We are contacted regularly by overseas buyers who are about to purchase a commodity product from a Chinese manufacturer, and it is nearly always a very risky situation for the buyer as switching out an order of commodities to a cheaper commodity at the last minute is an all too common China scam. … [Read more...]
Getting More out of your Chinese Suppliers
Here are some interesting or useful articles that I found recently. Levels of China Sourcing (Infographic) Etienne Charlier gives a roadmap to companies that source industrial products/equipment and that want to get more out of their China supplier relationships. The takeaway for buyers of consumer goods: leveraging more supplier capabilities, as well as investing in supplier development, can pay off in a big way. China NNN Agreements. Watching The Sausage Get Made Dan Harris … [Read more...]
The small buyer’s dilemma in China
Over the years, I have worked with many small and midsize importers who were looking for a good supplier. A very common question they have is "what kind of factory should I look for?". The problem is simple to grasp: Small factories give low quotations, but are not very reliable -- especially when they need to develop a new product. Larger factories are (usually) more reliable and more professional, but are unwilling to give low prices to small buyers. And they are more likely to bump … [Read more...]