Oct 13, 2026Sourcing & Trade
First Alginate Trial Order (720 Bags): Checklist Before You Pay the Deposit
Placing a first alginate trial order? A step-by-step checklist for 720 × 500 g bags: samples, specs, proforma invoice, T/T 30/70 terms, documents and lead time.
A first trial order of 720 × 500 g bags is the usual way distributors test a new alginate supplier without locking capital into a full container. Before you send the 30% deposit, you should have five things in writing: tested samples, the exact grade and pack specification, a correct proforma invoice, an agreed lead time, and the list of documents that will ship with the goods. This checklist walks through each step from sample to arrival.
Why 720 Bags Works as a Trial Size
- Big enough to test a real market: 720 bags is 360 kg of powder — enough to supply several clinics or one or two cities for a sales cycle.
- Small enough to limit risk: it ships as LCL (shared container) freight, so you do not pay for a full container while you are still qualifying the supplier.
- Fast to produce: standard grades ship in about 5–7 days after deposit.
If you plan your own brand from the first order, OEM printed bags take 20–30 days, and a USD 400 printing plate fee applies below 5,000 bags (waived on a single order of 5,000+ bags). Many distributors run the first trial on standard packaging and switch to OEM on the reorder. See OEM Private Label Alginate.
Step 1: Test Samples With Real Users
Samples are free; overseas buyers cover international express. If you have a forwarding agent in China, samples can ship to the agent’s warehouse instead.
Give the samples to at least one busy clinic and, for casting products, one retail or studio user. Check:
- Mixing feel at your local water temperature (dental reference: 10 g powder : 20 ml water)
- Working and setting behaviour in a real appointment
- Color stages, if you are testing chromatic alginate
- Detail and tear resistance on the poured model
- Bag quality and how the powder flows out
Write down what the clinic says. That feedback becomes your sales pitch later.
Step 2: Confirm the Specification in Writing
Ambiguity here causes most trial-order disputes. Agree on:
- Grade: Universal, High Precision, Super High Precision, Chromatic or Life Casting — see Dental Alginate Grades Explained
- Pack size: 500 g bag is the trial standard; 25 kg kraft bags for bulk programs
- Quantity per grade: if you want to split 720 bags across grades, ask before ordering
- Packaging: standard bag, or your own label / artwork (OEM)
- Shelf life and storage: 3 years unopened, stored dry below 25°C — confirm the production date will be recent
Step 3: Check the Proforma Invoice Line by Line
Before paying, compare the proforma invoice (PI) with what you agreed:
- Product names and grades match your sample approval
- Quantity, unit price and currency are correct
- Incoterm is stated (for example FOB Shanghai or CIF your port)
- Payment terms: T/T, 30% deposit, 70% before shipment
- Lead time from deposit is written on the PI
- Bank details match the company name on the PI — call or message the supplier to confirm before transferring
Step 4: Agree on Documents Before Production
Your customs broker needs the right papers when the goods arrive. Ask for the document list up front, not after shipping:
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Bill of lading (sea) or air waybill
- Batch COA (certificate of analysis) for the production lot
- MSDS and non-hazardous transport papers
- Certificate of origin, if your country gives tariff benefits or customs asks for it
- Product registration documents your country’s regulator may require — check locally first
Step 5: Before You Pay the 70% Balance
- Ask for photos of the packed goods with your order details visible
- Confirm the batch number matches the COA
- Confirm the shipping booking (vessel or flight) and estimated arrival
- Receive draft documents so your broker can check them before departure
After Arrival: Make the Trial Count
- Store the stock dry and below 25°C from day one — see How to Store Alginate.
- Give your first clinics a simple mixing card — see the Alginate Mixing Guide.
- Track sell-through and feedback per grade. That data decides your reorder size and whether to move to OEM.
FAQ
Can I mix grades within a 720-bag trial?
Ask when you request the quote. Splitting a trial across two grades is a common way to see which one your market prefers.
Can the trial be smaller than 720 bags?
Contact us with your market and plan. Samples are always available before any order.
Do I need OEM packaging for the first order?
No. Many distributors trial on standard packaging first, then launch their own brand on the reorder.
Get a Trial Order Quote
Send us your grade, pack size, quantity and destination port, and we will prepare a proforma invoice for your trial order.
