Red Flags in a Textile Supplier's First Email

Short answer: a trustworthy first reply names the company, restates your spec, gives a price with its terms, and tells you what happens next. Be careful when a reply is vague about who is selling, exact about how to pay, and in a hurry.

Nine warning signs

• No registered company name or address. A first name and a phone number are not a business.
• A free email address with no website, or a website that does not mention the person writing.
• A price with no spec. "Bath towel $1.90" with no size, weight or shipping term means nothing.
• A price far below everyone else. Cotton costs what it costs. A towel that is 25 percent cheaper usually has 25 percent less in it.
• Every certificate you can think of, listed without numbers you can verify.
• Pressure. "Price valid today only" on a first contact.
• 100 percent payment upfront on a first order of real size.
• A bank account in a different name from the company, or in a different country.
• Reluctance about samples, inspection or a video call.

One of these alone may be innocent. Several together are a pattern.

What a good first reply looks like

Three checks that take ten minutes

• IEC. Every Indian exporter has an Importer Exporter Code. Ask for it and check it on the DGFT website.
• GST number. Check it on the Indian GST portal. The name should match the company.
• Certificates. OEKO-TEX certificates can be checked on the OEKO-TEX website by number.

Our guide to verifying an Indian textile exporter walks through each one, and our own details are on the verification page.

A fair test for any supplier

Ask a specific question that needs a real answer: "What is the piece weight of a 70 x 140 cm towel at 550 GSM, and what tolerance do you hold?" Someone who knows towels will say about 540 grams and give a tolerance. Someone who doesn't will change the subject.

Before you pay anyone

Read five checks on a supplier's bank details. If you would like to see how we answer a first enquiry, send us one.