{"id":410,"date":"2026-07-02T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sourcefoshan.com\/blog\/foshan-furniture-buying-traps\/"},"modified":"2026-09-23T13:03:23","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T13:03:23","slug":"foshan-furniture-buying-traps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sourcefoshan.com\/ru\/blog\/foshan-furniture-buying-traps\/","title":{"rendered":"Eight Foshan Furniture Buying Traps That Each Cost Buyers Thousands \u2014 and the Fix for Each"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group sf-key-takeaways\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"sf-key-takeaways__title wp-block-paragraph\">In short<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The eight traps Chinese buyers warn each other about in Foshan are the same eight an overseas buyer meets \u2014 they are just harder to see from a distance: reseller showrooms posing as factories, unnamed leather and fabric grades, &#8220;whole home for \u00a520,000&#8221; clearance stock, delivery terms that end at the kerb, front-loaded payment, contracts without warranty or delay clauses, custom pieces from workshops that cannot make them, and &#8220;Foshan brands&#8221; registered elsewhere.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Full-grain, semi-aniline and embossed split leather differ in price by about 3\u00d7; a fabric sofa cover under 600 g\/m\u00b2 is not a durable cover. Neither fact appears on a quotation unless someone writes it.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Four contract lines change the outcome: warranty (leather 5 years, frame 10), who pays return freight for colour or size mismatch, a per-day delay penalty, and an environmental test report with a penalty for false claims.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Whoever holds the money holds the leverage: never pay in full for a discount. For export orders we work to 30% deposit and 70% after inspection.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Real source factories in Foshan are excellent value. The job is telling them apart from everything that borrows their name \u2014 which is what Source Foshan does on the ground.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Every one of these eight traps has cost a buyer in Foshan thousands, and every one has a cheap fix.<\/strong> The list circulates among Chinese homeowners planning a Foshan trip; we have translated it, kept the specifics, and added what changes when the order is going into a container rather than a van. Read it before you book a flight \u2014 or before you reply to the next &#8220;factory-direct&#8221; message. Source Foshan is a sourcing agent based in Foshan, China, and every fix below is one we use on live orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"sf-source-note\">Based on a buyer&#8217;s checklist shared on Chinese social media in September 2026, translated and expanded by the Source Foshan sourcing team with our own field practice. Prices in RMB with approximate USD at \u00a57.1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"traps-1-4\">Traps 1\u20134: who you are buying from, and what you are buying<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"sf-traps\">\n  <article class=\"sf-trap\">\n    <span class=\"sf-trap__num\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 56 56\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><path d=\"M6 46V22l22-12 22 12v24\"\/><path d=\"M6 46h44\"\/><path d=\"M20 46V32h16v14\"\/><path d=\"M28 10V4\"\/><circle cx=\"28\" cy=\"3\" r=\"1.5\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n    <h3>1 \u00b7 The famous showroom that is really a reseller<\/h3>\n    <p class=\"sf-trap__said\"><b>The trap:<\/b> Foshan&#8217;s most photographed &#8220;high-end showrooms&#8221; are often distributors, not makers. The interior is lavish; the price carries the rent, the fit-out and the marketing \u2014 commonly double the factory figure.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"sf-trap__cols\">\n      <div><b>The check<\/b>Find the factory address first. Ask &#8220;\u5de5\u5382\u76f4\u8425\u8fd8\u662f\u7ecf\u9500?&#8221; (factory-direct or dealer?) and watch how the answer lands. Then go to the workshop: a production line and a stocked warehouse cannot be faked in an afternoon.<\/div>\n      <div><b>From overseas<\/b>A polished website and a WeChat video tour are cheaper than a production line. &#8220;Factory&#8221; is the most abused word in the trade; a trading company will happily film someone else&#8217;s floor \u2014 <a href=\"\/blog\/who-sells-foshan-furniture-online\/\">six business models use the label<\/a>.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"is-us\"><b>How we close it<\/b>Every supplier on a shortlist has been <a href=\"\/china-furniture-manufacturers\/\">visited in person, with its licence, tax registration and factory address checked<\/a>. We tell you which are makers and which are dealers, and when a dealer is actually the right call (stock, small quantities, mixed brands).<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/article>\n\n  <article class=\"sf-trap\">\n    <span class=\"sf-trap__num\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 56 56\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><path d=\"M8 12h40v10H8zM8 22h40v10H8zM8 32h40v10H8z\"\/><path d=\"M14 17h8M14 27h4M14 37h12\"\/><path d=\"M42 8l6 6\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n    <h3>2 \u00b7 Leather and fabric with no grade<\/h3>\n    <p class=\"sf-trap__said\"><b>The trap:<\/b> &#8220;Imported top-grain leather&#8221; covers three products at three prices \u2014 full-grain (\u5168\u9752\u76ae), semi-aniline (\u534a\u9752\u76ae) and embossed split (\u538b\u7eb9\u76ae) \u2014 roughly a 3\u00d7 spread (see <a href=\"\/blog\/foshan-sofa-factory-price-vs-mall-price\/\">why one sofa carries ten prices<\/a>). For fabric, anything under 600 g\/m\u00b2 is a light cover, and &#8220;stain-resistant&#8221; is a claim until a drop of soy sauce tests it.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"sf-trap__cols\">\n      <div><b>The check<\/b>Ask which of the three leathers, the thickness in mm, and which surfaces it covers (contact faces only, or all). Ask the fabric weight in g\/m\u00b2 and the abrasion rating. Test stain resistance yourself on a swatch.<\/div>\n      <div><b>From overseas<\/b>The English word &#8220;genuine&#8221; survives; the Chinese grade does not. Sample swatches show the face of the hide; the back \u2014 where bonded leather gives itself away \u2014 you only see after delivery.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"is-us\"><b>How we close it<\/b>Specs carry grade, thickness and surface coverage in both languages. At inspection we look at the back of the hide under a cushion and weigh a fabric offcut; both go in the photo report before the balance is released.<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/article>\n\n  <article class=\"sf-trap\">\n    <span class=\"sf-trap__num\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 56 56\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><path d=\"M10 14h36l-4 30H14z\"\/><path d=\"M10 14l-4-6\"\/><path d=\"M20 24l16 12M36 24L20 36\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n    <h3>3 \u00b7 The &#8220;whole home for \u00a520,000&#8221; package<\/h3>\n    <p class=\"sf-trap__said\"><b>The trap:<\/b> Bundle prices far below the market are often clearance stock: colour variation between pieces, minor surface flaws, discontinued fabrics. Legal, but not what the photos showed.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"sf-trap__cols\">\n      <div><b>The check<\/b>Write &#8220;goods to be inspected and accepted free of defects&#8221; (\u65e0\u7455\u75b5\u9a8c\u8d27) into the contract, and define defect: colour deviation between pieces, scratches, loose stitching, uneven foam.<\/div>\n      <div><b>From overseas<\/b>A \u00a520,000 package (\u2248US$2,800) is an attractive line item until the freight and duty are added and a flawed set costs the same to ship as a perfect one.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"is-us\"><b>How we close it<\/b>Clearance stock can be a good buy \u2014 we say when it is. Pieces are inspected against the agreed defect list before packing, and mismatched items are replaced or re-priced before they go in the container.<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/article>\n\n  <article class=\"sf-trap\">\n    <span class=\"sf-trap__num\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 56 56\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><path d=\"M4 36h32l6-9h6v13H4z\"\/><path d=\"M8 36V18h24v18\"\/><circle cx=\"14\" cy=\"44\" r=\"3.5\"\/><circle cx=\"40\" cy=\"44\" r=\"3.5\"\/><path d=\"M14 26l6 6 10-10\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n    <h3>4 \u00b7 Delivery that ends downstairs<\/h3>\n    <p class=\"sf-trap__said\"><b>The trap:<\/b> &#8220;Free home delivery&#8221; that stops at the building entrance; damage in transit with no one liable; a delivery note that says &#8220;to the ground floor&#8221; when your flat is on the sixth.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"sf-trap__cols\">\n      <div><b>The check<\/b>Three questions, in writing: Is carrying upstairs included? Who pays for damage, and how is it proven (photos at handover)? Does the delivery note say &#8220;to the living room&#8221;, not &#8220;to the building&#8221;?<\/div>\n      <div><b>From overseas<\/b>The domestic version is a staircase. The export version is a container: export packing, inland trucking, ocean freight, destination handling, duty, last mile and assembly. Each is a line, and each defaults to &#8220;not included&#8221; unless written.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"is-us\"><b>How we close it<\/b>Freight is quoted per cubic metre to your port or door before you order; packing is to an export standard we photograph; goods are insured; delivery terms (kerbside vs room of choice, assembly) are on the order summary \u2014 <a href=\"\/furniture-shipping-and-consolidation-from-china\/\">how consolidation and shipping work<\/a>.<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/article>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"sf-figures\">\n  <figure><img src=\"https:\/\/sourcefoshan.com\/wp-content\/themes\/source-foshan-v101\/assets\/images\/fg-factory-upholstery.webp\" alt=\"Upholstery workshop in Foshan with sofa frames being covered\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption><b>Trap 1, answered on the floor.<\/b> A working upholstery line with frames waiting for covers. A dealer&#8217;s showroom cannot show you this; a factory cannot hide it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n  <figure><img src=\"https:\/\/sourcefoshan.com\/wp-content\/themes\/source-foshan-v101\/assets\/images\/qc-detail-leather-stitch.webp\" alt=\"Close-up of leather grain and stitching on a sofa during inspection\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption><b>Trap 2, answered under a cushion.<\/b> Grain, thickness and the back of the hide are checked at inspection, not trusted from a swatch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The honest small factories in Lecong say the same thing from the other side of the counter. One bed-and-sofa maker&#8217;s own advice for telling a real workshop from a stall reselling &#8220;hand-me-down goods&#8221; was three questions: will they film the workshop working, will they write down frame material, foam density and fabric model, and can you reach a person after delivery. Traps 1, 2 and 6 are the same three questions asked by the buyer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"sf-figures\">\n  <figure><img src=\"https:\/\/sourcefoshan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/lecong-bed-factory-headboard.webp\" alt=\"Tufted upholstered headboard standing on a Lecong factory floor before packing\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption><b>A headboard on the floor it was made on.<\/b> The frame was nailed here, the foam filled to a stated density here, the cover sewn here \u2014 the three facts a reseller cannot show you. Photo: a Lecong bed maker&#8217;s own workshop post, Sept 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n  <figure><img src=\"https:\/\/sourcefoshan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/lecong-bed-factory-qc-bench.webp\" alt=\"Inspection bench in a Lecong bed factory with a finished bed frame\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption><b>The QC bench exists.<\/b> Whether your piece crosses it before the balance is paid is the part you control. Photo: same maker.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"traps-5-8\">Traps 5\u20138: money, paper, custom work and the name on the licence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"sf-traps\">\n  <article class=\"sf-trap\">\n    <span class=\"sf-trap__num\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 56 56\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><rect x=\"6\" y=\"16\" width=\"44\" height=\"28\" rx=\"3\"\/><path d=\"M6 26h44\"\/><path d=\"M14 36h10\"\/><path d=\"M28 6l6 6-6 6\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n    <h3>5 \u00b7 Paying too much, too early<\/h3>\n    <p class=\"sf-trap__said\"><b>The trap:<\/b> &#8220;Pay in full now for 10% off.&#8221; The moment the money moves, the leverage moves with it. The domestic rule of thumb is 50% deposit, 50% before dispatch; never 100% up front.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"sf-trap__cols\">\n      <div><b>The check<\/b>Deposit on order, balance only after you have seen the finished goods \u2014 in person or through an inspection report \u2014 and always to a company account, never to an individual&#8217;s.<\/div>\n      <div><b>From overseas<\/b>A wire transfer to a personal account in another country is unrecoverable in practice. And &#8220;before dispatch&#8221; for an export order should mean &#8220;after inspection, before loading&#8221; \u2014 the last moment you still hold something.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"is-us\"><b>How we close it<\/b>30% deposit, 70% after the <a href=\"\/quality-and-shipping\/\">inspection report<\/a> and before loading, to registered company accounts under one English contract (the full payment sequence is in <a href=\"\/buy-furniture-from-china\/\">how to buy furniture from China<\/a>). Larger projects can be staged by supplier or by container.<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/article>\n\n  <article class=\"sf-trap\">\n    <span class=\"sf-trap__num\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 56 56\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><path d=\"M12 6h24l8 8v36H12z\"\/><path d=\"M36 6v8h8\"\/><path d=\"M18 24h20M18 32h20M18 40h12\"\/><path d=\"M40 40l4 4 6-8\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n    <h3>6 \u00b7 A contract without the four clauses<\/h3>\n    <p class=\"sf-trap__said\"><b>The trap:<\/b> A contract that names the pieces and the price and nothing else. After-sales then depends entirely on goodwill.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"sf-trap__cols\">\n      <div><b>The check<\/b>Four lines: <em>warranty<\/em> (leather at least 5 years, frame 10); <em>replacement terms<\/em> (who pays return freight for colour or size mismatch); <em>delay penalty<\/em> (an amount per day late); <em>environmental standard<\/em> (a test report, with a penalty for a false claim).<\/div>\n      <div><b>From overseas<\/b>Return freight across an ocean is the whole argument. If the contract does not say who pays it, a wrong-size wardrobe is your problem. Delay penalties matter more when a hotel opening or a move-in date depends on the container.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"is-us\"><b>How we close it<\/b>Our supplier agreements carry these four clauses as standard; your contract with us mirrors them. Board and finish test reports (E1\/E0, formaldehyde) are requested per order, not per brochure.<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/article>\n\n  <article class=\"sf-trap\">\n    <span class=\"sf-trap__num\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 56 56\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><path d=\"M8 40l10-10 8 8 12-14 10 8\"\/><path d=\"M8 46h40\"\/><path d=\"M14 10h28v18H14z\" stroke-dasharray=\"3 3\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n    <h3>7 \u00b7 &#8220;Custom design&#8221; from a workshop that cannot make it<\/h3>\n    <p class=\"sf-trap__said\"><b>The trap:<\/b> A small workshop promises a one-off design from your sketch. The render is beautiful; the piece arrives out of proportion, with joints that were never engineered. The classics \u2014 the modular &#8220;tofu block&#8221; sofa, the &#8220;elephant ear&#8221; chair \u2014 exist because their construction has been solved a thousand times.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"sf-trap__cols\">\n      <div><b>The check<\/b>Prefer proven models where the design is not the point. For real custom work, ask to see three finished pieces of similar complexity, and pay for a prototype or a sample before the batch.<\/div>\n      <div><b>From overseas<\/b>You will not stand in the workshop when the first frame is assembled. A factory&#8217;s capability is what it has already made, not what it says it can make.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"is-us\"><b>How we close it<\/b>Custom pieces go to factories matched by what they already produce, with shop drawings signed off, a material sample set and a photographed prototype before production. See <a href=\"\/custom-furniture\/\">how we run custom furniture<\/a>.<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/article>\n\n  <article class=\"sf-trap\">\n    <span class=\"sf-trap__num\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 56 56\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><rect x=\"8\" y=\"8\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" rx=\"4\"\/><path d=\"M16 20h24M16 28h16M16 36h20\"\/><circle cx=\"40\" cy=\"36\" r=\"5\"\/><path d=\"M38 36l2 2 3-4\"\/><\/svg><\/span>\n    <h3>8 \u00b7 A &#8220;Foshan brand&#8221; registered somewhere else<\/h3>\n    <p class=\"sf-trap__said\"><b>The trap:<\/b> The city&#8217;s name is a selling point, so companies from elsewhere use it. A real Foshan manufacturer&#8217;s licence reads &#8220;\u4f5b\u5c71\u5e02 \u00d7\u00d7 \u5bb6\u5177\u6709\u9650\u516c\u53f8&#8221; with a Foshan factory address; a &#8220;Foshan brand&#8221; can be a shell with a showroom lease.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"sf-trap__cols\">\n      <div><b>The check<\/b>Ask for the business licence (\u8425\u4e1a\u6267\u7167) and read the registered name and address. Check them against the national enterprise registry. The name on the invoice must be the name on the licence.<\/div>\n      <div><b>From overseas<\/b>You cannot read the licence, and the invoice may come from a third company entirely. Payment to a name that does not match the licence is the most common thread in the disputes we are asked to untangle.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"is-us\"><b>How we close it<\/b>Licence, registry record and factory address are checked for every supplier before it is shortlisted, and the paying entity on your contract is the licensed one.<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/article>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"contract-lines\">The four contract clauses, written out<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Copy these into any Foshan furniture contract. They cost nothing and change everything that happens after the deposit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"sf-quote\">\n  <div class=\"sf-quote__head\">Contract clauses <span>Trap 6, made specific<\/span><\/div>\n  <table>\n    <tbody>\n      <tr><th>Warranty<\/th><td class=\"is-bad\">&#8220;Quality guaranteed&#8221;<\/td><td class=\"is-good\">Frame 10 years; leather \/ fabric cover and foam 5 years; hardware 3 years. Repair or replace at supplier&#8217;s cost, including freight.<\/td><\/tr>\n      <tr><th>Mismatch<\/th><td class=\"is-bad\">\u2014 (not mentioned)<\/td><td class=\"is-good\">Colour deviation from the approved sample, or dimensions outside \u00b110 mm, entitles the buyer to replacement or refund; return and re-delivery freight at supplier&#8217;s cost.<\/td><\/tr>\n      <tr><th>Delay<\/th><td class=\"is-bad\">&#8220;Delivery approx. 35 days&#8221;<\/td><td class=\"is-good\">Ready for inspection by [date]; 0.3% of order value per day late, capped at 10%; buyer may cancel and recover the deposit after 20 days.<\/td><\/tr>\n      <tr><th>Environmental<\/th><td class=\"is-bad\">&#8220;Eco-friendly materials&#8221;<\/td><td class=\"is-good\">Boards E1 (or E0 where specified) per GB 18580; leather and foam test reports supplied before shipment; a false declaration is compensated at 10\u00d7 the item value.<\/td><\/tr>\n      <tr><th>Add-ons<\/th><td class=\"is-bad\">\u2014 (not mentioned)<\/td><td class=\"is-good\">Changes not requested by the buyer in writing are capped at 5% of the order value.<\/td><\/tr>\n      <tr><th>Defects<\/th><td class=\"is-bad\">\u2014 (not mentioned)<\/td><td class=\"is-good\">Goods inspected and accepted free of defects before the balance is due; defect list attached.<\/td><\/tr>\n    <\/tbody>\n    <tfoot><tr><td colspan=\"3\">Wording as we use it with suppliers; adapt the figures to your order. For what happens when none of it is written, read <a href=\"\/blog\/foshan-furniture-factory-pricing-traps\/\">one homeowner&#8217;s \u00a530,000 lesson<\/a>. Chinese consumer law also allows &#8220;refund plus three times the price&#8221; (\u9000\u4e00\u8d54\u4e09) for proven false material claims \u2014 but only with the claim in writing.<\/td><\/tr><\/tfoot>\n  <\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"in-the-showroom\">Six tests you can run in the showroom in ten minutes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"sf-checks\">\n  <li><b>Turn the leather over.<\/b> Under a seat cushion or behind the back: full-grain and top-grain show a natural suede-like flesh side; bonded and PU show a woven fabric backing.<small>The single fastest way to catch trap 2.<\/small><\/li>\n  <li><b>Smell it.<\/b> A sharp glue smell points to bonded leather or low-grade adhesives; a &#8220;leather smell&#8221; from a spray is sweet and fades.<small>Sensitive visitors bring a mask to some Longjiang showrooms for this reason.<\/small><\/li>\n  <li><b>Sit for five full minutes.<\/b> Lumbar support and seat depth problems appear at minute three. Spotlights and styling flatter everything for the first thirty seconds.<small>Phone away; that is the whole test.<\/small><\/li>\n  <li><b>Flip it.<\/b> Underneath: dowelled or mortised joints and elastic webbing are good; staple-gun frames and cardboard corners are not.<small>Photograph the underside; it is your reference at delivery.<\/small><\/li>\n  <li><b>Pull every drawer to the end.<\/b> Solid or plywood bottoms hold; chipboard offcuts swell with humidity in a container and in a coastal flat.<small>Also a quick read on hardware quality.<\/small><\/li>\n  <li><b>Ask to see the same model unfinished in the workshop<\/b> \u2014 <a href=\"\/blog\/inside-a-foshan-furniture-factory\/\">which room to ask for<\/a>. The bare frame is the furniture without make-up. A supplier who cannot arrange it is probably not the maker.<small>Owners who see you have been to the workshop tend to quote the real price first time.<\/small><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"sf-figures\">\n  <figure><img src=\"https:\/\/sourcefoshan.com\/wp-content\/themes\/source-foshan-v101\/assets\/images\/qc-sofa-frame.webp\" alt=\"Bare sofa frame in a Foshan workshop before upholstery\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption><b>Test 6.<\/b> The same sofa before the cover goes on: timber, joints and webbing in plain view.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n  <figure><img src=\"https:\/\/sourcefoshan.com\/wp-content\/themes\/source-foshan-v101\/assets\/images\/qc-detail-fabric.webp\" alt=\"Close-up of upholstery fabric weave being checked during inspection\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption><b>Trap 2, fabric edition.<\/b> Weight, weave and abrasion rating are checked against the spec at inspection.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-source-foshan-handles-this\">How Source Foshan handles the eight on your order<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Foshan&#8217;s genuine source factories are the reason people come. The work is separating them from everything that borrows the name, and then doing the paperwork and the inspection that most buyers do not have time for. That is the service, and it is charged as a stated fee, not a commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"sf-map\">\n  <div><span><b>Traps 1 &amp; 8<\/b>Reseller as factory; borrowed &#8220;Foshan&#8221; name<\/span><i>\u2192<\/i><span><b>Our practice<\/b>Supplier visited, licence and registry checked, maker or dealer stated on the shortlist, paying entity matches the licence.<\/span><\/div>\n  <div><span><b>Traps 2 &amp; 3<\/b>Unnamed grades; clearance stock sold as new<\/span><i>\u2192<\/i><span><b>Our practice<\/b>Grades, weights and coverage on the spec in both languages; defect list agreed; inspection with photos of the hide back, foam and frame before the balance.<\/span><\/div>\n  <div><span><b>Trap 4<\/b>Delivery that stops at the kerb<\/span><i>\u2192<\/i><span><b>Our practice<\/b>Export packing, freight per m\u00b3, insurance, destination handling and delivery terms quoted before you order.<\/span><\/div>\n  <div><span><b>Traps 5 &amp; 6<\/b>Money too early; contract with no teeth<\/span><i>\u2192<\/i><span><b>Our practice<\/b>30\/70 after inspection to company accounts; warranty, mismatch, delay and environmental clauses in every supplier agreement.<\/span><\/div>\n  <div><span><b>Trap 7<\/b>Custom work beyond the workshop&#8217;s ability<\/span><i>\u2192<\/i><span><b>Our practice<\/b>Factory matched by what it already makes; drawings signed off; prototype photographed before the batch.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you already have a quotation or a contract from a Foshan supplier, <a href=\"\/start-your-project\/\">send it through the project form<\/a> and we will mark up what is missing. The broader process is on the <a href=\"\/furniture-sourcing\/\">furniture sourcing and consolidation<\/a> page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"sf-read-next\" aria-label=\"Related reading\">\n  <p class=\"sf-read-next__title\">Keep reading<\/p>\n  <div class=\"sf-read-next__grid\">\n    <a href=\"\/blog\/foshan-furniture-factory-pricing-traps\/\"><span>Article<\/span><b>Four pricing traps one homeowner paid \u00a510,000 for<\/b><small>A \u00a520,000 quote that became \u00a530,000: bait price, freight collect, missing lines, unnamed grades.<\/small><\/a>\n    <a href=\"\/blog\/foshan-label-not-a-reason-to-order\/\"><span>Article<\/span><b>Why \u201cFoshan\u201d on the label is not a reason to order<\/b><small>A dealer\u2019s three days in the malls: a \u00a560,000 fine, rent in the price, and six checks.<\/small><\/a>\n    <a href=\"\/blog\/inside-a-foshan-furniture-factory\/\"><span>Article<\/span><b>Inside a Foshan factory: seven zones, seven questions<\/b><small>Raw materials to QC \u2014 what to look at and write down in each zone before a deposit.<\/small><\/a>\n    <a href=\"\/china-furniture-manufacturers\/\"><span>Guide<\/span><b>Finding and vetting manufacturers<\/b><small>Licence checks, audit visits and the red flags that separate factories from traders.<\/small><\/a>\n    <a href=\"\/buy-furniture-from-china\/\"><span>Guide<\/span><b>How to buy furniture from China<\/b><small>Ten steps, landed cost, MOQ, payment, Incoterms, transit times and compliance.<\/small><\/a>\n    <a href=\"\/furniture-shipping-and-consolidation-from-china\/\"><span>Guide<\/span><b>Consolidation and shipping<\/b><small>Several suppliers, one export-packed container, delivered to your door.<\/small><\/a>\n  <\/div>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faq\">Questions buyers ask about these traps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>How can I tell whether a Foshan showroom is a factory or a dealer?<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ask directly whether it is factory-direct or a distributor, then ask to visit the production floor and the warehouse. A maker can show you frames, cutting and stock of its own models; a dealer can only show the showroom. Check the business licence: the registered name and address should be a Foshan manufacturing company, not a trading company.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>What is the difference between full-grain, semi-aniline and embossed leather on a Chinese sofa?<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Full-grain (\u5168\u9752\u76ae) is the uncorrected outer layer of the hide with the natural grain; semi-aniline (\u534a\u9752\u76ae) is lightly corrected and coated; embossed split (\u538b\u7eb9\u76ae) is the lower layer with a printed grain. The price spread is roughly three to one. Ask which one, the thickness in millimetres, and whether it covers all surfaces or only the contact faces.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>What fabric weight should a sofa cover have?<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Around 600 g\/m\u00b2 and above is the usual threshold for a durable upholstery fabric; lighter cloths wear and pill sooner. Ask for the weight and the abrasion rating (Martindale) in writing, and test a swatch for stain resistance yourself rather than relying on a &#8220;waterproof&#8221; label.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>What payment terms should I agree with a Foshan furniture factory?<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Never pay in full up front, whatever the discount. Domestic buyers commonly use 50% deposit and 50% before dispatch. For export orders we recommend 30% on order and 70% after an inspection report and before loading, paid to a registered company account whose name matches the business licence.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>What should a furniture contract with a Chinese supplier include?<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond the item list and price: a warranty (frame 10 years, cover and foam 5), who pays return freight for colour or size mismatch, a per-day delay penalty, the environmental standard with a test report, a cap on add-ons not requested by the buyer, and inspection free of defects before the balance is due.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Is it safe to order custom furniture from a small Foshan workshop?<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Only if the workshop has already made pieces of similar construction and you approve a prototype before the batch. Proven models carry far less risk than a one-off design. For custom work we match the factory to what it already produces and sign off drawings and a sample first.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reseller showrooms posing as factories, unnamed leather grades, clearance bundles, kerbside delivery, front-loaded payment, toothless contracts, custom work beyond a workshop and borrowed Foshan names: the eight traps Chinese buyers warn each other about, with the check and the fix for each.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":411,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pitfalls"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sourcefoshan.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sourcefoshan.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sourcefoshan.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sourcefoshan.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=410"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sourcefoshan.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":684,"href":"https:\/\/sourcefoshan.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410\/revisions\/684"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sourcefoshan.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sourcefoshan.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sourcefoshan.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sourcefoshan.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}