How this is different

Sourcing agent, freight forwarder, trading company or Open Dock

Four different things get called sourcing. They are not the same, and the difference decides who carries the risk.

	Sourcing agent	Freight forwarder	Trading company	Open Dock
Who holds the supplier relationship	The client, usually. The agent introduces and negotiates on the client's behalf.	Neither. The forwarder is engaged after a supplier is already chosen.	The trading company. It buys from the factory and resells, often without naming it.	Open Dock. We manage the factory relationship directly on the client's behalf.
Who carries quality risk	Typically the client, unless the agent's engagement includes inspection.	The forwarder, none. Its scope starts once goods are ready to move.	The trading company, up to the point of sale, within whatever terms it sets.	Open Dock, as part of the quoted job.
What you are quoted	A sourcing or commission fee, separate from the factory price.	Freight and clearance charges, separate from the goods themselves.	A single resale price, with markup built in and not disclosed.	One landed cost per unit, with all service fees included.
Who handles customs	Usually not the agent; a separate customs broker is engaged.	The freight forwarder, as its core function.	Varies by contract terms; often the buyer's own broker.	Open Dock, as part of the quoted job.
Who you call when it goes wrong	The agent for supplier issues; a separate broker for shipping issues.	The forwarder for shipping issues only.	The trading company, within the terms of the resale contract.	One named contact at Open Dock, for the whole job.
How they are paid	A fee or commission, often a percentage of order value.	Freight and handling charges per shipment.	Markup built into the resale price.	Included in the landed cost quote.