biophase
Legendary Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
I decided to make this post because I've seen a couple posts in the past few months about how to speak to potential suppliers in China. I've also seen that my coaching clients seemed to have the same doubts and issues in firing off an email to them.
Now this is just my opinion, but I don't feel that it is necessary at all to pretend that you are a big or established company when you contact a factory. I don't give them any background at all. My opinion is that if some douche on the other end is not going to take my inquiry seriously because it doesn't sound corporate, then I don't want to deal with that factory either.
Also, remember that these people are Chinese and English will be their second language and are not going to understand multi-syllable words that you use to sound intelligent. You will just confuse the shit out of them. They will probably dump it into Google translate and get some weird translation.
They aren't going to be impressed by your big words and long sentences. In fact, I've found that my grammar gets worst as I communicate with them. Really if you wrote "Please send sample", this is easily understood by them. No need to put in more adjectives.
So below I captured a bunch of screen shots of my first emails to suppliers. Notice I do get quotes!
==============
Notice that although my email was somewhat poor, since my formatting didn't make it in the email, Emily still understood exactly what I was looking for in her quote.
======================
See how easy it can be?
==========================
This was an easy negotiation to not wanting to pay $200 for samples!
Notice her level of English? You cannot, type more complicated sentences here. The shorter the better!
======================
Another easy sample negotiation.
Now this is just my opinion, but I don't feel that it is necessary at all to pretend that you are a big or established company when you contact a factory. I don't give them any background at all. My opinion is that if some douche on the other end is not going to take my inquiry seriously because it doesn't sound corporate, then I don't want to deal with that factory either.
Also, remember that these people are Chinese and English will be their second language and are not going to understand multi-syllable words that you use to sound intelligent. You will just confuse the shit out of them. They will probably dump it into Google translate and get some weird translation.
They aren't going to be impressed by your big words and long sentences. In fact, I've found that my grammar gets worst as I communicate with them. Really if you wrote "Please send sample", this is easily understood by them. No need to put in more adjectives.
So below I captured a bunch of screen shots of my first emails to suppliers. Notice I do get quotes!
==============
Notice that although my email was somewhat poor, since my formatting didn't make it in the email, Emily still understood exactly what I was looking for in her quote.
======================
See how easy it can be?
==========================
This was an easy negotiation to not wanting to pay $200 for samples!
Notice her level of English? You cannot, type more complicated sentences here. The shorter the better!
======================
Another easy sample negotiation.
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum:
Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.
Attachments
Last edited: