Manufacturing | The Safely Sourcing China Blog

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China Sourcing Concerns

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

Some Concerns About Sourcing From China.

The following are a list of some of the more common questions people seem to have regarding trading with China. I have sought to answer them as directly and frankly as I can.

Why am I worried about sourcing from or manufacturing in China?

Firstly, if you aren’t concerned, you might as well open your window, set fire to your money, and start shoveling it out of the window into the street. There is risk in anything we do in the world of business, and to think otherwise is to fool oneself into a false sense of security. Moreover, to believe that one can safely self-source from China is equally as absurd and dangerous. Your concerns are valid, as they would be even if you were sourcing from Israel, Portugal, or any other country; and trading or dealing with China is no different. China has its’ own set of cultural and business subtleties and values, to which you as a foreigner or someone unaccustomed to dealing with China, may be totally oblivious to; but to someone such as myself, having lived here for 8 years, are not lost to me. And it is precisely for these reasons that you need someone here you can trust, who is culturally familiar with those nuances of business and social culture, and who can operate in and on your behalf.

What about quality? Isn’t China famous for producing poor quality goods?

That may well have been true at one time. However, you need to ask your self whether you’re happy with the quality of your iPhone? Because Apple have been producing in China for a number of years, along with a plethora of other famous High Street brands. Of course, that isn’t to say that quality doesn’t or can’t suffer. It does, as with anywhere else in the world. However, if you ensure that random quality checking is employed before the goods leave port, then one can drastically mitigate this risk. Furthermore, when once you develop a successful long-term relationship with a manufacturer, they will understand the benefits of not cutting their own throats. To my mind, one of the reasons China has gained its’ reputation for poor quality, is also in part due to a failure of buyers to perform the necessary due diligence and oversight that they should. However, allow me to reiterate a point I’ve just made: Sound partners, and a representative presence in Mainland China, able to perform your due diligence, and maintain an oversight of quality, plus developing your long-term relationship with the producer, will go a long way towards drastically mitigating the issue of poor quality to a level acceptable in the West.

So, how many people will have their fingers in my, production and purchasing, pie in China?

Well, the people, or groups involved could be as few as one, if your goods are coming from one of the larger companies, such as TsingHua TongFang, whom I represent as Agent to Africa, Europe, and North America; or they could be several, for one of the smaller companies. Of course, the amount of fingers in the pie will play a very definite role in the cost of your goods, and sometimes even the quality. However, the role of ‘GuanXi’, or what we would term ‘relationships’, plays a significant role in Chinese society at all levels, and particularly in business; as it has done for several thousand years, and the power of which shouldn’t be ignored or underestimated, and which is an unavoidable necessity and phenomena. This is a deeply ingrained and necessary interpersonal skill, and which is tightly bound and woven into the fabric of the Chinese psyche. I’m sure that should you check your own embassy websites in China you will come across the term ‘GuanXi’ several times. No ‘GuanXi’, no help! It is precisely for this reason, that should you intend doing business in, or with, China, you need a mediator to act as a conduit to facilitate smooth and safe trading. Your conduit can form relationships on your behalf, that you are unable to form due to geographical distance, language, and cultural distance. You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours; is precisely how it works in China.

What if my goods aren’t delivered on time or the quality isn’t what I requested?

Well, in that case we incorporate into the contract CIETAC’s model arbitration clause. NOTE: CIETAC (China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (A government department and Part of MOFCOM - The Chinese Ministry of Commerce). Here’s the clause: “Any dispute arising from or in connection with this Contract shall be submitted to China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration which shall be conducted in accordance with the Commission’s arbitration rules in effect at the time of applying for arbitration. The arbitral award is final and binding upon both parties.” The same clause can be used for the safety of your financial transaction, in addition to opening a Letter of Credit (L/C) rather than a Telegraphic Transfer (TT) of funds. Of course your letter of credit can dictate additional terms before funds are released; these terms can be specifically directed at shipping windows and parameters, levels of acceptable quality, processing of any and all necessary certificates and forms, proper and correct carton and packaging markings, and any necessary Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Standards compliance. Consequent to which, should the terms not be met as defined in the terms of the contract and in the letter of credit, then it will be up to you to decide or determine whether the funds be made available to the seller. So, that’s it for today. Safe Trading!

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Originally posted 2009-08-13 01:10:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Popularity: 7%

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Something You Need To Know About Us

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Something You Need To Know About

Your China Trading Partner.

Your China Trading Partner

Your China Trading Partner

The increased influx of emails we’ve received, from people who’ve been burnt in their China dealings, has prompted me to write the following. Here are some things you need to know about us before you contact us.

Who are we?

We are product sourcing agents, and are focused in sourcing whatever products you need, and covering a very wide scope. We have close associations with a number of Chinese companies whom we trust, and are constantly developing new relationships with new suppliers. Whatever it is that you want, we can find it, as long as it’s being produced in China. Although, we are somewhat different to other sourcing agents, because we also assist in debt recovery, and also take an active role in warning the purchasing public, of the potential dangers of self-sourcing products from such a distance; whilst at the same time, providing the purchasing public with guidelines aimed at helping them avoid the potential pitfalls of dealing with China – such as being scammed, and losing their money.

Why Should You Deal With Us?

  • Because, we are principled business people who believe in putting people before profit.
  • Because, we are the good guys who think of others before ourselves.
  • Because, we demonstrate this by having a starting commission rate of only 5%, and falling according to size of order.
  • Because, we don’t charge any commission from the Chinese side, as other agents do, and so increase YOUR costs; our aim is to try to get you the best price we can.
  • Because, of the two previous points, you have already saved a minimum of 50%, and a maximum of 150% on agency commission costs, when compared to what other agents would charge you. We prefer turnover, and customer satisfaction, by making you and the Chinese supplier happy on cost.
  • Because, we believe in business fairness, balance, and harmony in all our transactions.
  • Because business doesn’t always have to be shady and knife-in-the-back.
  • Because, we, having a far better handle on the language, can source a wider range than simply logging into Alibaba, or some such website.
  • Because, we understand business culture here, and can spot a scammer before we even go face-to-face.
  • Because, if you don’t use us, you’ll more than likely get burnt.
  • Because, if you do get yourself burnt, it better be for a large amount, because if you come to us after the event, and you’ve only lost a couple of hundred, or a couple of thousand, we just won’t be able to help you.
  • Because, we get a mountain of mail from people having lost less than $10,000 USD, on a daily basis, and we know, what you DON’T know, and that is this – you’re never going to see your money again.
  • Because, if you got burnt for an iPhone and a couple of Dell computers, we aren’t able to help you; our sympathy you have, our help, you do not.
  • Because, if your case is for more than $10,000 USD, the chances are you probably did some research and due diligence, and the company stands a chance of being ‘real’, and they’re simply chancing it with you; and that means we stand a chance of getting your money back.
  • Because, our recovery service fee, is the same as our sourcing fee – 5% of the order value.

What Are The Benefits Of Sourcing From China?

Well, generally speaking you should find that you can reduce your average costs of manufacturing by up to 30%, and even as high as 60% on European and North American manufacturers. For example: Scares aside, due to failure to quality check goods at port before leaving customs, pharmaceuticals can be produced, and synthesised in China at greatly reduced costs. In certain cases costing only 1 tenth of what the same product would cost to produce in Europe or the US. Now that’s a saving! These types of savings are par for the course for a wide range of , but not all, products in China. Well, with so many companies making money from this – Why Aren’t You?

What Quantity Are We Talking?

Well, most genuine suppliers have a Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ), which can vary, depending on product, from 3 to 3,000 pieces.

So, How Can You Avail Yourself Of Our Unique Situation?

Your problem is one of trust. You have nobody here on whom you can rely. Quite simply, you need to have a third party here in China you can trust, and to ensure that you get the goods you want, shipped to your market of choice, when you want, and at a the price you want. But China is so far away, and you don’t know the culture, the people, or the language. But you do know, that all of the aforementioned can cause you problems.

How can you resolve these issues without going to China?

Easy, develop a relationship with somebody you can trust, and allow them to handle things for you.

Connect With The Right People – Not With The Wrong People.

Allow us to be your prime contact in China. I’m a British expatriate, married to a Chinese citizen, and have been living and working here for 8 years. Quite simply, my China qualifications are way superior to yours. Take advantage of me – before someone takes advantage of YOU!

Here’s My Hand, And My Offer.

Accurately specify what it is you want, and we’ll find a source for you. We don’t charge a fee for inquiries, and you should immediately, or within a few days, be presented with a series of offers, from which you can choose what appeals best to you. If the source is new to us, and you can guarantee you want to take that offer, then we’ll go down and verify the source first, before you make the payment, at no extra cost to you, as we consider a new source to be a new RESOURCE for us. Give us the stress you just don’t need – and don’t feed the greed! Safe Trading!

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Originally posted 2009-09-13 18:58:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Popularity: 7%

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Why I Don’t Source Brands For Parallel Or Grey Export From China.

Friday, July 9th, 2010

Drafter at work : Drafters pay careful attenti...

Drafter At Work (Model Used For This Image)

Just why won’t I source iPhones, XBoxes, and the like, from China?

Well, I’m going to keep this brief, and to the point, and use Microsoft™ and Apple™ as examples, since they’re really very commonly sought after brands. The Russian and other Caucasian mafias are very organised, and have a lot of funding behind them. Consequently, having a technician take a piece of equipment, such as an Xbox or iPhone, apart, and making technical drawings of the product, isn’t really a matter which presents them with any great difficulty. Having business cards made claiming they represent Microsoft™ or Apple™, presents them with equally as little difficulty. Printing headed paper for letters, and bonded paper for business production and distribution RIGHTS licences, for the purpose of confirming that a company is being granted the RIGHTS, to manufacture and distribute, the Xboxes and iPhones they manufacture, under that licence, is no problem either. Sending some men, and a beautiful female interpreter, to China to convince Chinese factory owners that they are genuinely being granted licences to manufacture and distribute “genuine Microsoft™ or Apple™” products, presents just as little difficulty. Of course, when once they arrive in China, and some small, medium to large electronics company, in central China, in the middle of nowhere, is paid a visit by the mighty Microsoft™ or Apple™ corporations’ representatives – then they are, of course, deeply humbled and just can’t believe their luck; whilst afterwards,  it takes them at least a fortnight to stop smiling at themselves, and they will never tire of boasting of their new connection with the mighty Microsoft™ or Apple™ corporations. After wining and dining their esteemed and honoured guests, they then find themselves being presented with the license to manufacture and distribute on behalf of these great names. It’s like being granted a license to print money! Within months their goods are being bought and sold in China, and then sent abroad to small buyers, purchasing through the internet, looking to make a buck by buying cheaply from China. Of course, the reality is that a genuine REGIONAL MANUFACTURER or DISTRIBUTOR, would never dare risk losing their license by selling outside of their geographically acknowledge sales region. Meanwhile, the Chinese manager producing the goods, hasn’t the slightest idea that he’s producing fakes. He thinks it’s all real. After all, the people who came, where all foreign, white, big, wore expensive clothes, shoes, and watches, and stayed in the most expensive suites in the most expensive hotel in town. They even had business cards, letterheads, secret plans and technical drawings, and bonded licence paper, and a company seal. What is there to doubt? How could the factory owner possibly doubt them? And I bet this goes on in other countries such as India, Pakistan, and elsewhere. I suppose you can now see why I won’t touch named brands in China for the purposes of export. It simply isn’t worth the risk to me, my reputation, to you, or your clients. If you want the genuine goods, then speak to the OFFICIAL Microsoft™ or Apple™ DISTRIBUTOR (or whatever brand) for your particular geographic region. A quick visit to their websites should provide you with that information. Do yourself and your clients a favour. Why do you think you’re going to get them cheaper here? Safe Trading!

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Originally posted 2009-31-12 13:27. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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China – The New Electronic Goods Workshop Of The World

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

China has rapidly become known as the world’s largest manufacturer of consumer electronics. Currently China produces more MP3 and 4 players, digital video cameras, digital photographic cameras, DVD and other video players, a vast array of electronic gadgets, and an extremely wide array of other high tech products, than can be found being produced in any other country in the world today.

Indeed, it wouldn’t be going too far to call China the “New Workshop of the World”, a role once filled by the UK during the industrial revolution, and now being successfully filled by China in it’s modernisation and technological revolution.

To that end there should be a question on the lips of every business person operating in any field which necessitates the need to purchase and sell any of the above listed product types.

What is that question?

It is this: How can I successfully and safely source these products from China to benefit my business by lower costs, and simultaneously increasing my profits?

If you haven’t asked yourself this question, then you are seriously missing out on a great opportunity.

Never The Leader, Always The Follower

China currently produces products of which you are seriously unaware, and which others will lead into Western markets in the future, due in large part to their foresight, and your failure to participate in the search for new products for your market.

You, along with the vast majority of SMEs, will have the unenviable task of jumping on another bandwagon, and playing catch-up.

Get ahead of the competition, and stop riding on other peoples’ coat tails.

What has happened to the world of sales in the past 30 years?

Honestly, it’s like everybody simply waits for a new occurrence in the market, and then jumps on it, rides it till they’ve ridden it to death, and then sit on their hands and wait for the next trend to come along.

Wimps!

There seem to be very few gutsy people in sales today. However, those there are, those who start the trends, are the ones who profit most, whilst the rest of you come and pick and fight over the scraps.

Get a grip people!

Use your brain, and a sourcing agent, and find yourself the next hottest thing to hit the market, before it hits the market!

Product sourcing agents in China speak English, and very often are native English speakers who’ve been living and working in China for a number of years, such as myself, and we can help you find what you need. Having us look for you costs nothing. When you choose to order you’ll find the same standard of service you’re used to at home in Europe or the US.

But What About Shipping?

And? What about it? UPS and DHL can handle all the logistics of bringing your goods to your door. Open a company account with them, give the account number to your agent, your agent passes it on to the supplier, the supplier contacts the courier, the courier arrives and picks up the goods, and you pay the shipping costs.

Of course, if you’re ordering in volume, then we can assist you in finding a suitable shipping company (air or sea) to handle your goods for you.

That’s it. Done and dusted!

What about MOQs?

What about them? Yes, there is often a minimum order quantity, but many companies have brought down their MOQs to levels that are very acceptable for SMEs; particularly in the fields of electronic goods – many as low as 20 pieces or even less.

What About Payment?

Well, I certainly don’t advocate the use of PayPal or Western Union, as these are the tools of the devil (scammers).

No, you can use a Letter of Credit (L/C), or a TT; the former will be agreed to by any good business of sound standing, whilst the latter may be used only after having the company visited, and having due diligence performed on them, to ensure that they’re actually who they say they are.

Of course, the obvious point is never to pay money into a personal account when dealing with a manufacturing business. That’s just silly.

As your relationship with your agent and suppliers develops, you can rest easy and know that you are in the hands of people whose business relies heavily on your goodwill and peace of mind.

Now, stop sitting on your hands like a baby, and get out there and source the market for something new and innovative, and which will allow you to start a trend, set a fashion, break a market, and lead the way to wider profits and renown for yourself and your company.

Trade Safely!

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Originally posted 2009-08-13 02:10:24. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Popularity: 20%

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