The demand for portable power stations is snowballing on the market because people need to power their devices during outdoor activities, travel, and emergencies. It has caught the attention of entrepreneurs and businessmen, and they are trying to start a portable power station business.
Unfortunately, it is pretty challenging to find the right supplier for the manufacturing of portable power stations. There are hundreds of manufacturers in China, but entrepreneurs and businessmen, especially beginners, get confused while selecting the right supplier/manufacturer. In the worst case, they fall into various scams.
It is necessary for the stability of a business to find a reliable and trustworthy supplier for long-term cooperation. Over the years, customers might have tested a lot of samples and still have some doubts about the manufacturers’ capabilities.
In this post, we will discuss how to find a good portable power station manufacturer in China. We will divide the discussion into two parts. The first part is related to selecting the right manufacturer, and the second part is all about choosing the right portable power station. Both these are essential to find the right manufacturer and get the best product according to your requirements.
Let’s start the discussion without further delay.
Part 1: How to Choose a Reliable and Trustworthy Manufacturer in China
1) Ask Multiple Manufacturers
The first thing that you need to do is find different portable power station manufacturers. It is difficult to decide on a suitable manufacturer without taking quotes from different manufacturers and talking to them about the product.
You can search on Google or sourcing websites, such as Alibaba, Made in China, Global Sources, and China Suppliers. Find a few suppliers and talk to them. Get their quote and find out about the services they offer. It will give you a better idea of the market, and you will be able to secure the right deal.
2) Avoid Middlemen
Never trust middlemen; you might end up losing or wasting your hard-earned money. You need to contact the company. But sometimes, it isn’t easy to know whether you are dealing with a middleman or a manufacturer.
You can point out a middleman after asking a few questions about the company. They are always in a hurry and not sure about the product or service. They do not know much about portable power stations. In contrast, a manufacturer knows everything about the product.
In addition, middlemen push you a lot, and they include their margin in the quote. Thus, their prices are usually higher. It is better to directly contact the manufacturer through the official website or an authentic sourcing website.
Another noticeable thing about middlemen is that they avoid sending samples. They insist on starting bulk production directly.
3) Check Reviews on Sourcing Websites
Before selecting a portable power station manufacturer, you need to check the reviews. Check different sourcing websites and look at the customer experiences. You will get a better idea of the manufacturer. The reviews on the website are usually fake, so never trust these reviews.
4) Do Company Verification
Company verification is necessary. You can have a look at the certifications, such as quality management and environmental management certifications. Make sure to check their phone numbers and emails and talk to them. You can also Google the location of the company.
To make sure there is no case of fraud against the company, check Chinese court databases. You will get the idea of whether the manufacturer should be trusted or not. The database is easily available, but it is in Chinese, so you need a translator.
Reliable manufacturers have a track record of their trade shows, and they often appear on reliable reviews, websites, channels, and news. If the company has been serving for years and claims to be a leading manufacturer of portable power stations, it must have got certifications and awards.
5) Check Company History
Nobody would like to deal with a new or amateur manufacturer. The manufacturer should be experienced in making batteries as the quality of the portable power stations mainly depends on the battery. If the manufacturer is taking third-party services for the battery, it is better to avoid the deal.
The history of the company is usually mentioned on the websites. You can also get an idea of the company from the reviews of the sourcing website. You can quickly figure out how long the company has been in the business.
If the company is showing its registration certification, make sure to cross-check it. Middlemen share fake certifications and registrations.
6) Get a Sample for Testing
The best way to assess the quality of a portable power station is by getting a sample from the manufacturer. A sample will give you a complete idea of the battery quality, built quality, battery backup, and everything you like to know about the product.
You can ask the manufacturer to send a sample for testing. You need to pay for the sample, but it is beneficial in the long term. Once you are satisfied with the sample, you can think about bulk orders.
You cannot order bulk production without getting samples. It could be a scam, or the product might not fulfill your requirements. Thus, getting a sample is necessary. You need to spend extra for it, but it is an excellent step to ensure the product quality and service.
7) Check Patents
Patents show the innovative and technical capabilities of manufacturers. You can check the patents on the website. It ensures the manufacturer is capable of manufacturing the product. But never rely on the patents without verification as they could be fake.
Part 2: How to Compare the Price, Quality, and Features of Portable Power Stations?
Before selecting a portable power station for your business, you need to look at a few things to ensure everything is up to the mark.
There are three main things that you need to look for when searching for portable power station suppliers. Those things are,
- Max Wattage Output
- Watt Hour (Energy Backup)
- LCD Screen or the Display
There are two other things that can also be considered: Max Input and Surge Power.
1) The Max Wattage Output
The Maximum Wattage Output defines the capability of the portable power station to power a device. A portable power station cannot power everything; there is a limit as all devices need a certain amount of wattage.
For example, if you want to use a portable power station for notebooks, mobile phones, and coffee machines, then portable power stations having wattage between 300W-700W will work fine and provide the required power.
If you want to power some high-power devices like microwave ovens, TV, and electric heater, you will need to get a portable power station having a maximum wattage output of 1000W or even more than that.
2) The Watt Hours (WH)
Watt-hour represents the electrical energy, the amount of power over a period of time. Simply put, it means the amount of power delivered in one hour.
For example, with 100WH (Watt Hour), you can power 100-watt light bulbs for one hour. Again, you need to keep it in mind when purchasing a portable power station. If you are using it for something specific, like a fan or a cooker, you need to know how long you can power the fan or cooker. You can make a calculation based on your needs.
3) The LED Screen or Display
Most people will think the LED screen does not matter a lot. Some portable power designs try to save cost and simplify the screen, which makes it inconvenient for people to know the battery status. Such a screen display does not show any information at all. You plug in a device, and you hope it will last as long as you want it to.
There are other displays that show you exactly what the input and output wattage is. You get to know about the hours left, the minutes left, or the percentage left. Having a display that is useful like this helps you to really make good decisions when powering on your devices. If you need something to get through the day, you will know exactly how long it is going to last. An outstanding display makes a big difference.
Final Words
Undoubtedly, it is quite challenging to find reliable and excellent portable power station manufacturers in China. It is difficult because there are many companies, scams, middlemen, and a lot of bad experiences. But if you know how to select the right manufacturer in China, you will get the best portable power station at the most reasonable price. China is the manufacturing hub, and almost everything is manufactured here. We have listed a few important points that you need to consider while selecting a portable power station manufacturer. Secondly, you also need to see three important things in the product. We have defined those things in detail to help you out. Once you give utmost importance to the manufacturer and product, you can easily find the right supplier or manufacturer to deal with.