Thread: Chinese manufacturer's and expensive, "express" shipping costs for samples

I'm wondering the same thing. I ordered a few samples last week ~6lbs and it cost $56 standard shipping through DHL. They justified the more expensive shipping because it would go through customs easier and they said they've had problems shipping with the standard Hong Kong Postal Service. Whether or not that is true, I have no idea..

Yeah I have been given similar excuses as well, but what's interesting is that my wife and I have been buying tons of personal stuff off of eBay for over a decade (many of which come directly from China via regular mail) and it has always arrived without a problem.

Most actually ship for free, and it arrives in less than a week. So how come it is so complicated and expensive for manufacturers... Makes you wonder.

I think their thought process is that the faster they get you the sample order, the faster you will turn around and place a regular order. They don't CARE about costs because :
1. large (U.S.) companies overlook that and
2. since you pay the freight, they don't care. If THEY paid it, they would care.

Even when you provide your account #, you should specify speed. I recently had some knucklehead pay for some friggin' AIRPLANE RIDE for a sample using my UPS account #. I can just picture this little sample being strapped into a seat and offered a cocktail from the stewardess in first class. Live and learn. Leave NOTHING to chance. Detail everything. Assume common sense doesn't prevail with suppliers you don't know.

You should be able to dictate though the carrier they use for the sample shipments to directly impact the cost.

EMS is the best option because its the cheapest of the express options and comes with a tracking. If you want absolute cheapest you should pick hong kong post or china post, but it can take weeks instead of days.

Check this out :

http://help.aliexpress.com/delivery_options.html

I am so glad you posted this msg. Same darn thing happened to me. In my opinion, ChinaPost is the cheapest way to ship samples but the CN mfg wanted to ship via FedEx at an outrageous rate. They're trying to gouge us. I express to them that I am on a budget and they usually understand that.

When you guys contact a manufacture for the first time...how long does it normally take for them to get back to you?

I've had some get back to me within hours, but many never get back at all. I get about 20% response rate. I'm sure I can improve that by placing a phone call during their business hours.

Same here. Some never respond. Others lately have been very responsive and communicative on Skype.

Originally Posted by Vigilante

I think their thought process is that the faster they get you the sample order, the faster you will turn around and place a regular order. They don't CARE about costs because :
1. large (U.S.) companies overlook that and
2. since you pay the freight, they don't care. If THEY paid it, they would care.

I believe that this is exactly their thinking.

Also, from their standpoint. If you cringe at spending a little on express mail for a sample, how can they expect you to follow through a place an order for a few thousand dollars? It's also a way of qualifying you.

My suppliers now ship me samples for free, both for product and shipping. I just ask for a sample and it arrives in 2 days. They know that if I get something I like, I will place that large order.

You have to think like youre the supplier.
I few months ago I was cruising the Ali msg boards.
There was a thread where Manufactures were complaining about people contacting them with unreasonable expectations.
Evidently a lot of people contact them demanding free samples, email them once and never contact again, etc...
So some of them are probably swamped with bogus request.

Actually, you make an interesting observation. When you put on your "How can I provide value" hat, it doesn't necessarily have to be value to a consumer. Here's where you can provide value to suppliers. Maintain good communication, don't make unreasonable demands, don't be bogus, and in return you can expect better treatment from prospective suppliers. You make some money on the front end by not wasting time on long drawn out negotiations and perhaps getting favorable terms from suppliers that appreciate working with you.

Vigilante, Likwid24, and biophase; Thanks for clarifying this. What you're saying makes total sense and I'm sure it is their way of gauging how serious you are.

I think some CN mfgs respond to big time spenders like Conair or Rebok etc. When they take on spec OEM and design projects, they risk their time and energy on small orders that often don't pay off or just disappear.