What to document when a Chinese supplier has not shipped
Separate a real shipment from a production update or a shipping label. The strongest file shows the agreed deadline, payment and the absence of verifiable dispatch.
Updated 24 July 2026
Confirm the contractual deadline
Save the order page, contract, pro forma invoice and messages confirming the dispatch date.
Record any extensions and whether you accepted them.
Check shipment evidence
Ask for the carrier name, tracking number, commercial invoice, packing list and handover receipt.
A created label is not necessarily proof that the carrier received the goods.
Preserve payment evidence
Keep the payment confirmation and the beneficiary details shown on the platform or invoice.
Do not send additional money merely to unlock a promised refund.
Act before deadlines
Use the platform dispute or refund procedure while it is available.
Keep private negotiations concise and do not close a claim only because the supplier promises a later payment.
Common mistakes
- Treating a tracking number with no carrier scan as proof of shipment
- Accepting repeated deadline extensions without written conditions
- Closing a dispute before funds arrive
- Failing to save the order page before it changes
Describe the situation and identify the documents you already have. Do not put confidential documents in the public chat.
Open the application formEducational information, not legal advice. Check current platform rules and deadlines.