Where the risk actually is
Most repair shops that lose money on Chinese parts do not get scammed outright. They receive the wrong grade, a batch with a 10 percent defect rate, or a customs bill they did not budget for, and have no way to claim because they never agreed what “good” meant. The checklist below is what we ask our own wholesale customers to do, because it reduces disputes for both sides. Logistics and delivery times are covered separately in shipping from China.
Before the first order: check the supplier
- Named grades. A listing that says “high quality” without a grade is a warning. Ask what the panel is: original pull, refurbished original, Soft OLED, Hard OLED, Incell. Our grades guide is the vocabulary we use; a serious supplier has an equivalent.
- Test policy. Ask whether every unit is tested before packing and on what tester. “Tested” with no detail usually means the box was opened.
- Warranty terms in writing. How many days for dead-on-arrival, who pays return shipping, whether a replacement or credit is issued. Thirty days on screens and batteries is normal for wholesale.
- Sample order. Buy five to ten units of your top model before a hundred. A supplier that refuses small first orders is not interested in a long relationship.
- Communication. One named contact on WhatsApp, WeChat or email who answers within a working day. Dispute handling depends on this person.
Payment safety
| Method | Protection | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marketplace escrow (Alibaba Trade Assurance, AliExpress) | Refund if goods differ from listing, within the window | Fees are built into price; evidence must be filed before the window closes |
| PayPal goods and services | Buyer dispute process | Many suppliers add 4 to 5 percent; some refuse it |
| Card payment on the supplier’s own store | Chargeback through your bank | Keep order confirmation and photos |
| Bank transfer (T/T) | None once sent | Only for suppliers you have already received goods from; never for a first order |
| Western Union, USDT, gift cards | None | A supplier insisting on these for a first order is a reason to stop |
Pay from a business account, keep the invoice with the supplier’s company name, and match the beneficiary name on a transfer to that company. A request to send money to a personal account “because the company account is being audited” is the most common fraud pattern in this trade.
QC videos and photos before shipping
For orders above a few hundred dollars, ask for a short video of the packed order before it ships: screens powered on a tester showing white and colour fills, batteries on a tester showing voltage and capacity, labels and quantities visible. Thirty seconds per model is enough. The point is not to catch fraud; it is to have a dated record of what was sent so that an arrival dispute is about shipping damage, not about what was in the box. We provide these on request for every wholesale order.
Batteries and shipping rules
Lithium batteries are dangerous goods under IATA and IMDG rules. Loose cells and batteries shipped alone must be at 30 percent charge or less, packed with UN38.3 test documentation, and labelled. Many express carriers refuse loose batteries from small shippers entirely, and a supplier who quietly declares a battery box as “phone accessories” exposes you to seizure at import. Ask how batteries will ship before ordering; expect a slower dedicated battery line and a surcharge. Batteries installed in a device or packed with equipment have easier rules, which is why some suppliers ship cells with a cheap flex attached.
Customs and duties
- Phone parts such as screens, flexes and housings are usually classified under HS 8517.79 (parts of telephones); lithium batteries under 8507.60. Duty rates on these are low in many countries but VAT or sales tax applies on import almost everywhere.
- Ask the supplier to declare the true value and description. Under-declaring saves little and turns a routine clearance into an inspection, a fine, or a seized parcel.
- Check whether your country has a low-value threshold and whether it still applies to commercial parcels. The EU removed its VAT exemption for parcels under 22 euros in 2021; the US ended the 800 dollar de minimis exemption for most commercial shipments in 2025.
- Register for an EORI or importer number if you order regularly. Carriers charge brokerage on every parcel without one.
What to check on arrival
- Film the unboxing, continuously, from the sealed carton to the last item. Carriers and suppliers accept this as evidence; a photo taken later is weaker.
- Count against the packing list before testing.
- Test every screen on a display tester the same day: fills, touch grid, True Tone write. Test every battery for voltage and reported capacity. See how to test parts on arrival and our tester guide.
- Report shortages and dead units within the warranty window with photos and the tester reading. Claims filed on day 45 of a 30-day warranty are declined by every supplier, including us.
- Keep defective units until the claim is settled; some suppliers want them back.
Where REFparts stands
We sell by named grade, test every screen and battery before packing, provide QC video on request, ship batteries only through compliant channels, and declare true values. Our wholesale terms and warranty are on every listing in the iPhone parts catalogue.
Safety note
Open battery parcels in a ventilated area away from anything flammable. A cell that arrives dented, swollen or smelling of solvent should go straight into a fireproof container; do not test it. Photograph it for the claim and dispose of it through a battery recycler.
FAQ
Is Alibaba safer than buying from a supplier’s own website?
Escrow gives you a dispute process. A supplier’s own store with card payment gives you a chargeback. Both beat bank transfer for a first order.
Can I avoid VAT by splitting an order into small parcels?
Not legally in most countries, and carriers now charge handling fees per parcel that erase any saving.
How many units should a sample order have?
Five to ten of one model. Enough to see consistency across units, small enough to write off if the supplier is wrong for you.
What defect rate is normal?
Under 2 percent dead on arrival on tested screens and batteries. Above 5 percent on a batch, change supplier or grade.