You have provided some very sound advice for your readers. Dealing with manufacturers in China or any country, including your own, can be quite difficult at times. You definitely need to perform your due diligence on any company you intend to do business with and be very careful of funding a deal up front. I have spoken with many people who have started out with small orders, everything went fine, then when their first big order came along, they trusted the source, sent the money and could no longer reach them or their point of contact was always busy when they called. There is very little recourse one has when you send money in advance and they do not perform.