· Hi Mah Jongg Team · Sourcing Guide · 3 min read
How to Choose an American Mah Jongg Supplier — RFQ Checklist for Buyers
B2B framework for shortlisting American Mah Jongg factories — factory vs trader, RFQ scorecard, capability signals, and red flags before you travel or place a sample.
Sourcing GuideThis guide is about supplier selection — who belongs on the shortlist. It is not a full price ladder (see MOQ & pricing) and not the post-PO production sequence (see OEM process).
Ordering the wrong Mah Jongg set supplier shows up later as mismatched tile sizes, weak color fill, incomplete racks, or a “factory” that cannot remake a sample. Choosing a supplier is different from negotiating price: selection narrows the field with capability signals; pricing only matters after the shortlist is real.
Written for brands, gift retailers, club buyers, Amazon sellers, and distributors who need American Mah Jongg full sets — not Chinese-style recreational packs sold without US play conventions.
What “American Mah Jongg” Means in an RFQ
Be explicit in every brief:
- American Mah Jongg full set (tiles + racks + accessories as required)
- Tile size and feel (standard American dimensions, weight, edge finish)
- Multi-layer acrylic vs solid color body
- Custom artwork vs catalog series only
- Quantity path — one custom set, sample pilot, then wholesale tiers
Vague RFQs (“best price mahjong 100 sets”) attract traders who resell mixed inventory.
Supplier Archetypes
| Archetype | What they are | When acceptable |
|---|---|---|
| Factory with American sets | Owns tooling, acrylic process, set packing | Brands, wholesale, custom OEM |
| Catalog OEM | Ready series + limited private label | Fast retail test |
| Trading company | Brokers unknown plants | High risk for custom art |
| Gift assembler | Buys tiles, reboxes | Only with disclosed plant |
Rule: For custom faces, private label packaging, or repeat wholesale, require a direct factory relationship with sample photos from the same production line.
RFQ Scorecard (Weighted)
Score each supplier 1–5:
| Criterion | Weight | Score 5 looks like |
|---|---|---|
| American set experience | 20% | Clear US-style sets, not only Chinese mahjong |
| Custom from 1 set | 15% | Written policy for single-set custom / pilots |
| Multi-layer acrylic | 15% | Sample photos of layer sides + face fill |
| Artwork workflow | 15% | Accepts vector/art files, sample approval loop |
| QC completeness | 10% | Engraving, color, edge, full-set count checks |
| Packaging OEM | 10% | Gift box / private label options |
| Lead time honesty | 10% | Sample days + bulk days stated separately |
| Export support | 5% | FOB / courier guidance for US & EU |
What to Send in the First Brief
Include the same brief for every candidate:
- Target market (US retail, club, gift, Amazon, private label)
- Ready series vs full custom art
- Quantity year 1 (even if starting at 1 set)
- Preferred colors / multi-layer sides
- Packaging (plain export carton vs gift-ready)
- Ship-to country and preferred Incoterms
Hi Mah Jongg welcomes the same RFQ discipline — start with our catalog series, preview faces in the 3D designer, then request a factory quote.
Red Flags
- Only Chinese mahjong photos when you asked for American sets
- “Any design free, 7-day mass production” with no sample step
- Refuses single-set or sample custom while promising bulk
- No multi-layer process explanation when quoting layered acrylic prices
- Stock photos that do not match quoted materials
Related guides
- Wholesale Mah Jongg MOQ & Pricing — quantity bands after shortlist
- Custom Mahjong Set OEM Process — sample and production stages
- What’s in a Custom Mahjong Set — lock American vs Chinese inventory in the RFQ
Next Step
Shortlist two factories, order samples (or one custom pilot set), compare hand-feel and color under daylight, then lock wholesale tiers. When you are ready, request a custom quote with quantity, ship-to country, and artwork notes.
