After sampling and negotiation, the purchase order is the moment of truth. Five questions to ask before you sign — and what the answers reveal:

**1. "What is the per-piece price at 1,000 / 3,000 / 10,000 pcs?"** A serious supplier will give you a tiered quote. If the price barely moves with volume, the margins are padded.

**2. "What is the lead time from PO to ex-factory?"** 30–45 days for plush and wooden toys is normal. Anything under 20 days is suspicious. Anything over 60 days is a capacity warning sign.

**3. "Can you share two recent buyer references in my market?"** Not just a logo slide. Names, SKUs, and a contact. We provide references on request for any of our long-term partners.

**4. "What is your AQL standard for pre-shipment inspection?"** AQL 1.0 / 2.5 (general) and 4.0 (cosmetic) is the industry standard for toys. If they don't know what AQL is, walk away.

**5. "What happens if a shipment fails inspection?"** A clear re-work or replacement policy. The right answer is "we re-work at our cost, or refund/replace within 14 days." Avoid any supplier whose answer is "that never happens."

**Bonus tip:** Always visit the factory in person before your first order. The cost of a flight is nothing compared to the cost of a missed delivery window.