed with us; complex checks that need a third party are charged extra, agreed first.

What is the minimum order?

From a single-unit trial to full containers, with the factory's own minimum stated in the quote.

Do you take commission from factories?

Clear about how we are paid: our margin is inside the quoted price, or shown as a service fee on an itemised quote, and we take nothing from the supplier on top of the agreed quote. The check was paid for by the buyer. On your order we take no commission, rebate or kickback from the factory.

Why use a UK-based rather than a China-based agent?

With CCB you have a UK company to contract with, an English-law contract and a UK VAT invoice, alongside our own staff in China dealing directly with factories. Confirm the contracting company, inspection scope and importer responsibilities whichever agent you choose.

Which countries do you serve?

We take enquiries from buyers worldwide. UK door-to-door delivery is available; outside the UK, delivery terms depend on the destination and shipment. The importer and local broker confirm permits, taxes and clearance.

Get a quote