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To summarize grossly, two types of importers source products from China and low-cost Asian countries: "Hands-off buyers", who are not in a position to invest much time with each of their suppliers. "Hands-on buyers", who need to focus … [Read more...]

I have been in contact with hundreds of importers over the years. Some of them are very successful, most of them struggle to make a profit at the end of the year, and some others haven't yet figured how to protect themselves from dishonest … [Read more...]

I usually write about the way to treat Chinese suppliers to avoid problems. But it is also interesting to analyse how they treat their foreign customers. From my observations, I categorize the supplier's attitudes in four distinct … [Read more...]

Many inexperienced importers think they don't need any on-the-ground support when they buy directly from factories in developing countries with immature legal systems like China. After a few bad experiences, they are usually confused as to … [Read more...]

Today I found an article that discusses "how solving issues in China can overflow into the manufacturing realm and affect your offshore production". The author (Jacob Yount, who writes on the JLmade blog) does a pretty good job of … [Read more...]

The Foreign Entrepreneurs In China blog posted a very interesting article: 36 Tips on How to Deal or Negotiate with your Chinese Suppliers. I started reading it, and I had so many comments to add that I am reproducing it all below. … [Read more...]

As many first-time importers notice, working with a Chinese supplier necessitates a change in habits: It is very important to define the product requirements in the smallest details, including the labeling and the packaging. Quality … [Read more...]

Over the past couple of months, I have noticed the same phenomenon in several situations. Let's say an importer has placed an order for 4 references to be shipped out together. The supplier announces that one of them will be ready one week … [Read more...]