TT, PayPal, or Trade Assurance? The Safest Way to Pay Chinese Suppliers in 2026

Key Takeaways:

• The Risk: Wire Transfers (T/T) offer zero protection if the supplier ghosts you.

• The Solution: Alibaba Trade Assurance protects your deposit up to 30 days after delivery.

• The Dark Horse Edge: Unlike most sourcing agents who only accept bank wires, we run a Verified Alibaba Store so you can pay with full protection.

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Introduction: The "Sleepless Night" After Sending Money

You found a supplier. You negotiated the price. You are ready to start production. Then comes the scary part: The Wire Transfer.

You send $10,000 to a bank account in Hong Kong or mainland China. Then, silence. Did they receive it? Will they ship the goods? Or did you just "donate" your startup capital to a scammer?

In 2026, payment fraud is getting sophisticated. Hackers intercept emails and change bank details (the "Man-in-the-Middle" attack). At Dark Horse Sourcing, we believe you shouldn't have to gamble with your money. Here is the breakdown of the 3 major payment methods and which one you should use.

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Option 1: Bank Transfer (T/T)

• What is it? Direct wire from your bank to theirs.

• Pros: Standard for large B2B orders; low fees for large amounts.

• Cons: Zero protection. Once the money is gone, it is gone. If the factory sends you a box of rocks, the bank cannot help you.

• Verdict: Only use T/T if you have visited the factory personally or have a trusted partner (like Dark Horse) on the ground.

Option 2: PayPal

• What is it? Consumer-grade payment app.

• Pros: Easy to use; good buyer protection for consumers.

• Cons: The Fees. Suppliers will charge you an extra 4-5% to cover PayPal fees. Also, PayPal often freezes seller accounts in China, causing delays.

• Verdict: Good for samples ($50), terrible for mass production ($5,000+).

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Option 3: Alibaba Trade Assurance (The Gold Standard)

• What is it? An escrow service. You pay Alibaba, and Alibaba holds the money. They only release it to the supplier after you confirm the goods are shipped and quality is checked.

• Pros:

  • Money Back Guarantee: If the factory ships late or fails QC, you get a refund.

  • Credit Card Support: You can pay with Visa/Mastercard (T/T is strictly cash).

• Cons: Most "Sourcing Agents" are not on Alibaba. They are just individuals with a WhatsApp number. They cannot offer this.

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The Dark Horse Solution: "Agency Service with Alibaba Safety"

This is the most common question we get:

"I want to hire Dark Horse as my sourcing agent because you guys are experts, but I feel safer paying through Alibaba. Can I do that?"

The answer is YES.

Most sourcing agents force you to wire money to a private bank account. We are different. We have invested in a Verified Alibaba Store (Dark Horse Agent) to give you peace of mind.

How it works:

1. We source your product (from 1688, offline factories, or anywhere).

2. We create a Trade Assurance Order link on our Alibaba store.

3. You pay via the link using your Credit Card or Bank Transfer.

4. Your funds are protected by Alibaba's platform until we ship the goods.

[Visit Our Verified Alibaba Store Here] 

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Security Tip: The "Bank Change" Scam

If your supplier suddenly emails you saying: "Our bank is under audit. Please wire money to this new account in a different name." STOP.

This is a hacker. 99% of the time. Our Policy: Dark Horse Sourcing will NEVER change our bank details via email. If you receive such a request, call us via Video Chat immediately.

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Conclusion: Sleep Easy

Sourcing from China involves many risks—quality, shipping, customs. Payment shouldn't be one of them.

Don't settle for an agent who says "Trust me, wire the money." Work with a partner who is transparent enough to offer Trade Assurance.

Ready to start your safe sourcing journey? [Contact Dark Horse Sourcing] for a quote, or check our profile directly on Alibaba.