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There are frequent misunderstandings between importers and their Chinese suppliers, and they could be avoided if the purchaser placed himself in his supplier's shoes from time to time. Andrew Hupert came up with an excellent reminded … [Read more...]

As I explained before in Confirming quality when paying by irrevocable letter of credit, an importer can pay his suppliers through letters of credit (L/C). An L/C triggers the payment once the bank receives a pre-determined list of … [Read more...]

I wrote several times that the most organized buyers adopt a project management approach. Mike Bellamy just published a very good video that explains why, and how, importers can follow this approach to manage their production in … [Read more...]

Many importers are frustrated and exasperated by the behavior of some Chinese suppliers, who are "playing games". Paul Midler's book (Poorly Made In China) does a fantastic job at dissecting the tactics of a few Chinese … [Read more...]

A few readers have asked me whether it is normal to pay for pre-production samples when they buy from a Chinese factory. So I thought I should cover this topic. Short answer: Basically there are no rules. It is all left to negotiation … [Read more...]

On Sunday I met with an American importer who has been sourcing from China for many years, and who shared his frustrations with me. His biggest headache, it seems, is maintaining his quality standard. Why is is so hard? Because of his … [Read more...]

I am getting tired of explaining to new importers that they MUST spend time helping the manufacturer and that they MUST check the quality of their products. I guess they think I am promoting my services. If I were a banker, I would push … [Read more...]

When a first-time importer asks me for advice, one of the first things I tell him/her is "you can't send the container back to your China factory, and re-working the goods in your country would be expensive, so make sure product quality is … [Read more...]

One of my friends works as a sourcing agent for a few European buyers. He tries to do things the right way: he refuses any money or favor from the factories, and he conducts QC inspections at a professional level. One of his clients … [Read more...]