Before placing a sourcing request, make sure you've received a quotation for the product you want to source. If you haven’t done that yet, check out our Understanding RFQs article to get started.
What Does Sourcing Mean?
Sourcing is the process of placing an order to get a product ready and making it available in your inventory so you can start fulfilling orders.
Think of it as your way of saying, “I want to start selling this product — get it ready and available.”
Behind the scenes, vFulfill will:
✅ Place the order with the supplier
🚚 Arrange freight and manage logistics for shipping
🛃 Handle customs or import procedures (if applicable)
🏬 Ensure arrival at vFulfill’s fulfillment center or your warehouse within the expected delivery timeline
Before you move ahead with sourcing a product, here are a couple of important things to check :
Requirement | Details |
✅ You have a recent quotation | Sourcing should only be done when you’ve a recent quotation for the product. |
💰 Your wallet has enough funds | Since sourcing is pre-paid, we pay the suppliers in advance. The system will deduct the amount directly from your vFulfill Wallet when you place the request. |
Tip: Quotation prices and availability may change over time. If it's been a while since you received the quote on RFQ, double-check the prices and availability are still accurate. It’s best to source the product soon after receiving the quote.
How to Place a Sourcing Request?
Now that you’ve made sure everything is in place, here’s how to actually place your sourcing request:
Step 1: In your vFulfill account, Go to Sourcing >> Quotation Request. Here, you’ll find all the products you’ve received quotations for.
Step 2: Find the RFQ card of the product you want to source and click on the Source Product button. This will take you to the product details page.
Step 3: On the product details page, click the “Source Product” button again to begin the sourcing process.
Step 4: A pop-up form will appear where you can fill in the quantity and any specific preferences. This will also show you the consolidated sourcing cost. (check the breakdown in next section of this article).
Once everything looks good, click Source Product to place your request. The amount will be deducted from your wallet.
Note: You can request a sample directly by selecting the "Sample" option in the first step of the sourcing request.
To place a sourcing request for a higher MOQ, simply choose a different freight option.
💡 If you want the product to be delivered to your own warehouse instead of vFulfill Warehouse, make sure to select "My Warehouse" as the delivery location.
Step 5: A confirmation pop-up will appear. Click on Go to Sourcing Request if you’d like to track the progress immediately.
What’s Included in the Sourcing Price?
This breakdown is to help you understand what you're paying for — no hidden charges, just everything needed to get your product ready for fulfillment.
Charges | Details |
Product Price | Cost of the product |
China Compliance (if applicable) | Charges related to meeting compliance requirements in China |
Freight | Cost to ship the product from supplier to fulfillment center/warehouse |
Customs Handling (if applicable) | Import handling and clearance charges |
Documentation & Compliance(if applicable) | Paperwork and regulatory compliance fees |
GST (if using your own GST) | GST applied if you're using your own GST |
Inward Fee | ₹5 per unit – for receiving and handling at the warehouse |
That’s it — your sourcing request is now booked with us! 🎉 Our team will now begin working on your sourcing request. You can track its progress anytime by going to Sourcing >> Sourcing Orders in your account.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I source a product without a quotation?
If the product is listed in the vFulfill product catalog and the quoted price is no more than 10 days old, you can place a sourcing request directly. Otherwise, raise a RFQ to know the updated price.
2.How can I source a sample through vFulfill?
Yes, if the product is already listed in the catalog with the updated sample price, you can proceed by placing the sourcing request, following the steps mentioned above.
If the product is not in the catalog, you’ll first need to raise an RFQ to get the sample price. Once you have the price, you can then place the sourcing request as usual.
3. How long does sourcing usually take?
The estimated sourcing time is already provided in the RFQ. However, Once your sourcing request is approved, the expected delivery date will also be updated on your request.
4. Can I change the delivery location after placing the sourcing request?
No, once your sourcing request is placed and confirmed, the delivery location cannot be changed. Please ensure the location is correct before submitting.
5. Can I source the same product again later?
Yes, you can source the same product again, but make sure to get an updated quotation by raising an RFQ if the last quoted price is over a month old.
6. Can I cancel a sourcing request after placing it?
Cancellation may be possible depending on the status of your request. Contact our support team as soon as possible, and we’ll assist you in the process.
7. Can I source multiple products at once?
Yes! You can submit sourcing requests for multiple products simultaneously. Just follow the steps for each product, and our team will process them accordingly.