Last updated: October 2026 · By the PandaRoads team in China
Common structures and when they appear
| Structure | Typical use | Buyer risk | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30/70 | Standard production orders | Balance paid against unverified goods | Balance only after inspection |
| 50/50 | Custom tooling / molds upfront | More capital at risk early | Tooling ownership clause + verification |
| 100% after inspection | Small / sample orders, strong trust | Low for buyer | Supplier may refuse at scale |
| L/C at sight | Large repeat orders | Document fraud if docs not checked | Bank document review + inspection cert |
The two gates that make 30/70 safe
- Gate 1 (before deposit): GSXT company check, license/bank-name match, real-premises verification — verify the factory.
- Gate 2 (before balance): independent pre-shipment inspection against the contracted specs/AQL; balance released only on pass.
- Both gates written into the contract, with the inspection right explicit.
When 30/70 is dangerous
- Deposit to a personal or mismatched account — see pay a supplier safely.
- Balance due before shipment with no inspection right (removes your leverage).
- “Account changed” messages mid-order (BEC / account-swap fraud).
- No written specs, so “quality as per contract” is unenforceable.
Where a local team de-risks it
We verify before your deposit and inspect before your balance — remote $129 per request, on-site $239 per day, English report in 2 business days. We never collect your goods payment; your funds go direct to your supplier. See all tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 30/70 standard in China?
Yes, it is the most common production structure. Its safety depends entirely on the verification-before-deposit and inspection-before-balance gates, not on the ratio itself.
Should I ever pay 100% upfront?
Only for tiny sample orders through a protected channel (PayPal/escrow). For production orders, 100% upfront removes all leverage and is a common scam setup.
What if the supplier demands 50% deposit?
Acceptable when there is genuine custom tooling, but tie it to a tooling-ownership clause and verify first. For standard goods, push back to 30%.