What Happens After You Pay the Deposit to a Chinese Factory?

The Hidden Manufacturing Timeline (And How to Stay in Control)

Developing products in China is rarely fast or linear—and the most stressful part often begins after the deposit is paid.

You’ve done the hard work. You found a supplier, negotiated pricing, and wired the standard 30% China factory deposit.
And then… silence.

For many US importers, this quiet period triggers immediate anxiety. Emails go unanswered. WhatsApp shows one checkmark.
Did the factory disappear? Did I just get scammed?

In reality, over 90% of post-deposit “silence” cases are caused by raw material procurement and internal scheduling—not fraud.
But once the money leaves your account, you’ve entered what many buyers experience as the manufacturing “Black Box.”

To manage China factory deposit risk, you need to understand exactly what happens after payment—and where your leverage still exists.

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Quick Summary: What Happens After Paying a China Factory Deposit

Phase	Typical Timeline	What the Factory Is Doing
Raw Material Purchasing	Days 1–15	Ordering and receiving materials
Pre-Production Sample (PP)	Days 15–20	Producing golden / approval sample
Mass Production	Days 20–40	Assembly, molding, sewing, testing
Packaging & Cartoning	Days 40–50	Labeling, boxing, palletizing
Final Payment	After QC Pass	Balance payment & shipment release

Typical production timeline after deposit: 40–60 days
Complex products or supply chain disruptions may extend this.

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The “Black Box” Explained: Where Your Deposit Actually Goes

Contrary to popular belief, Chinese factories rarely hold large inventories.
Most operate on a make-to-order basis.

That 30% deposit is not profit—it is working capital used to:

• Purchase raw materials

• Pay subcontractors

• Reserve production slots

Understanding this reality helps buyers stay calm—and stay in control.

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Phase 1: The “Radio Silence” Period (Days 1–15)

Status: Raw Material Procurement

This is when communication often slows and buyer anxiety peaks.

What’s Actually Happening

Factories are placing orders with upstream suppliers for:

• Plastic resin

• Fabric

• PCBs and components

• Packaging materials

Production cannot begin until these materials arrive.

Normal vs Risk Signals

Normal

• Factory confirms material order dates

• Shares warehouse arrival photos

• Provides an updated production start date

Risk

• No updates after 15 days

• Repeated vague excuses

• Refusal to show material proof

Your Move

Don’t wait passively. Ask for proof of material arrival.
A single warehouse photo confirms your deposit is being used as intended.

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Phase 2: Pre-Production (Golden) Sample (Days 15–20)

Status: Final Rehearsal Before Mass Production

Before machines run at scale, the factory should produce one PP Sample using the actual production materials.

Why This Matters

Many factories skip this step to save time.
If the sample is wrong, every unit produced will be wrong.

Normal vs Risk Signals

Normal

• Factory produces a PP sample

• Confirms approval before production

Risk

• Factory insists photos are “enough”

• Pushes directly into mass production

Your Move

Require photo or video verification of the PP sample before approving production.

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Phase 3: Mass Production (Days 20–40)

Status: Full Production in Progress

Cutting, molding, sewing, assembly—the real manufacturing begins.

The Hidden Risk: Quality Fade

As production progresses, some factories quietly:

• Substitute cheaper materials

• Use thinner packaging

• Rush assembly to meet shipping deadlines

Normal vs Risk Signals

Normal

• Production updates provided

• QC access approved

Risk

• Resistance to inspections

• Sudden changes in materials or process

Your Move

Schedule a During Production Inspection (DUPRO) when ~20% of goods are completed.
This is the last point where problems can still be fixed.

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Phase 4: Packaging & Final Count (Days 40–50)

Status: Goods Prepared for Shipment

Products are boxed, labeled, and palletized.

Common Trap

Packaging is often rushed. Errors here lead to:

• Incorrect carton labels

• Weak cartons damaged during shipping

• Amazon FBA rejections

Your Move

Request photos of:

• Carton markings

• Master carton strength

• Pallet stacking

Ensure everything matches your fulfillment requirements exactly.

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Three Major Red Flags After Paying a China Factory Deposit

1. Repeated “Material Delays”

Translation: Your deposit may be funding other orders.

Action: Demand a firm new date. Missed twice = intervene.

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2. Sudden Price Increases

Translation: Factory assumes you’re locked in.

Action: Refer to your contract. Stay firm—most back down.

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3. Refusal of Third-Party Inspection

Translation: Something is wrong.

Action: Inspection is non-negotiable. It is your leverage.

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The Golden Rule: Leverage Ends at Final Payment

You control the process until the remaining 70% is paid.

Once the balance is released:

• Leverage disappears

• Defects become your problem

Never confuse shipment urgency with production readiness.

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Safety Checklist After Paying a China Factory Deposit

• Production contract in place

• PP sample approved

• Inspection scheduled before balance payment

• Packaging verified

• Final payment released only after QC pass

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Final Thoughts

The period after paying a China factory deposit is not a mystery—it’s a predictable manufacturing sequence:
Materials → Samples → Production → Packaging

Buyers who understand this timeline stop reacting emotionally and start managing production strategically.

For companies that prefer on-the-ground oversight during this critical phase, professional production management can significantly reduce risk—especially for first-time imports or complex products.

At DHS, we manage the manufacturing “Black Box” from material verification through final inspection—so what you paid for is exactly what you receive.