When a research lab or hospital needs to procure laboratory equipment from China, three main procurement models are available: buying direct from the factory, going through a local distributor, or working with an independent sourcing agent.
## Direct Factory
Lowest unit price, but the buyer absorbs all the workload: supplier vetting, quality control, export documentation, freight forwarding, and warranty management. Minimum order quantities and English-language support are also common pain points.
## Local Distributor
Faster response times and easier communication, but the price is typically 10-25% higher than direct factory. Limited to the brands the distributor represents.
## Sourcing Agent (e.g. GetLabGear)
A hybrid that combines the price advantage of direct factory with the project management of a local partner. Best for multi-vendor, multi-category, or high-value orders where the buyer’s team does not have dedicated procurement capacity for China.