Sourcing glossary
Golden sample
Also known as: Approved sample, Reference sample, Sealed sample
The final approved sample, signed and sealed by buyer and supplier, that serves as the reference standard for mass production and inspection.
A golden sample is usually made from the approved pre-production sample. Keep identical signed sets at the factory and with you, so the production line and your inspector judge bulk goods against the same physical reference.
See product samples from China for how to create and use one.
Related terms
Guides that use this term
Fairs
How to Plan a China Sourcing Trip: Cities, Itinerary, Visas
Plan a 5–7 day China sourcing trip: cities by product, a sample Guangzhou and Yiwu itinerary, visa-free entry rules, mobile payments and a factory checklist.
Updated 2026-09-26 · 6 min read
Private label
Custom Packaging from China: Options, Printing, MOQs and Labels
How to order custom packaging from China: poly bags, colour boxes, mailers and inserts, printing methods, MOQs, dielines, barcodes and origin marking.
Updated 2026-09-24 · 5 min read
Platforms
Alibaba Trade Assurance: What It Covers and How to Claim
What Alibaba.com Trade Assurance covers and excludes, which payments qualify, refund windows, delivery-delay compensation and how to file a claim.
Updated 2026-09-23 · 5 min read
QC
Defective Goods from China: What to Do When Your Order Arrives Wrong
Defective goods from a Chinese supplier? How to document evidence, use your PO terms, negotiate a fix, file Trade Assurance or insurance claims, and prevent repeats.
Updated 2026-09-21 · 5 min read
Private label
Product Samples from China: Types, Costs and How to Evaluate Them
Stock, custom, pre-production and golden samples explained: what they cost, who pays, sample fee refunds, express shipping and how to judge a sample properly.
Updated 2026-09-11 · 5 min read
Yiwu
How to Buy from the Yiwu Market Without Visiting
How overseas buyers source from Yiwu remotely: agents, video-call booth tours, the Chinagoods platform, consolidation warehouses, payment, QC and the main risks.
Updated 2026-09-10 · 6 min read
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