What shipping terms should I use — FOB, EXW, or DDP?

FOB (Free on Board) is the most common term for ocean freight from China — the supplier loads goods onto the vessel and you manage freight, insurance, and duties from the destination port. DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) is simpler — one landed price and the supplier handles everything. YTTWEAR quotes both side by side so you can compare real landed costs.

What are typical lead times from China to the US?

6–12 weeks from sample approval to US door is realistic for a first ocean freight order: 7–14 days sample development, 21–35 days bulk production, 3–7 days QC and packing, 14–28 days ocean freight, 2–5 days customs. Air freight cuts this to 2–3 weeks but adds significant cost.

Is 100% prepayment normal for a first order?

For a first order with a new supplier, 100% prepayment is not unusual — it protects the supplier after they have incurred production costs. For larger or repeat orders, 30% deposit / 70% balance before shipment is common. The key is getting the payment structure agreed in writing before any production begins.

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Quick Answer: First-time blank apparel buyers most often ask about MOQ, sample process, shipping costs, quality verification, and lead times. The key insight: MOQ is not a barrier — it is the supplier's minimum viable order for covering setup costs. Understanding this helps you negotiate better and avoid miscommunication.

Top Questions Every Blank Apparel Buyer Asks Before Their First Order

Q: What is MOQ and why do suppliers set it?

MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) is the smallest number of units a supplier will produce per design, colour, or size run. It exists because setup costs — fabric cutting, sewing, finishing, packing — are fixed regardless of run size. A supplier pricing 50 units the same as 5,000 would lose money on every small order.

Q: How does the sample order process work?

The typical flow is: submit a sample request → receive a sample quote → approve physical samples → approve pre-production → QC before shipment. At YTTWEAR, samples are cut from your actual order specs and photographed before shipping.

Q: How do I verify quality before paying the balance?

Use AQL (Acceptable Quality Level), a statistical sampling standard. Agree on a defect tolerance (AQL 2.5 is common for general apparel) before production, not after goods arrive. For established relationships at YTTWEAR, the balance payment is charged against a passing AQL inspection report.

Published May 22, 2026 · 8 min read

Last updated: 2026-05-22 08:55 UTC

What Is MOQ and Why Do Suppliers Set It?

MOQ stands for Minimum Order Quantity. It is the smallest number of units a supplier will produce per design, colour, or size run.

Here is the reality: producing 50 units and producing 5,000 units involve the same setup steps — fabric cutting, sewing, finishing, packing. Setup costs are fixed. A supplier pricing 50 units the same as 5,000 would lose money on every order.

In our experience, first-time buyers often assume MOQ is a negotiating point. Sometimes it is — for repeat orders, for off-season runs, or when you are bringing a long-term relationship. But on a first order with an unknown supplier, MOQ exists because the supplier needs to recover their setup costs.

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YTTWEAR Practice: We publish our MOQ by product type on our product pages — check the product listing for each style before sending an inquiry. For first-time buyers, we also accept mixed-SKU sample runs to reduce your upfront commitment while you verify quality.

How Does the Sample Order Process Work?

Most suppliers, including YTTWEAR, offer a sample order process before bulk production. A sample order lets you verify the actual product quality, fit, and colour before committing to a full run.

Typical Sample Flow

Submit a sample request — specify the style, colour, size set, and any customisation (print, embroidery, label)
Receive a sample quote — sample pricing is usually higher per unit than bulk pricing (setup costs apply to small runs too)
Approve the sample — you receive physical samples and check them against your tech pack
Approve pre-production — bulk production begins after you confirm the sample matches your expectations
QC before shipment — inspection happens before your order leaves the factory

What to Check When Evaluating Samples

Fabric weight and hand feel — does it match your tech pack specification?
Size measurements — does each size fall within the tolerance range you specified?
Print quality — if you ordered printed blanks, check colour accuracy and ink adhesion
Construction — check seam strength, stitching density, ribbing quality
Packing — how are units folded and packed? This affects what arrives at your warehouse

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YTTWEAR Practice: When you request a sample from YTTWEAR, we send you a pre-production sample — the actual garment cut from your confirmed order specs, not a generic sample from our showroom. We photograph every sample before shipping so you can verify construction details even before the package arrives. See how our sample process works.

What Shipping Terms Should I Use — FOB, EXW, DDP?

Shipping terms (Incoterms) define who is responsible for what during transport. Using the wrong term is one of the most common sources of unexpected costs for first-time buyers.

Term	Supplier Responsibility	Buyer Responsibility	Common Use Case
EXW (Ex Works)	Has goods ready at factory	Everything from factory pickup onward	Buyer has own freight forwarder
FOB (Free on Board)	Loading onto vessel at origin port	Freight, insurance, destination handling	Most common for ocean freight
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)	Everything including delivery to buyer door	Unloading only	Buyer wants full price clarity upfront

For first-time buyers ordering from China: FOB is the most common term. You pay for ocean freight, insurance, customs duties, and delivery. DDP is simpler — you pay one landed cost and the supplier handles everything — but suppliers may price in a margin.

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YTTWEAR Practice: We quote both FOB and DDP for every order — the quote sheet shows both prices side by side so you can compare the real landed cost rather than getting surprised by freight and duties later. Review our shipping terms page before finalising your first order.

How Do I Verify Quality Before Paying the Balance?

This is where AQL (Acceptable Quality Level) inspection comes in. AQL is a statistical sampling standard — it does not mean inspecting every single unit, but it does mean defining how many defects are acceptable in a given batch size.

What Defects Should I Look For?

Size deviation — does a size L actually measure within tolerance of your spec?
Fabric flaws — holes, runs, unusual pilling visible before washing
Colour inconsistency — shade variation between units in the same colourway
Print defects — ink misalignment, colour bleeding, cracking after light handling
Construction issues — loose threads, missing stitching at seams, asymmetric construction

What we typically see with first-time buyers: they either skip inspection entirely or they inspect every single unit, which is neither practical nor necessary. AQL 2.5 is a common benchmark for general apparel — it means if more than 2.5% of the batch has defects, you can reject the lot.

What Are Typical Lead Times?

Lead time is one of the most frequently underestimated factors in blank apparel sourcing. Buyers who plan for production time alone often miss the full timeline.

Stage	Typical Duration	What Affects This
Sample development	7-14 days	Complexity of customisation, supplier queue
Bulk production	21-35 days	Order size, factory current load, fabric availability
QC and packing	3-7 days	Inspection speed, special packing requirements
Ocean freight (China to US)	14-28 days	Port congestion, season, carrier availability
Customs clearance	2-5 days	Documentation accuracy, duty rates

Total timeline from sample approval to US door: 6-12 weeks is a realistic range for a first order from China. Air freight can cut this to 2-3 weeks but adds significant cost.

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YTTWEAR Practice: Every order gets a production schedule tracker — you receive a line-by-line timeline from sample approval through production, QC, and shipment. You can see exactly which stage your order is at without chasing your supplier by email. Browse our heavyweight T-shirt collection to see the spec sheets that come with every order.

Should I Pay 100% Prepayment?

The short answer: for a first order with a new supplier, requesting 100% prepayment is not unusual. It protects the supplier against non-payment after they have incurred production costs.

What you can do to protect yourself: request a sample first. A reputable supplier will not have a problem sending a sample before you commit to a full production run. If a supplier refuses to produce samples on any basis, that is a red flag regardless of their pricing.

For larger or repeat orders: 30% deposit / 70% balance before shipment is a common structure. This gives both sides a commitment and reduces risk.

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YTTWEAR Practice: For first orders, we accept 100% prepayment or 30/70 split depending on order size. For established relationships, we offer 30/70 with the balance charged against an AQL pass report — you pay the balance only after your QC results confirm the shipment meets agreed specs. See our current product listings for order size benchmarks.

Key Takeaways for First-Time Buyers

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Key Takeaways:

MOQ is a setup cost recovery mechanism, not a barrier — understand it, plan for it, and use samples to reduce first-order risk.
Always order samples before bulk — physical verification of fabric, fit, and print quality prevents costly mistakes.
Match your Incoterm to your logistics capability — FOB is common but requires you to manage freight; DDP is simpler but may cost more.
Use AQL as your QC language — agree on a defect tolerance with your supplier before production, not after goods arrive.
Plan lead times realistically — 6-12 weeks from approval to door is normal for ocean freight from China; build that into your inventory planning.

Questions to Ask Before Sending Your First RFQ

"What is your MOQ per colour and per size?" — some suppliers set different minimums for each.
"Can I order a 5-piece sample set before bulk?" — confirms the sample process exists.
"What are your payment terms for a first order?" — establishes expectations upfront.
"What is your lead time from deposit to ready-to-ship?" — not just production time, but total.
"Do you provide an AQL report before shipment?" — quality verification process.
"What is included in your FOB/DDP quote?" — avoid hidden costs by getting the full scope in writing.