What to Check Before Your First Wholesale Order: A Practical Checklist for African Buyers

Start with the supplier, not the price

Your first order should not begin with the cheapest quote. It should begin with a supplier you can check.

Ask for the exact business name, address, and factory or trading status. A trading company is fine. But you need to know who is behind the offer. Ask for live photos or a short video of the stock with a dated note. Catalog photos are not proof.

Get the quote in writing. It must show the SKU, material, size, weight, carton pack, MOQ, and payment terms. Do not accept 'grade A' as a spec. Ask what grade A means for that product. If the supplier cannot explain it, slow down.

Order a sample. Pay for it. Test it yourself. Check the stitching, thickness, plug type, expiry date, label, or whatever matters in your market. A sample is not free, but it is cheaper than a container of dead stock.

Work out the landed cost

Many first-time buyers stop at the unit price. That is the fastest way to lose money.

Build the full landed cost before you commit. Use this list:

• Goods cost at MOQ
• Freight: LCL or FCL, CBM, gross weight, and destination port
• Duty and taxes
• Clearing and port charges
• Local transport from port to your store
• Forwarder or agent fees
• Bank charges and currency spread
• A small buffer for delays, damage, and exchange movement

Ask for a CIF quote to Lagos, Apapa, Tin Can, Freetown, or the nearest transit port for Niger and Chad. If you sell in Niamey or N'Djamena, ask for the full route and border costs. A cheap FOB price means little if the clearing bill is a shock.

Do a simple landed cost per unit. If the goods cost $2.50 per piece, your landed cost may be $3.40 or more after freight, duty, clearing, and local transport. Sell from the landed cost, not the supplier's unit price.

Check MOQ, packing, and lead time

MOQ is not always one number. It can change by color, size, or model. Ask if mixed SKUs are allowed. Ask if you can mix cartons in one order.

Check carton size and gross weight. Bulky packing can raise freight. A cheap item in a large carton may cost more to ship than a slightly dearer item that packs tight.

Get lead time in writing. Split it into production, packing, booking, transit, and clearing. Add a buffer. Port delays and border queues happen. If you are buying for a season, work backward from the date you need stock on the shelf.

Payment terms must be clear. A common term is a deposit before production and the balance before shipment or against a copy of the bill of lading. Do not pay a personal account. Pay the company account shown on the proforma invoice, and make sure the name matches the supplier.

Check documents and product rules

Ask for the proforma invoice, commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading or airway bill. For some goods you need a certificate of origin, test report, or import permit.

Check labels before production. Language, expiry date, batch number, voltage, plug type, and size labels matter. In Nigeria, some products need SONCAP. Sierra Leone, Niger, and Chad have their own import rules and transit paperwork. Ask your forwarder or local agent early. Do not assume the supplier knows your border.

Plan quality control and damage

Before shipment, ask for an inspection. At minimum, get photos of the cartons, a count, and a random check of units. A third-party inspection costs money, but it is cheaper than fighting over a bad shipment after arrival.

Put the defect rule in the proforma invoice. Say what happens if 2%, 5%, or 10% of units are bad. Replacement, credit note, or discount. Get it in writing.

Insure the cargo if the value is serious for your business. Photograph cartons before you open them. Keep damage reports and photos. Claims need evidence.

Common first-order traps

• Choosing the lowest price without checking packing and specs
• Paying a personal account
• Forgetting duty, clearing, and local transport
• Believing 'ready stock' without dated proof
• Skipping the sample
• Accepting a verbal lead time
• Mixing too many SKUs on the first order
• Ignoring currency movement between quote and payment

Place a small, clear first order

Start with a size you can sell and a supplier you can verify. Get the landed cost, confirm the documents, and put the key terms in writing. Then place the order.

You can browse the GlobemX catalog, see local-currency prices, and check clear MOQ. A local agent confirms stock and freight before you pay. That gives you a cleaner first order and fewer surprises at the port.