When sourcing from Ningbo, overseas companies should consider not only the contract itself but also the type of local supplier, the surrounding supply chain and the nature of the goods or services involved. Ningbo is a major port and manufacturing center with extensive export-oriented industrial supply chains. Understanding this background can help a buyer identify potential problems at an earlier stage.
If you purchased goods from a Chinese supplier through Made-in-China.com and the supplier failed to deliver, delivered defective products, refused to provide a refund, or otherwise breached the transaction, you may have several options.
The appropriate response depends on how the transaction was structured, how you paid the supplier, what was agreed, and what evidence you have.
For some transactions, the first step may be to use Made-in-China.com’s Secured Trading Service (STS) dispute process. For higher-value or more serious disputes, however, a platform complaint may not be sufficient. You may need to consider a formal legal claim against the Chinese supplier.
What Is a Made-in-China.com Supplier Dispute?
Made-in-China.com is a B2B sourcing platform connecting international buyers with Chinese suppliers.
A supplier dispute may arise when the supplier fails to perform its contractual obligations, including:
Failing to deliver the goods;
Delivering only part of the order;
Delivering defective products;
Delivering products that do not match the agreed specifications;
Failing to meet the agreed delivery date;
Refusing to refund a payment or deposit;
Failing to provide agreed documents;
Refusing to replace defective goods; or
Otherwise breaching the sales or manufacturing agreement.
The first question is not simply “How do I complain to Made-in-China.com?”
The more important question is:
What legal rights do I have against the Chinese supplier, and how can I recover my loss?
Step 1: Determine How You Paid the Supplier
Before taking action, determine how the transaction was structured.
This can make a significant difference to your options.
Secured Trading Service
If your order was placed through Made-in-China.com’s Secured Trading Service, the transaction may be subject to the platform’s secured-trading and dispute procedures.
The current STS buyer terms state that disputes between a buyer and supplier arising from use of the service can be handled under Made-in-China.com’s dispute-settlement standards.
The platform also describes STS as a payment-protection mechanism under which funds are held through the service and released according to the applicable transaction arrangements.
Direct T/T Payment
Not every transaction with a Made-in-China.com supplier is necessarily protected by STS.
For example, a buyer may:
Find a supplier on Made-in-China.com;
Negotiate the transaction by email or messaging;
Sign a sales contract or receive a proforma invoice;
Transfer a deposit directly to the supplier’s bank account; and
Complete the transaction outside the platform’s secured-trading system.
In that situation, the buyer may need to pursue the supplier based primarily on the underlying contract and applicable law, rather than relying on a platform refund procedure.
This distinction is particularly important for high-value machinery, industrial equipment, building materials, furniture, OEM products and other customized goods.
Step 2: Contact the Supplier and Attempt to Resolve the Problem
If a problem occurs, you should normally first communicate with the supplier.
Made-in-China.com’s buyer guidance also recommends contacting the supplier to discuss a solution before escalating a dispute to the platform.
However, this does not mean that you should simply continue exchanging informal messages indefinitely.
For a significant dispute, your communications should clearly establish:
What was ordered;
What was agreed;
What the supplier was required to do;
What the supplier actually did;
Why the performance was defective or incomplete;
What remedy you are requesting; and
The deadline for the supplier to respond.
For a substantial claim, a formal written demand may be more effective than continuing ordinary commercial correspondence.
Step 3: Preserve Your Evidence
Evidence is often the most important part of a Chinese supplier dispute.
You should preserve the complete transaction record, including:
Contract Documents
Sales contract;
Purchase order;
Proforma invoice;
Quotation;
Technical specifications;
Product drawings;
Approved samples;
Inspection requirements;
Warranty terms.
Payment Evidence
Bank transfer records;
Payment receipts;
Credit card records;
Platform payment records;
Deposit records;
Refund records.
Communications
Made-in-China.com messages;
Emails;
WhatsApp;
WeChat;
Other correspondence with the supplier.
Product Evidence
Photographs;
Videos;
Inspection reports;
Testing reports;
Shipping documents;
Packing lists;
Customs documents;
Records showing the actual condition of the goods.
Made-in-China.com’s own buyer guidance recommends collecting detailed information about the supplier and preserving documents and communication records when preparing a complaint.
Step 4: Submit a Made-in-China.com Dispute Where Applicable
For an eligible transaction, you may use Made-in-China.com’s dispute process.
The platform’s published dispute standards state that they apply to disputes arising from Secured Trading Service orders between buyers and sellers on the international station.
Depending on the transaction and applicable rules, disputes may concern matters such as:
Non-delivery;
Partial delivery;
Quality problems;
Refund disputes;
Product discrepancies;
Other breaches of the transaction.
Made-in-China.com provides a complaint process through which buyers can submit the complaint type and supporting documents.
Step 5: Do Not Treat a Platform Complaint as the Same as a Court Case
This distinction is extremely important.
Made-in-China.com provides a dispute-resolution mechanism for transactions conducted through its platform or secured-trading services.
But Made-in-China.com is not a court.
Its published terms state that where a dispute exists between a user and a third party, the parties may choose among various methods of resolution, including negotiation, a complaint to MIC, government complaints, arbitration where an arbitration agreement exists, or court proceedings.
Made-in-China.com also states that it does not assume responsibility for trade disputes in which it did not participate and recommends contacting the relevant legal department where necessary.
Therefore:
A platform dispute and a legal claim against the Chinese supplier are two different things.
A buyer may need to consider both.
What If You Are Not Satisfied With Made-in-China.com’s Decision?
This is one of the most important questions for a buyer.
If the platform process does not fully resolve your loss, you should not necessarily assume that the dispute is over.
Made-in-China.com’s general terms expressly recognize that disputes with third parties may also be resolved through arbitration or court proceedings where legally available.
The platform’s published dispute standards also contemplate subsequent legal proceedings or arbitration, with a court judgment or arbitral award taking precedence where it conflicts with the platform’s handling result.
Therefore, if a buyer suffers a substantial loss, the next question may be:
Can I bring a legal claim against the Chinese supplier?
The answer depends on the underlying transaction.
Can You Sue the Chinese Supplier?
Potentially, yes.
But the answer cannot be determined simply by looking at the fact that the transaction took place on Made-in-China.com.
The underlying documents need to be reviewed.
Important questions include:
Who is the contracting supplier?
What company received the payment?
What exactly did the supplier agree to provide?
Was there a written contract?
Was there an arbitration clause?
Is there a jurisdiction clause?
What law governs the contract?
Where was the contract performed?
Where is the supplier registered?
What losses can be proven?
Does the supplier have recoverable assets?
For a Chinese supplier, Chinese courts may be relevant depending on the applicable jurisdiction rules and the contractual arrangements.
If the contract contains a valid arbitration agreement, arbitration may instead be required.
This is why a lawyer should review the actual transaction documents rather than assuming that every Made-in-China.com transaction follows the same dispute-resolution procedure.
Made-in-China.com Disputes vs. Direct T/T Disputes
There is an important difference between the two.
Transaction Initial Approach
Made-in-China.com STS order Platform dispute / refund process
Made-in-China.com transaction paid directly by T/T Contract and supplier legal analysis
Supplier delivered defective goods Evidence + quality/specification analysis
Supplier did not ship Payment + contract + delivery analysis
Supplier refuses refund Demand + contractual claim
Platform resolution insufficient Consider legal action against supplier
The platform can be useful for resolving an eligible transaction.
But for a significant commercial dispute, the underlying legal relationship with the supplier remains important.
What If the Supplier Delivered Defective or Non-Conforming Goods?
Quality disputes are particularly common in international sourcing.
The key issue is usually not simply whether the buyer considers the product “bad.”
The legal question is often:
Did the goods conform to what the supplier agreed to provide?
For example, a machinery dispute may concern:
Production capacity;
Technical specifications;
Materials;
Dimensions;
Performance;
Testing requirements;
Installation;
Commissioning;
Warranty.
A building-material dispute may concern:
Material grade;
Dimensions;
Color;
Finish;
Quantity;
Certifications;
Technical standards;
Approved samples.
A furniture dispute may concern:
Dimensions;
Materials;
Color;
Hardware;
Drawings;
Approved samples;
Manufacturing quality.
This is why technical documents and communications with the supplier can be extremely important evidence.
What If the Supplier Received My Money but Never Delivered?
This can be particularly serious where the buyer has paid a substantial deposit.
The buyer should preserve:
The contract or purchase order;
The proforma invoice;
Bank transfer records;
The supplier’s bank-account information;
Delivery deadlines;
Production records;
Communications concerning production;
Any promises concerning shipment or refund.
Made-in-China.com’s published dispute materials specifically recognize non-delivery and partial delivery as types of trade disputes under its secured-trading dispute framework.
If the platform procedure is unavailable or does not fully resolve the loss, the buyer may need to consider a direct legal claim against the supplier.
What Can a China Lawyer Do?
A lawyer’s role is not simply to submit a complaint on your behalf.
For a significant supplier dispute, the more valuable role is to analyze the transaction as a potential legal recovery case.
A China lawyer can assist with:
Supplier Identification
Determine the actual Chinese legal entity involved in the transaction.
Contract Review
Identify the supplier’s contractual obligations and potential breaches.
Evidence Analysis
Determine which documents support the buyer’s claim.
Loss Calculation
Assess the amounts that may potentially be claimed.
Platform Dispute Assistance
Where appropriate, help organize and present the buyer’s position in the Made-in-China.com dispute process.
Demand Letter
Send a formal legal demand to the Chinese supplier.
Negotiation
Communicate directly with the supplier to seek payment, replacement, refund or settlement.
Litigation or Arbitration
Assess and, where appropriate, pursue formal legal proceedings against the supplier.
Enforcement
If a judgment or arbitral award is obtained and the supplier does not voluntarily comply, consider enforcement against available Chinese assets.
Common Made-in-China.com Supplier Disputes
We assist foreign buyers with disputes involving:
Machinery and Industrial Equipment
Custom machinery, production lines, industrial equipment, automation equipment and other technical products.
Building Materials
Stone, tiles, steel products, aluminum products, doors, windows, sanitary products and other construction materials.
Furniture
Custom furniture, hotel furniture, office furniture, commercial furniture and OEM furniture.
OEM / ODM Manufacturing
Customized products, private-label products and contract manufacturing arrangements.
Payment and Refund Disputes
Unreturned deposits, failed refunds, additional payment demands and payment-related contractual disputes.
Quality and Delivery Disputes
Defective products, non-conforming goods, failed inspections, late delivery and non-delivery.
A Practical Approach to a Made-in-China.com Supplier Dispute
A high-value supplier dispute should generally be approached in stages:
Preserve the evidence
↓
Identify the actual Chinese supplier
↓
Review the contract and transaction documents
↓
Determine whether an MIC dispute procedure is available
↓
Prepare the platform dispute, if appropriate
↓
Assess the underlying legal claim
↓
Send a formal demand or negotiate
↓
Consider arbitration or litigation
↓
Enforce the judgment or award if necessary
The appropriate path depends on the facts of the individual transaction.
When Should You Contact a China Lawyer?
You should consider obtaining legal advice particularly when:
The transaction value is substantial;
The supplier has received a large deposit;
The supplier refuses to refund your money;
The products are defective or substantially non-conforming;
The transaction involves customized machinery;
The supplier has stopped responding;
The platform process has not fully resolved the dispute;
You are considering litigation or arbitration;
You need to determine whether the Chinese supplier has recoverable assets.
For a small-value transaction, using the platform’s own dispute mechanism may be sufficient.
For a high-value commercial transaction, however, the cost of failing to preserve evidence or choosing the wrong legal strategy can be much greater.
What Should You Do Now?
If you have a dispute with a supplier found through Made-in-China.com, do not immediately delete messages, close the order, or continue informal negotiations without preserving the evidence.
Collect the available transaction records first.
These may include:
Contract or purchase order;
Proforma invoice;
Payment records;
Made-in-China.com order information;
Supplier communications;
Product specifications;
Drawings;
Inspection reports;
Photos and videos;
Shipping documents;
Evidence of your financial losses.
The documents do not need to be formally organized before an initial legal review.
The first step is to determine:
What did the Chinese supplier agree to do, what actually happened, what can be proved, and what legal remedies may be available?
Legal Assistance for Made-in-China.com Supplier Disputes
We provide China-focused legal support for foreign buyers involved in disputes with Chinese suppliers.
Our services may include initial case assessment, evidence review, Made-in-China.com dispute assistance, contract analysis, lawyer’s demand letters, supplier negotiations, arbitration, litigation and enforcement in China.
If the platform dispute does not fully resolve your loss, we can also assess the underlying legal claim against the Chinese supplier.
The platform dispute may be the first step. It does not necessarily have to be the last.
What Foreign Buyers Should Know About Ningbo Suppliers
The Ningbo market includes businesses involved in machinery, electrical equipment, household products and export manufacturing. Common commercial problems can include OEM disputes, quality claims, shipping-related disputes, delivery delays and payment disputes. In a dispute, documents such as contracts, purchase orders, technical specifications, inspection records, invoices, payment records and correspondence may become important evidence.
The city’s position within Zhejiang and its connection with a major export ecosystem connected to international shipping and manufacturing supply chains can also provide useful context when evaluating a supplier relationship. Local business characteristics do not determine the outcome of a dispute, but they can help explain the commercial setting in which the transaction took place.
Before Taking Action Against a Supplier in Ningbo
For an overseas buyer, the first practical step is usually to identify the correct Chinese contracting party and preserve the evidence showing what was ordered, what was paid and what was delivered. Depending on the contract and dispute, the next step may involve a demand, settlement negotiations, arbitration, litigation or enforcement.
The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws and legal procedures may vary depending on the specific facts and applicable jurisdiction. No lawyer-client relationship is created by reading this article or contacting us through this website. For advice regarding a specific matter, please consult a qualified lawyer after a formal engagement has been established.
Legal Contributors
Legal professionals contributing to this article and related legal analysis.
Qiang Lyu
His practice also includes China company law, intellectual property matters, and commercial contract disputes involving foreign-invested businesses and cross-border commercial activities.