iPhone Manufacturing in China: Supply Chain Reality vs. Alibaba Scams

In my 20 years sourcing from China, I've seen countless clients get burned by 'early' iPhone 6 listings on Alibaba—often appearing within minutes of Apple's keynote. The hard truth is that Foxconn is the exclusive manufacturer, and any third-party offering units before the official release is almost certainly a scam. Don't let the promise of a deal cost you your money or reputation.

iPhone 6 from China

As we know, China is the biggest electronic producer in the world, and all Apple products starting from the first iPhones and Macs, are also produced in China. Apple doesn’t own any factories in China but outsources the whole production the Foxconn.

Foxconn is the only company in China that has the production capability to produce hundreds of millions of Apple products each year. So it will be the exclusive producer of the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. But still, if you have to wait until October 19, 2014, for the new phones, you can buy them on Alibaba.com already 30 minutes after the official presentation.

Whether you're hunting for iPhones or any other product, due diligence is non-negotiable. Before you wire a dime to a new supplier, invest in a verification process—like a factory inspection or background check from a trusted partner. China-Check’s supplier verification and quality control services can help you separate legitimate businesses from the 99% of scammers on platforms like Alibaba. Protect your bottom line by knowing exactly who you're dealing with.