How to Vet a Turkish Supplier

The biggest losses in importing from Turkey come not from price, but from choosing the wrong supplier: money sent but goods that never arrive, or goods with quality different from what was agreed. This checklist helps you properly assess a supplier before any financial commitment.

1. Verify the company is real

The first step is confirming the company is genuine and legal:

• Official company registration in Turkey and a valid tax number.
• A real physical address (not just a mobile number or an Instagram page).
• A verifiable operating history and market presence.
• A website or professional presence that matches their claims.

2. Verify capacity and quality

A company can be real but unable to fulfil your order. Check:

• Ability to visit the factory in person (or have your representative in Turkey visit).
• Product samples or a detailed technical catalogue.
• Real production capacity versus your order volume.
• Verifiable past clients and references.

3. Red flags to watch for

If you see these, proceed with extreme caution:

• An unusually low price versus the market — usually a sign of a problem.
• Insistence on full prepayment to a personal account (not a company account).
• Avoiding official documents or refusing a visit.
• Vague answers about specs, warranty, or delivery time.
• Pressure to decide fast with a "limited-time" offer.

4. Make contract and payment terms clear

Before any payment, these must be written and clear:

• Exact product specifications in the proforma.
• Delivery time and shipping terms.
• Safe, staged payment terms (not the full amount before production).
• Warranty, after-sales service, and spare-parts availability.

5. Why a local partner removes this risk

Doing all this from a distance — without the language or a local presence — is very hard. This is where a partner in Istanbul shows real value: someone who can visit in person, check documents, and negotiate with local leverage.

As your office in Istanbul, Yedi Mavi vets every supplier before introducing them to you — so you buy with confidence and without risk.