Direct answer
A phone supplier is ready for an RFQ when you can verify identity, see how they prove stock, and read payment, inspection, and DOA terms in writing. A catalog, a trade-show banner, and a low price are not verification.
Key takeaways
- Check the legal name, not only the shop name.
- Ask how stock is evidenced, then test that evidence.
- Refuse payment terms that move the whole risk to you before inspection.
- Keep a written reject list. Charm is not a control.
- This checklist does not replace counsel in a high-value first order.
Use this list before you send a deposit. The longer verification guide explains why each item exists.
Identity
| Check | Accept | Clarify | Reject |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal name | Matches invoice and bank account | Shop name only | Name changes per email |
| Address | Can be visited or independently confirmed | PO Box only | Refuses any location |
| Contact | Named person and role | Generic sales alias only | New number after every call |
| Company documents | Current and match the name | Blurry scans | Another company’s papers |
Stock evidence
| Check | Accept | Clarify | Reject |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packing list format | Model, IMEI/serial columns | “Available now” | No list until after payment |
| Photos / video | Dated, with your reference card | Stock photos | Another buyer’s watermark |
| Sample | Same SKU and version as the lot | Different sample “as example” | Sample after full payment only |
Commercial terms
| Check | Accept | Clarify | Reject |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incoterm + place | Named 2020 term | “Shipping included” | No delivery point |
| Payment | Triggered on documents/inspection | 100% before sample | Crypto-only with no trail |
| Inspection | Written window | “We are honest” | No opening allowed |
| DOA | % , days, freight party | “We take care” | No written DOA |
Red flags
- Pressure to pay the same day because “the flight is tonight.”
- Asking you to pay a personal account that does not match the invoice.
- Refusing IMEI or serial columns for used lots.
- Sending a contract that forbids inspection.
- Using exact-match commercial anchors and cloned pages as proof of authority. That is marketing, not due diligence.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Is a business license photo enough?
No. A photo can be old, cropped, or from another company. Match the legal name to the account you will pay and to the invoice you will receive.
Should I use a supplier because they have many website listings?
Listings are marketing. Verification is identity, documents, and a sample that matches the quote.
Sources and methodology
- Know Your Incoterms — U.S. International Trade Administration Accessed August 22, 2026.
- Spam Policies for Google Web Search — Google Search Central Accessed August 22, 2026.
Update history
- — First published. Official sources on this page were accessed on this date unless a later note says otherwise.
Factual corrections after publication are listed on the corrections page. There is no separate reviewer identity on this desk. See the editorial policy.