What are the quality and logistics risks of sourcing glass bottles from China?

Multiple members have sourced bottles from China and consistently report significant hidden costs that outweigh initial savings. While quality can be acceptable, logistics and preparation issues create substantial friction.

**Key risks identified:**

- **Cleanliness issues** — Bottles arrive dirty and oily, requiring machine washing before bottling; described as very common - **Quality control inconsistency** — Fill-level and neck-diameter tolerances are unreliable and occasionally problematic - **Lead times** — Shipments are slow to reach the UK, often creating bottlenecks - **Freight cost creep** — Any cost savings from lower unit prices are typically wiped out by air freight charges needed to meet production deadlines - **Damaged/delayed shipments** — Occasional delays and damage reported across multiple runs

**Member consensus:** Several members have moved away from Chinese sourcing entirely, shifting back to UK production. The consensus is that apparent cost savings rarely materialise once preparation time, rework, and expedited shipping are factored in. Members describe lessons learned "the hard way" and now view onshoring as the more predictable route.