Many importers notice that some of their suppliers change their company names. Many see it as "one of these Chinese things--don't try understand it", and I think it is a mistake. There are basically two situations where the purchaser is … [Read more...]
It sucks to be a first-time buyer in China
If you have never imported directly from China before, you are probably afraid of missing something important. What costs should you plan in your budget? What precautions should you take? You probably have no idea. Most purchasers I have … [Read more...]
Are Chinese factory workers less hardworking?
The Chinese have long been encouraged to be hardworking by their political leaders. They are proud to be able to "chi ku" (eat something bitter) for a long time. It is the sign that an individual will certainly succeed. It is also one of … [Read more...]
Production safety requirements: how to know them?
Can you simply approve a sample, pay a Chinese factory to produce it, and then import the goods into your country? Do you know about the safety requirements for YOUR production? Even China has quality standards for what it imports... … [Read more...]
Frustrations of importers in China: a Gartner study
I just found an article on supplychain.com entitled Buyers find pitfalls of China sourcing (h/t to @MaxHenry). It is based on a survey of importers by a consultancy (Gartner). I listed below the main frustrations that were … [Read more...]
Is there a place for small buyers in China?
Small importers face many challenges in China (see 10 hard truths for small buyers in China). Yet they can't resist the attraction of very low prices--compared with what they have to pay wholesalers in their country. I seriously think many … [Read more...]
When the buyer gives no specifications
One of my friends has a small trading company in Hong Kong. Thanks to his network contacts, he got some steady orders from large institution such as the French police forces and some mail order companies. Most of his customers don't have … [Read more...]
Liability insurance for importers
I had a nice meeting with a potential client today, and we got to talk about liability insurance. What is liability insurance? According to Wikipedia, it "protects the purchaser (the "insured") from the risks of liabilities imposed by … [Read more...]
How to get approved samples in the hands of the inspector?
I got an interesting comment on a previous article (4 proven ways to enforce your quality standard in China): If I am hiring a third party to do the quality control should I get a “perfect sample” from the factory, then send it to the … [Read more...]
Inviting a regular Chinese supplier to your country
If you have found Chinese suppliers that you can rely on, you should make sure they like you. I am not saying that you should become "good buddies who go to parties together" (don't do it!), but it is good business practice to do certain … [Read more...]
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