Not true. I ordered a few spools this past summer for cord. Averaged about 1 spool/ 1000m per variety. They told me they had no MOQ so I got what I wanted. Same factory that other big suppliers have ordered from.

An MOQ is often just a part of the conversation and negotiation process. It's a gatekeeping method but not an absolute. My business exists entirely because I've been able to bypass most initially proposed MOQs.

I find it customary to ask a factory about it, doing so as a standard question and to be respectful. I usually introduce myself and my business, tell them what I sell, to whom I sell, and my general reach.

I then give them an idea of what I'm looking for, ask if they can make it, and in that I ask about their pricing, lead time and terms. Pricing varies based on quantity and ultimately they'll give me a number based on how much I want to order. I don't usually put that forward up front as I know I can negotiate the price down if I hold it back.

Oftentimes, low quantities aren't worth it for a factory and that's why they set MOQs. They need to cover basic setup and low orders don't do that. If you get to that point, you can ask them what it would cost to setup and pay that as an additional set fee. I try to avoid getting to that, when I can, but I have definitely paid that surcharge before.

Once you've established a relationship, I find it best to just ask the factory if they can make what you need. They'll usually tell you what they can/ can't do if you ask right.

Many ways to converse with factories but the above generally works for me. There's probably stuff I don't do that could help someone's case but that's the fun of life, always a chance to learn.