Price vs Quality What Defines Your Decision

How We Met the Client

This is a three-year-old brand. By chance, the client met us and shared a chapter of their early journey: in the startup phase, lacking experience, they found a factory online. The quote looked right, the sample quality seemed fine, and they quickly placed an order for 5,000+ units.

When the bulk shipment arrived, excitement turned instantly into disappointment. Problems surfaced that had been absent in the samples—padding/fiberfill migration, product warping, low stitch density, seam bursts, and lots of loose threads. When they asked for after-sales support, the supplier pushed back, saying she was nitpicking, that "as long as the product works, it’s fine," and that "bulk is never the same as the sample," then refused to take responsibility.

This didn’t meet the original quality positioning and made it impossible to sell at original price, defective pieces could only be discounted, causing heavy losses. What’s worse, before every shipment, their team had to work through the night inspecting each item one by one before daring to send them out—a draining and disheartening experience. We empathized deeply.

There are many suppliers, but not every supplier‘s quality positioning and values align with a brand’s needs. For an early-stage brand, finding the right, quality-driven supplier is crucial. A good supplier doesn’t just compete on price to win an one-time order, they prioritize long-term partnership and shared success—fully understanding the brand’s positioning and consumer needs, offering professional, tailored, and differentiated solutions and material recommendations, and providing end-to-end support in workmanship standards, QC, and packaging to help the brand grow from zero to one.

Starting over: Our New Collaboration with Our Clients

In April 2025, the client returned with a new project—a puffy laptop bag design. Although it began with only a single image and an idea, we scrutinized fabric, structure, and dimensions, refining every detail step by step and offering professional advice and feedback.

When the sample was finished, the client was thrilled: "This is exactly what I envisioned—this is the quality I want!" While the final cost exceeded her initial budget based on her requirements, achieving the right outcome made it worthwhile. When she saw the mass-production goods—each piece exactly as she’d imagined—she realized she hadn’t been too demanding about quality; she had simply not found the right partner before.

After the success of our first cooperative order, she regained confidence and became even more committed to quality and to solving real consumer needs. We subsequently collaborated on a series of projects including handbags, crossbody bags, and mini bags, etc.

From Trust to Win-Win

As a newcomer to the industry, she had many questions about design, material selection, construction choices, and even MOQ policies. Our team stayed patient and professional, walking her through every step, providing actionable solutions, and helping her turn ideas into reality. When confirming the order, she told us: "Your team is highly professional and very attentive—I trust you."

What Truly Wins Clients Over: Consistent Delivery of Great Products

Working with the client was more than closing a deal, it was a true expression of our belief in "earning trust through expertise." What persuades clients is not the lowest price, but the proven ability to consistently deliver quality and to genuinely solve problems.

Going forward, we will continue to prioritize design expertise and ensure service excellence, helping more brands navigate every step of their journey toward brand success.

Keywords: custom bags

Originally published 08 Sep 2025, updated 08 Sep 2025.