You’re on Alibaba, you’ve found a product, and now you face your first big decision. You see an option for “Ready to Ship” (RTS) with a low minimum order, but you also see the “Contact Supplier” button for a bulk custom order.
One promises speed, the other promises branding. Which path is right for your business?
As a professional sourcing company, this is one of the first questions we help our clients answer. The choice between RTS and a custom order (often called OEM) will define your costs, lead times, and entire business model.
Let’s break down the pros and cons of each so you can make the right decision.
What is “Ready to Ship” (RTS)?
“Ready to Ship” products are exactly what they sound like: off-the-shelf items that a supplier has in their warehouse, ready to be packaged and sent to you immediately. You are buying existing stock.
You can often buy these products with a simple “Add to Cart” button, much like you would on a regular e-commerce site.
The Pros of RTS:
- Speed: This is the #1 benefit. Your order can often ship in less than 15 days, sometimes as fast as 48 hours.
- Low MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity): You can often buy as few as 2, 10, or 50 units. This is perfect for testing a new product without a massive cash investment.
- Price Transparency: The price is listed clearly. What you see is what you pay (plus shipping). There is little to no negotiation required.
The Cons of RTS:
- No Customization: You get what you see. You cannot add your logo, change the color, or alter the packaging.
- Higher Per-Unit Cost: You are paying a premium for the convenience and low MOQ. The cost per item will always be higher than a bulk custom order.
- High Competition: Anyone—including your competitors—can buy the exact same generic product from the same supplier.
What is a “Custom Order” (OEM/ODM)?
A custom order, also known as OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) or ODM (Original Design Manufacturer), is where you hire a factory to manufacture a product specifically for you.
You are not buying from stock; you are creating stock.
The Pros of a Custom Order:
- Full Customization: This is your product. You can add your logo, create custom-branded packaging, and choose your exact colors, materials, and features.
- Lower Per-Unit Cost: When buying in bulk (thousands of units), the cost per item is significantly lower, leading to higher profit margins.
- Brand Building: You can’t build a long-term, defensible brand with generic products. Customization is the only way to create a unique product that belongs to you.
The Cons of a Custom Order:
- High MOQ: You will often be required to order 500, 1,000, or even 5,000+ units. This requires a large capital investment.
- Long Lead Times: Be prepared to wait. The process of sampling, production, and quality control can take anywhere from 30 to 90 days, or even longer.
- Complex Process: You must negotiate pricing, manage sample development, verify factory claims, and handle quality control. The risk of miscommunication or errors is much higher.
Comparison: RTS vs. Custom Order at a Glance
| Feature | Ready to Ship (RTS) | Custom Order (OEM) |
| Lead Time | Very Fast (1-15 days) | Very Slow (30-90+ days) |
| MOQ | Very Low (1-50 units) | Very High (500-5,000+ units) |
| Customization | None | Full Logo & Branding |
| Per-Unit Cost | Higher | Lower |
| Business Model | Good for Testing & Speed | Good for Branding & Margin |
Who Should Use “Ready to Ship” (RTS)?
RTS is the perfect strategy for a specific type of business:
- New Amazon FBA or Shopify Sellers who want to test a product’s viability without risking $10,000.
- Small Businesses that want to add a new product to their catalog quickly.
- Established Businesses that have an unexpected stock shortage and need to refill inventory fast.
Who Should Use a “Custom Order”?
A custom order is for a more established business:
- Successful Sellers who have a proven product and are ready to scale up production and build a real brand.
- Entrepreneurs with a unique product idea that does not exist yet.
- Businesses where branding and a unique value proposition are essential (e.g., the high-end market).
The Hidden Risk: “Ready to Ship” Doesn’t Mean “Ready to Trust”
As a company that specializes in finding trusted stock suppliers, we have to share the biggest secret in the industry:
Many “Ready to Ship” listings are fake.
Scammers use the “RTS” tag to lure in new buyers. You pay for your “in-stock” items, and then the delays begin. The supplier doesn’t actually have the stock. They are a middleman who will now try to find a factory to make it.
In other cases, the stock is real, but it’s the “C-Grade” quality—the factory-rejected items from a bigger company’s custom order. What you receive is unusable junk.
This is why verification is more important for RTS than for any other type of sourcing. You need to know:
- Does this supplier actually have the stock?
- Is the stock A-Grade quality?
- Is the company a real, verified business or a scammer?
The Solution
Before you click “Add to Cart” on an RTS order, you need a partner on the ground. At GlobalPrimeSource, we specialize in verifying “Ready to Ship” stock. We do the video calls, verify the inventory in the warehouse, and check the quality before you pay.
Want to source low-MOQ products from China safely?
Contact us for a free RTS consultation and let us find the verified, in-stock products you need today.