Start with the legal and commercial identity
Request the full company name and the entity that will issue the quotation and contract. Ask whether that entity manufactures the proposed grade or arranges supply from another manufacturer. A trading relationship is not automatically unsuitable, but an unexplained relationship is a due-diligence gap.
Compare names and addresses across the documents supplied. Clarify discrepancies before committing funds. If payment instructions change, independently confirm them through an already verified contact channel; do not rely only on the message announcing the change.
Ask questions that distinguish capability from promotion
Request evidence relevant to the intended product rather than a general presentation. Useful questions include how the product code is controlled, which release tests apply, how a complaint is traced to a lot and how a material change is communicated.
An audit certificate needs a verifiable holder, scope and validity. Factory photographs, video calls and brochures can support a conversation but do not independently prove production ownership or current capability. Where the purchase risk warrants it, arrange a qualified independent assessment with an agreed scope.
Test the proposed grade, not the company name
Ask why the sample is appropriate for your feed and equipment. Keep the sample identifier linked to its documents and preparation instructions. A successful sample does not demonstrate that an unspecified future substitute will behave the same way.
The sample qualification sequence creates the technical basis for approval. Keep laboratory results separate from plant acceptance, then document which stage has actually passed.
Close the gaps before an order
Create a short exception list: unresolved company identity, missing release limits, unclear packaging or an unconfirmed delivery boundary. Give each item an owner and a required response. An attractive quotation should not silently close an unanswered technical question.
For Xinqi enquiries, use the factory and quality review to request order-specific evidence. Retain the final specification and correspondence with the purchase record so later receipt checks are based on agreed requirements rather than memory.