How Do You Negotiate MOQs Below 500 Units with Established Factories in Yiwu?

I am currently sourcing a new line of silicone kitchen gadgets (specifically spatulas, baking mats, and measuring cups) from Yiwu for my Amazon FBA business. I have found a factory with excellent product quality and good communication, but we have hit a wall on the Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ). The factory's standard MOQ is 3,000 units per SKU. Because I am launching a new brand and testing the US market, I only want to order 500 units per SKU for the initial run. The sales rep told me flat out that they cannot run the machines for less than 3,000 units because the setup costs for the silicone molds and color mixing are too high for a small batch. I have developed a partial framework to try and negotiate this down, but I am not sure which angle will actually work with a Yiwu manufacturer. Here is what I have proposed to them so far: 1. Offering a Price Premium for the Test Batch I told them I am willing to pay a 15% premium on the unit price for the 500-unit batch to cover their setup costs. The base price for 3,000 units is $1.20. I offered $1.38 for the 500 units. They said they would "check with the boss" but haven't given a firm yes. 2. Proposing a Mixed SKU MOQ Since I am ordering three different gadgets (spatulas, mats, cups), I proposed a "mixed MOQ" of 1,500 units total. That would be 500 units of the spatulas, 500 mats, and 500 cups. I argued that the total production volume is still 1,500 units, which should justify running the machines. They pushed back, saying each SKU requires a different mold setup, so they still view it as three separate small orders. 3. Committing to a Reorder in Writing I offered to sign a purchase agreement stating that if the 500-unit test batch sells through within 60 days, I will immediately place a 3,000-unit reorder at the standard $1.20 price. I thought this guaranteed them the volume they wanted, just delayed by two months. They seemed uninterested in future promises. My questions for the community: Has anyone successfully used the mixed SKU strategy to lower the per-SKU MOQ with factories in Yiwu or Ningbo? Do they actually accept the higher unit price for a test batch, or is that just a stalling tactic? Are there any other creative ways to structure the deal so the factory feels secure while I keep my initial inventory risk low?