Wholesale Payment Terms Explained: T/T, Deposits, and What Is Normal

Payment structure rarely comes up until you are actually ready to place an order — and then it becomes the thing holding everything up while both sides figure out what the other expects. Here is what is typical for wholesale wellness device orders, and what is worth negotiating explicitly.

T/T is the standard, not the exception

Telegraphic transfer (T/T) — a standard international bank wire — is the most common payment method for wholesale orders in this category. It is not a red flag or a sign of an unsophisticated supplier; it is simply the default, in the same way credit card payment is the default for consumer retail.

The typical deposit structure

A common pattern is a deposit (often 30%) paid to confirm the order and begin production, with the balance due before shipment or against shipping documents. The exact split is negotiable, and tends to shift in your favor as you build order history and trust with a supplier — a first order is reasonably expected to follow standard terms; a fifth order with an established supplier is a more natural place to ask for adjusted terms.

What to confirm before wiring anything

• The bank account name matches the company name on your contract or invoice exactly — a mismatch is one of the most common signs of a compromised email thread or a scam attempt, not just an administrative detail.
• Get the deposit request and the full payment terms in writing, ideally as part of a formal proforma invoice, not just a chat message.
• Clarify what happens to the deposit if a quality issue is found during the process described in our pre-shipment quality control article — this should be addressed before money moves, not negotiated after a problem surfaces.

Other payment methods you may encounter

Letters of credit (L/C) appear on larger orders but add complexity and cost that is often not worth it for small-to-mid-size wholesale orders. Trade platforms with escrow-style payment protection are increasingly common for smaller or first-time orders, and can be a reasonable way to reduce risk while a relationship is still new.