KLM Sourcing
1. Your request
| Prepared for | Example Lighting Inc., Toronto, Canada |
|---|---|
| Product | LED flat panel light, 600 x 600 mm, 40 W, 4000 K, 0 to 10 V dimmable |
| Quantity | 500 units, possible repeat orders |
| Requirements | Approved certification for sale in Canada (cUL, cETL or CSA), 5-year warranty, bilingual packaging |
| Delivery | Warehouse in Mississauga, Ontario |
2. Suppliers compared
We contacted 14 companies, excluded 11 that did not meet your requirements, and shortlisted three.
| Supplier A | Supplier B | Supplier C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company type | Manufacturer | Manufacturer | Trading company |
| Location | Zhongshan, Guangdong | Jiangmen, Guangdong | Shenzhen, Guangdong |
| In business | 11 years | 7 years | 4 years |
| Main export markets | North America, Europe | Europe, Middle East | Europe, Africa |
| Certification | cUL listing | cETL (claimed) | CE only |
| Our check | Listing found in the certifier's online database | Report requested, not yet confirmed | No North American certification |
| FOB price, USD per unit | 9.40 | 8.10 | 7.20 |
| Minimum order | 300 | 500 | 200 |
| Production lead time | 25 days | 30 days | 15 days |
| Samples | Free, buyer pays courier | USD 25, refunded on order | Free, buyer pays courier |
3. Verification checks
| Supplier A | Supplier B | Supplier C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business license matches company name | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Factory address confirmed | ✓ | ✓ | Not a factory |
| Live video call with the production floor | ✓ | ✓ | n/a |
| Product is actually made on site | ✓ | ✓ | Sourced from others |
| Bank account in the company's name | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
4. Price breaks, Supplier A
| Quantity | FOB Shenzhen, USD per unit |
|---|---|
| 300 to 499 | 9.40 |
| 500 to 999 | 8.95 |
| 1,000 and more | 8.60 |
Quoted prices are valid for 30 days and exclude freight, duty and taxes.
5. Our recommendation
Supplier A is the best fit for your project. Its certification was found in the certifier's database, the product is made on site, and its lead time is realistic for 500 units.
Supplier B is cheaper, but the certification report has not been confirmed. We would only consider it once the report is verified.
Supplier C is not suitable for Canada: it is a trading company and the product holds no North American certification.
6. Points to watch
- Ask Supplier A to print French and English on the packaging from the first order.
- Request a pre-shipment inspection before paying the balance.
- Check whether any Canadian surtax applies to this product before ordering.
7. Next steps
- Order samples from Supplier A (and B once verified).
- Test the samples and confirm specifications.
- Place the order yourself, or ask us to handle negotiation, inspection and shipping.