Choose the China sourcing route before choosing suppliers.
Compare factory-direct, Alibaba, 1688, trading-company, market, and Aeonix operating-desk routes by buyer stage, risk, evidence, and next action. The output can move straight into an RFQ sourcing file.
Best used when
You have supplier links but do not trust the quote basis.
You are unsure whether 1688, Alibaba, factory-direct, or an agent is safer.
You need supplier evidence before sending a deposit.
Match the route to the buyer, not the marketplace.
What do you have now?
Where did the route start?
Main pressure
Risk flags
The best route changes when the risk changes.
JingSourcing-style traffic often arrives through a guide. Aeonix should convert it by showing which route is safer, what evidence is missing, and how the sourcing file will prove the choice.
Alibaba
Fast discovery and English export sellers.
Supplier role, quote basis, compliance proof, and sample consistency.
1688
Domestic price discovery, small commodities, and supplier mapping.
Payment, Chinese negotiation, domestic freight, inspection, and export handoff.
Direct factory
Mature specs, repeat volume, and buyers who can manage details.
MOQ, sample standard, production drift, and inspection accountability.
Trading company
Mixed orders, export paperwork, and smaller buyer teams.
Margin visibility, factory access, and evidence behind recommendations.
Aeonix desk
Unclear route, multiple risks, or buyers who need a reusable sourcing file.
The buyer still needs to provide links, photos, quantities, and target market.
Build the RFQ brief
Use when the route is clear enough to structure product, quantity, and service needs.
Compare supplier quotes
Use when unit price, MOQ, Incoterms, freight, payment, and risk disagree.
Review the sample file
See how the route decision becomes supplier fit, quote comparison, QC, and handoff evidence.
Buyer type: Marketplace seller Current stage: Supplier links Starting channel: Not sure Main pressure: Find supplier route Target market: United States Risk flags: Quality risk, Suspicious low price Recommended route: Quote comparison Why: When suppliers already quoted, the next job is to normalize MOQ, Incoterms, sample cost, tooling, freight, payment, documents, lead time, and quality risk before choosing a route.