Questions to Ask a Hair Vendor Before Your First Wholesale Order
Before you send money to any hair vendor, you should ask a fixed set of questions about sourcing, processing, bundle weight, MOQ, samples, shipping and after-sales support — and get the answers in writing. At Arrow Exim, a raw Indian temple hair factory in Chennai that has operated since 2011 and ships to buyers in 30+ countries, we answer these questions from wholesale and retail buyers every day, and our view is simple: a trustworthy supplier should welcome every one of them. This guide lists the exact questions to ask before your first order, explains why each one matters, and describes the answers a reliable factory should be able to give you.
Why asking questions up front saves you money
Most bad hair purchases are not caused by bad luck — they are caused by assumptions. Buyers assume the hair is raw when it is steam-processed, assume a bundle weighs 100 grams when it weighs 80, assume the vendor is a factory when it is a reseller, and assume returns are possible when they are not. Every one of those assumptions can be replaced with a two-minute question on WhatsApp or email before you pay. Vendors who answer quickly, specifically and consistently are usually safe to test with a sample order; vendors who dodge, generalize or change their answers are telling you something important.
The questions to ask, grouped by category
Sourcing and quality
Where exactly does your hair come from? A genuine Indian supplier should name the source — for example, South Indian temple hair collected through temple auctions — not just say “100% human hair”.
Is the hair raw, virgin or processed? Raw means completely unprocessed; if any texture is steamed or colored, the vendor should say so openly.
Is it single-donor hair with aligned cuticles? Cuticle-aligned, single-donor bundles tangle far less than mixed-donor hair.
Which textures do you carry as standard? Raw Indian hair naturally comes in straight, wavy and curly ranges; a vendor offering twenty identical “raw” textures is likely selling processed hair.
How much does each bundle weigh? Ask for the actual grams per bundle (and per closure or frontal), not just the length.
Can you send an unedited video of the actual stock, with a burn test or wash test on request? Live video of real inventory is stronger proof than catalog photos.
Orders, MOQ and samples
What is your minimum order quantity (MOQ)? Factories often allow small trial orders; know the MOQ for both sample and wholesale pricing.
Can I buy a sample order first, and does the sample price count toward a later bulk order? A sample is the cheapest insurance you can buy.
How long does production and dispatch take once I pay? Get a concrete handling time in business days, not “soon”.
Do you offer custom orders — specific lengths, lace sizes, wig constructions or colors — and what extra lead time do they add?
Do you offer private label or branded packaging, and at what quantity does it become available?
Who will be my contact person? A consistent named contact on WhatsApp or email makes every later step easier.
Shipping, payment and after-sales
Which couriers do you ship with, and what is the typical door-to-door time to my country? Express couriers like DHL, FedEx and UPS usually deliver from India within about 3–7 business days to most markets.
Will I get a tracking number, and when? It should arrive within a day or two of dispatch.
Who is responsible for import duties and taxes in my country? Most factory-direct shipments are sent with duties payable by the buyer, so budget for them.
Which payment methods do you accept? Prefer traceable methods such as bank transfer, PayPal or card payments over untraceable transfers to personal accounts.
What happens if the hair arrives damaged, short-shipped or different from what I ordered? Ask for the claim window and what evidence (unboxing video, photos) is required.
Do you have verifiable reviews, social media history or long-term wholesale clients I can look at? A factory with years of visible history is a different risk category from a page created last month.
Can you provide your business registration or export credentials? Legitimate exporters can show them.
If I reorder, will I get the same quality and texture? Consistency between orders is what separates a factory partner from a one-time seller.
Red flags hiding in the answers
Watch for answers that are fast but empty. “Best quality, don’t worry” is not an answer to a sourcing question. Other warning signs: prices far below the typical market range for raw hair, refusal to video-call or film current stock, pressure to pay within hours to “lock in a deal”, payment accepted only through unprotected channels, a different story each time you ask the same question, and stock photos that appear on several unrelated vendor pages. None of these alone proves a scam, but two or three together usually do.
How to use the answers
Keep the entire exchange in one WhatsApp or email thread so the vendor’s own words form your record. Then place a small sample order and judge the hair, the packing, the shipping speed and the communication together. If all four hold up, scale gradually. This process costs you one or two weeks and a sample fee — far less than one failed bulk order.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important question to ask a hair vendor?
Ask where the hair comes from and whether it is raw or processed. This single question exposes more weak vendors than any other, because sourcing is the one thing a reseller cannot describe convincingly. A factory can tell you the region, the collection method and how bundles are sorted and wefted.
How do I know if a hair vendor is legit?
Look for a verifiable history: years of consistent posts and reviews, a physical factory address you can look up or visit, live videos of real stock, traceable payment options and clear answers to the questions in this guide. Legitimate factories are transparent because transparency wins them long-term wholesale clients.
Should I always order a sample before a bulk order?
Yes. A sample order of one to three bundles lets you test wefts, shedding, tangling, color lift and true length and weight before you commit real money. Any vendor who discourages sampling and pushes you straight to a bulk order is prioritizing their cash flow over your risk.
What MOQ should I expect from a hair factory?
MOQs vary widely across the market. Many factories accept small trial orders of a few bundles at sample pricing, with wholesale pricing starting somewhere around 5–15 bundles or a set order value. Custom items such as wigs, colored hair or branded packaging usually carry higher minimums, so confirm each MOQ separately.
How much does wholesale raw Indian hair cost?
Across the market, genuine raw Indian bundles typically sell in the rough range of $30–$90 per bundle wholesale depending on length, texture and whether the hair is single or double drawn, with closures, frontals and wigs priced higher per piece. Treat prices dramatically below that range as a warning sign rather than a bargain, and always confirm current pricing directly with the supplier.
Is it better to buy from a factory or a reseller?
A factory gives you lower prices, consistent quality between reorders, custom production and direct answers about sourcing. A local reseller can offer faster delivery of small quantities. For anyone building a hair business, factory-direct sourcing usually wins once order volume grows beyond a few bundles a month.
What payment method is safest for a first order from India?
Use a traceable method tied to your identity and the vendor’s business — bank transfer to a company account, PayPal or card payment — and keep the invoice. Avoid untraceable transfers to personal accounts for a first order, whatever discount is offered in exchange.
About Arrow Exim
Arrow Exim is a raw Indian temple hair factory in Chennai, India, manufacturing hair extensions, bundles, closures, frontals and wigs since 2011 and shipping factory-direct to wholesale and retail buyers in more than 30 countries. Ask us any question on this list — we answer them every day. Message us on WhatsApp at +91 98841 11108 or email sales@arrowexim.com for current stock, samples and wholesale pricing.
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