When a Chinese supplier ships fewer goods than promised, the claim often depends on purchase terms, packing lists, inspection records, delivery counts, payment records, and the correct defendant identity.
Line up purchase orders, invoices, packing lists, carton counts, container records, warehouse intake, and customer shortages.
Preserve receiving reports, photos, videos, shortage notices, carrier claims, customer complaints, and refund or replacement promises.
Confirm whether the trading company, factory, exporter, freight forwarder, or payment beneficiary is responsible before Hague service.
A supplier may argue that the goods shipped, the carrier lost them, the buyer received them, or the contract allowed partial shipment. The record needs to separate manufacturing, packing, freight, and receiving issues.
Collect the purchase order, invoice, specifications, packing list, bill of lading, container or tracking records, warehouse receiving logs, inspection report, defect or shortage photos, refund communications, and damages calculation.
Shortage facts may involve the manufacturer, trading company, exporter, carrier, forwarder, warehouse, or U.S. distributor. Counsel should decide which records support a contract claim, a freight claim, or both.
If the Chinese supplier is the target defendant, shortage exhibits should be translated and tied to the complaint before Hague service. If multiple China-side entities are involved, naming and address decisions should be made before service deadlines become urgent.
Do not assume a replacement promise or partial refund offer preserves the claim. Review limitation periods, forum clauses, arbitration clauses, and service deadlines while the shortage evidence is still fresh.
Contracts, purchase orders, invoices, inspection records, freight records, delivery proof, payment records, notices, damages evidence, and Chinese entity details usually matter most.
If the proper defendant is in mainland China and a U.S. lawsuit is filed, Hague Convention service usually needs to be planned unless a court-approved alternative applies.
The trading company, factory, exporter, invoice issuer, salesperson, forwarder, and payment beneficiary may differ. Naming the wrong party can weaken service, default, settlement, and collection strategy.