Sharing my lifetime experience in export/import. Product sourcing specialist.

[ExecutionMonster]

Hello Walter

Thank you for providing all this valuable information!
I am stuck and have a question, any help from your side would be hugely appreciated!

For the products we import from China we use a Chinese based forwarder to combine the cargo and send it to Germany. We are registered at the German customs and DHL has our EORI number so they can do the customs clearance and send us the invoice.
This is necessary as our logistics partner, receiving the cargo, doesn't offer to pay the EUST and customs fee and invoice us.

We plan to sell in the US and have the exact same situation, that the receiver of the cargo doesn't provide the option to pay the duty/tax and invoice us. I am looking for a trustworthy forwarder who can do clearance through customs and payment of duty and invoice us.

After quite some research I have found different forwarders and brokers, but some of them are way to expensive or they are not looking very trustworthy. Using DDP is not option for us.

Do you have any suggestions on what could be a smart solution for picking a forwarder to export from Germany to the US?

 

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[RahKnee]

Walter,
Or any others with relevant experience, do you consider it necessary to live near a port if you intend to work int he import/export business? I currently live within about an hour or so of the nearest major port in Houston. If there is some issue with paperwork/documents/taxes etc, do you ever find your physical presence required? Is it possible to import significant volumes of goods and have them moved from port to customer without your physical presence?

I ask because I am currently weighing a move to the interior of the US and would be a several hour flight from the nearest port at best. Thanks in advance.

 

[Walter Hay]

Hello Walter

Thank you for providing all this valuable information!
I am stuck and have a question, any help from your side would be hugely appreciated!

For the products we import from China we use a Chinese based forwarder to combine the cargo and send it to Germany. We are registered at the German customs and DHL has our EORI number so they can do the customs clearance and send us the invoice.
This is necessary as our logistics partner, receiving the cargo, doesn't offer to pay the EUST and customs fee and invoice us.

We plan to sell in the US and have the exact same situation, that the receiver of the cargo doesn't provide the option to pay the duty/tax and invoice us. I am looking for a trustworthy forwarder who can do clearance through customs and payment of duty and invoice us.

After quite some research I have found different forwarders and brokers, but some of them are way to expensive or they are not looking very trustworthy. Using DDP is not option for us.

Do you have any suggestions on what could be a smart solution for picking a forwarder to export from Germany to the US?

The fact that you don't need a consolidator in Germany suggests that your best move would be to use a freight forwarder in the USA. There are many of them who will act as Importer of Record (IOR). You will need to shop around to find one that will and who will also economically handle your shipment from Germany.

It might be worth contacting a consolidator in HK that has a very sophisticated system that might be able to also solve your difficulties with shipments China to Germany. Have a look at: http://www.helka.com.hk

Walter

 

[throttleforward]

Hi Walter - I asked a question a few weeks ago regarding a product I was considering importing vs. sourcing in the US.

I wanted to follow up and let you know that, to my suprise, the largest volume discount offered by the Chinese manufacturer and US manufacturer differed only by 10% (not factoring in customs fees etc. which drives the delta even lower).

I found this especially suprising since the item I want to order is made entirely of plastic, which I had always assumed could be produced in China for a fraction of the cost of a US manufacturer. (I have no reason to believe I was dealing with a middleman in China - I followed your guidance in this thread to find and talk to whom I believe is the actual manufacturer.)

I know that manufacturing costs are going up in China due in part to a rapidly accending middle/labor class, but I was suprised that a US manufacturer (only a few states away from me, no less) could be so cheap compared to them.

I decided to forego the headaches of importing and stay with the US manufacturer for now. Just thought I'd add my experience to the discussion. Thanks again for this incredible thread!

 

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[Walter Hay]

Walter,
Or any others with relevant experience, do you consider it necessary to live near a port if you intend to work int he import/export business? I currently live within about an hour or so of the nearest major port in Houston. If there is some issue with paperwork/documents/taxes etc, do you ever find your physical presence required? Is it possible to import significant volumes of goods and have them moved from port to customer without your physical presence?

I ask because I am currently weighing a move to the interior of the US and would be a several hour flight from the nearest port at best. Thanks in advance.

You should not worry about living near a port in order to deal with paperwork/documents/taxes etc. All these things should be handled for you by your freight forwarder.

Handling Customs clearance and worse still, picking up from a port can be a nightmare. I would stay well clear of it.

If you are going to be located inland, you will have inland trucking costs unless you use a fulfillment service at or near the port of arrival, but in practical terms the only problem is a very slight delay in receiving the goods.

 

[Walter Hay]

Hi Walter - I asked a question a few weeks ago regarding a product I was considering importing vs. sourcing in the US.

I wanted to follow up and let you know that, to my suprise, the largest volume discount offered by the Chinese manufacturer and US manufacturer differed only by 10% (not factoring in customs fees etc. which drives the delta even lower).

I found this especially suprising since the item I want to order is made entirely of plastic, which I had always assumed could be produced in China for a fraction of the cost of a US manufacturer. (I have no reason to believe I was dealing with a middleman in China - I followed your guidance in this thread to find and talk to whom I believe is the actual manufacturer.)

I know that manufacturing costs are going up in China due in part to a rapidly accending middle/labor class, but I was suprised that a US manufacturer (only a few states away from me, no less) could be so cheap compared to them.

I decided to forego the headaches of importing and stay with the US manufacturer for now. Just thought I'd add my experience to the discussion. Thanks again for this incredible thread!

Your findings confirm what I have been saying about the myth of big discounts for volume orders, and also what I posted on Oct 22 about Sourcing From Countries Other Than China. Is it Worth It?

Reshoring, the opposite of going offshore to manufacture, is a growing trend.

The US company you have found probably never went offshore. Many have done so in the mistaken belief that production will be cheaper. Well, in some cases such as the plastic molding industry it might be marginally so.

Plastic resins are commodity items that cost much the same worldwide. Injection molding machines are now very sophisticated, and only need minimal labor input. The saving on freight can offset much of the small saving you can make by buying such things in China.

I know I might be guiding some people away from importing, but I tell it like it is.

 

[mikey3times]

I hope this wasn't asked elsewhere...its been a while since I read the thread.

I sourced a customized product from a USA manufacturer. When I asked them to put Made in USA on the product they said they couldn't because this particular product is made in Taiwan. I went through the order with them for 500 units at $6.50 per piece.

While reviewing the final artwork, there were some clues that led me to the manufacturer.

The product is very high quality and if it sells, I may want to order more.

What is your advice on this? Let my USA "manufacturer" deal with the imports/headaches for their cut of the pie? Contact the Taiwanese manufacturer (I would feel a bit guilty)? Or try to find another manufacturer overseas to quote a price and see how much the USA company is skimming, then decide if it is worth it?

Thanks for this awesome thread.

 

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[Guest24480]

Hey Walter, I ended up picking up your ebook a few days ago and finished it within the day. There is loads of valuable logistical information in there that will save me a ton of headaches, especially later on in the process.

The resources you posted are also invaluable - you were not kidding when you said you would provide a wealth of resources for sourcing from countries other than China. For anyone reading this who is contemplating buying it solely for the list of resources (this is only a fraction of the value Walter provides, but was the main reason I made the purchase), I highly suggest taking the plunge. There are about 2 dozen sourcing resources on there, many of which I have yet to explore.

All in all, I don't have any questions for you to answer yet but I'm sure I will be back at some point. I have already begun to do some research on possible products to import and have made a list of about a dozen products today that I will research further. Within a week, I will probably end up taking action by contacting some of them and getting some samples sent to me.

The few hours and small change I spent on the book has already led me to more progress than I had made from scouring Alibaba for hours on end looking for a product from a trustworthy supplier that wasn't already on the market.

Thanks Walter!

 

[Walter Hay]

I hope this wasn't asked elsewhere...its been a while since I read the thread.

I sourced a customized product from a USA manufacturer. When I asked them to put Made in USA on the product they said they couldn't because this particular product is made in Taiwan. I went through the order with them for 500 units at $6.50 per piece.

While reviewing the final artwork, there were some clues that led me to the manufacturer.

The product is very high quality and if it sells, I may want to order more.

What is your advice on this? Let my USA "manufacturer" deal with the imports/headaches for their cut of the pie? Contact the Taiwanese manufacturer (I would feel a bit guilty)? Or try to find another manufacturer overseas to quote a price and see how much the USA company is skimming, then decide if it is worth it?

Thanks for this awesome thread.

I would not feel guilty. The US "manufacturer" had no option but to confess that they were importing the product, and it was not brilliant of them to tell you which Asian country was the source. You have done well to track down the actual manufacturer. That can be very difficult.

If the customizing of the product involved any set up cost such as molds, your supplier would have either charged you for it or spread the cost over the entire order, so they are unlikely to be losing out on that if you don't give them a repeat order.

I would ask the Taiwanese company to quote and see just how much the US company is making for their effort. I would comment though, that there should be no headaches with importing the product. By learning a few simple procedures it can be quite painless.

 

[Vigilante]

Sidebar to say I am not sure where on the internet you can find contributors and content that rivals what the Fast Lane Forum has to offer.

I am also glad to see that you guys are buying his book. It's OK to pepper him with questions (he initiated the AMA) but I also like the fact that your questions have been educated questions for taking concepts deeper than what has already been outlined for you here and in the book. There haven't been too many stupid questions (and contrary to what your Mom might have told you, not every question by definition is a good question.)

There's been a ton of learning in this thread, including people doing their OWN research, buying books for continuing education (including Walter's) and THEN asking questions. Somewhat refreshing from some threads where people ask questions that could be easily answered on Google.

The reason this thread was marked gold was a combination of your great questions, and Walter's great and knowledgeable answers.

Carry on.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Sidebar to say I am not sure where on the internet you can find contributors and content that rivals what the Fast Lane Forum has to offer.

I am also glad to see that you guys are buying his book. It's OK to pepper him with questions (he initiated the AMA) but I also like the fact that your questions have been educated questions for taking concepts deeper than what has already been outlined for you here and in the book. There haven't been too many stupid questions (and contrary to what your Mom might have told you, not every question by definition is a good question.)

There's been a ton of learning in this thread, including people doing their OWN research, buying books for continuing education (including Walter's) and THEN asking questions. Somewhat refreshing from some threads where people ask questions that could be easily answered on Google.

The reason this thread was marked gold was a combination of your great questions, and Walter's great and knowledgeable answers.

Carry on.

Yea, Walter has been here for months, 20+pages of Q and A. The value he's provided is immense: Buy his book.

http://provenchinasourcing.com/

 

[Vigilante]

Yea, Walter has been here for months, 20+pages of Q and A. The value he's provided is immense: Buy his book.

http://provenchinasourcing.com/

You can't get a much stronger suggestion than that.

 

[Walter Hay]

Hey Walter, I ended up picking up your ebook a few days ago and finished it within the day. There is loads of valuable logistical information in there that will save me a ton of headaches, especially later on in the process.

The resources you posted are also invaluable - you were not kidding when you said you would provide a wealth of resources for sourcing from countries other than China. For anyone reading this who is contemplating buying it solely for the list of resources (this is only a fraction of the value Walter provides, but was the main reason I made the purchase), I highly suggest taking the plunge. There are about 2 dozen sourcing resources on there, many of which I have yet to explore.

All in all, I don't have any questions for you to answer yet but I'm sure I will be back at some point. I have already begun to do some research on possible products to import and have made a list of about a dozen products today that I will research further. Within a week, I will probably end up taking action by contacting some of them and getting some samples sent to me.

The few hours and small change I spent on the book has already led me to more progress than I had made from scouring Alibaba for hours on end looking for a product from a trustworthy supplier that wasn't already on the market.

Thanks Walter!

Thanks for your remarks. I am pleased that a single reading of the book gave you the information and the incentive to begin exploring countries other than China.

The website I recommend for finding suppliers in Turkey was hacked and consequently abandoned by the owners, who have transferred all the data to a site with the same name but a different URL. My support team has notified all book buyers of the new URL, and it has been changed in the edition currently available for download. Just to be safe I will send you the correct URL via PM.

 

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[Walter Hay]

Sidebar to say I am not sure where on the internet you can find contributors and content that rivals what the Fast Lane Forum has to offer.

I am also glad to see that you guys are buying his book. It's OK to pepper him with questions (he initiated the AMA) but I also like the fact that your questions have been educated questions for taking concepts deeper than what has already been outlined for you here and in the book. There haven't been too many stupid questions (and contrary to what your Mom might have told you, not every question by definition is a good question.)

There's been a ton of learning in this thread, including people doing their OWN research, buying books for continuing education (including Walter's) and THEN asking questions. Somewhat refreshing from some threads where people ask questions that could be easily answered on Google.

The reason this thread was marked gold was a combination of your great questions, and Walter's great and knowledgeable answers.

Carry on.

Yea, Walter has been here for months, 20+pages of Q and A. The value he's provided is immense: Buy his book.

Proven Global Sourcing - Proven Global Sourcing.

You can't get a much stronger suggestion than that.

Wow! I am overwhelmed.

It is great to know that what I am doing really is appreciated. I am having the time of my life.

As I have previously posted, I originally wrote the book to keep my mind active after heart surgery forced me to sell my importing business. I know that for many of those who ask for my help via PM and through questions to my support team I do things that are "above and beyond the call of duty", but for me that is all part of the exercise. As the volume grows I may have to decline to help where it is clearly outside my purview. I hope not, but if that does eventuate, please understand.

Regardless of that, every public question on this thread will get my close attention.

 

[Quark]

I recently placed my first order for a few samples from a seller on DHGate. We got them yesterday and they were not the ones pictured in the ad, and were branded and obvious counterfeits. I took photos and pointed it out to the seller & they asked me to please sell those and they would give me a discount on the next purchase.

We had wanted to at least test the waters first, before ordering from a manufacturer, but this has led us to buy the book & just go after the real deal from sample to larger order.

I'm off to read the book now. Thanks for this thread Walter!

 

[Walter Hay]

I recently placed my first order for a few samples from a seller on DHGate. We got them yesterday and they were not the ones pictured in the ad, and were branded and obvious counterfeits. I took photos and pointed it out to the seller & they asked me to please sell those and they would give me a discount on the next purchase.

We had wanted to at least test the waters first, before ordering from a manufacturer, but this has led us to buy the book & just go after the real deal from sample to larger order.

I'm off to read the book now. Thanks for this thread Walter!

I am sorry to hear that you are to be added to the endless list of victims who have bought through DHGate. Just to illustrate, http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/specific_search/DHGate lists 27 complaints. The latest, Mar 25 has the heading: "DHGate will do nothing about their den of thieves."

Best wishes in finding the real manufacturers, but do remember that you should avoid big brand products or ones that even look like them.

 

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[Nightshift]

Hello Walter,

Just wanted to thank you immensely before asking my question. Your material has been extremely helpful.

On to the question. I have recently decided to look into importing men's clothing from countries other than China. I was hoping to get some custom designs manufactured for several goods with an emphasis on quality while not breaking the bank. I also plan to look for smaller garment and apparel manufacturers with the hopes of getting better quality control and less stringent MOQ requirements. I know that you rated the textile & clothing industry as your least desirable one to work with due to high duties and tariffs, but wanted your opinion on sourcing from other SE Asian countries or any other alternative regions.

Thanks again!

 

[Wizard]

Hey Walter,

I was just curious, are there certain industries that its just not possible to work directly with manufacturers and you're only option is to work with a trading company?

I'm using Alibaba and after I do the usual checks (checking off 'verification check mark' and reading the assessment report)... the only options are trading companies. After another dozen searches (there's multiple 'products')... I think that's how this particular industry operates.

 

[Walter Hay]

Hello Walter,

Just wanted to thank you immensely before asking my question. Your material has been extremely helpful.

On to the question. I have recently decided to look into importing men's clothing from countries other than China. I was hoping to get some custom designs manufactured for several goods with an emphasis on quality while not breaking the bank. I also plan to look for smaller garment and apparel manufacturers with the hopes of getting better quality control and less stringent MOQ requirements. I know that you rated the textile & clothing industry as your least desirable one to work with due to high duties and tariffs, but wanted your opinion on sourcing from other SE Asian countries or any other alternative regions.

Thanks again!

Many SE Asian countries are still undergoing a learning process in relation to exporting. This can result in frustration for you when searching for products, but if you can break through that barrier to entry the results can be great.

Countries that I would consider for your requirements would be Thailand, and outside of SE Asia, Turkey. My book lists places to source products in those places, but using those websites is unlike using Alibaba or similar. It requires perseverance.

 

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[Walter Hay]

Hey Walter,

I was just curious, are there certain industries that its just not possible to work directly with manufacturers and you're only option is to work with a trading company?

I'm using Alibaba and after I do the usual checks (checking off 'verification check mark' and reading the assessment report)... the only options are trading companies. After another dozen searches (there's multiple 'products')... I think that's how this particular industry operates.

I am not aware of any industries in which manufacturers will not deal direct with buyers. I think your problem is that Alibaba is overloaded with traders.

You should appreciate that China is a nation of entrepreneurs. At least wannabee entrepreneurs, most of whom don't have the financial resources or the skills to set up a manufacturing business. On the other hand, the western world sees China as an Aladdin's cave of treasures they can buy cheaply.

For the wannabee entrepreneurs, the only way to capitalize on that vast opportunity is to buy and sell. In other words become traders.

Alibaba and the other big B2B sites make it possible for them to do this with almost no capital. They can set up a business with a one room office, (I have seen plenty of them) register on the B2B site for very little cost, identify themselves as manufacturers because they know that's what western buyers look for, make a sale, receive a deposit, then persuade a manufacturer to supply them.

This is a long story, and I may post a detailed report one day, but I think I have written sufficient for you to see why you are constantly encountering traders. The way out is to use sites where a manufacturer is a manufacturer.

 

[Bosstradamus]

Hi Walter,

First of all thanks a million for this AMA and for writing your book. I read it a few weeks ago and it truly is invaluable. I just got done reading through this thread to make sure I wouldn't ask a repeat questions. Sorry if this is a bit much to read.

MOQ
I have narrowed potential products down to a few. I recently went to the Canton Fair and collected way more direct contacts in a much shorter time than I could have by doing everything online. I have gone through a ton of catalogues and reached out to a number of manufacturers. I requested price lists and have gotten those from most of them. All of the suppliers that gave me price lists gave me prices with MOQ of 1000 pcs and listed the prices as unit price USD FOB Nantong or Dongguang. Does this seem normal to you? Earlier in the thread there was discussion of MOQs being way lower than 1000. I'm not sure if this is a red flag since all of them sent me the same MOQ.

Samples
I've requested samples (for checking quality) from one of them so far. They requested my courier account number but I don't have one so I told them "We do not have a courier account as the suppliers we have worked with have pre-paid freight charges. However, we would be happy to pre-pay shipping charges for the samples if you let us know the cost." Their response is that they would prepare the samples and let me know the cost of shipping. Since then they delayed sending the samples to me citing that they were out of stock of 2 of the items and that the mold on one of them needed to be repaired so the samples wouldn't be ready till end of this week. At this point I'm getting kind of weary of them being a wholesaler. However at the fair they were the only ones that had a newer version of one of the products that I want to sell (this is the one with the "broken mold"). Also their prices are on par with all the other manufacturers prices lists I got. What are your thoughts on this?

Shipping Samples
What is your advice on having suppliers ship samples (not trial orders)? I want to compare quality among the different suppliers I'm in contact with. Air courier seems to be the quickest/cost effective way to do this. What should I ask of them and is there a specific shipping method or postal service?

 

[Walter Hay]

Hi Walter,

First of all thanks a million for this AMA and for writing your book. I read it a few weeks ago and it truly is invaluable. I just got done reading through this thread to make sure I wouldn't ask a repeat questions. Sorry if this is a bit much to read.

MOQ
I have narrowed potential products down to a few. I recently went to the Canton Fair and collected way more direct contacts in a much shorter time than I could have by doing everything online. I have gone through a ton of catalogues and reached out to a number of manufacturers. I requested price lists and have gotten those from most of them. All of the suppliers that gave me price lists gave me prices with MOQ of 1000 pcs and listed the prices as unit price USD FOB Nantong or Dongguang. Does this seem normal to you? Earlier in the thread there was discussion of MOQs being way lower than 1000. I'm not sure if this is a red flag since all of them sent me the same MOQ.

Samples
I've requested samples (for checking quality) from one of them so far. They requested my courier account number but I don't have one so I told them "We do not have a courier account as the suppliers we have worked with have pre-paid freight charges. However, we would be happy to pre-pay shipping charges for the samples if you let us know the cost." Their response is that they would prepare the samples and let me know the cost of shipping. Since then they delayed sending the samples to me citing that they were out of stock of 2 of the items and that the mold on one of them needed to be repaired so the samples wouldn't be ready till end of this week. At this point I'm getting kind of weary of them being a wholesaler. However at the fair they were the only ones that had a newer version of one of the products that I want to sell (this is the one with the "broken mold"). Also their prices are on par with all the other manufacturers prices lists I got. What are your thoughts on this?

Shipping Samples
What is your advice on having suppliers ship samples (not trial orders)? I want to compare quality among the different suppliers I'm in contact with. Air courier seems to be the quickest/cost effective way to do this. What should I ask of them and is there a specific shipping method or postal service?

I am happy to hear that you had a good experience at Canton, but I would still be wary about the exhibitors being manufacturers just because they say they are. In my experience the big fairs like Canton are just living breathing versions of Alibaba, with most of the exhibitors being traders.

MOQ.

• If the products are all the same type, it is possible they will all specify the same MOQ, but usually they vary. The fact that they are all the same does suggest that they are traders. Have a look at their websites and see if there appears to be any difference in the illustrations or are they all the same product.
• With FOB ports of Nantong and Dongguang being so far apart, that suggests that there are different factories involved but that does not prove that the suppliers are manufacturers.
  
• Ask for a smaller order quantity using the methods I describe in my book. If they are not willing to budge, that pretty well confirms that they are traders.
• PM me the names and I can tell you if they are really manufacturers or not.

Samples. The one with the "broken" mold being the only one with a newer version is quite possibly a manufacturer, but it is the availability of a newer version, not the story of the "broken" mold that suggests that possibility.

Shipping Samples. If you want samples from several sources it might pay you to use a consolidator in China to receive them all and send as one parcel. Prepaid air couriers will usually be the most cost effective, unless you are willing to wait a few weeks for China Post. The difficulty is synchronizing delivery to the consolidator. Suppliers will promise to deliver on a certain date, but will rarely do so.

 

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[Bosstradamus]

I am happy to hear that you had a good experience at Canton, but I would still be wary about the exhibitors being manufacturers just because they say they are. In my experience the big fairs like Canton are just living breathing versions of Alibaba, with most of the exhibitors being traders.

MOQ.

• If the products are all the same type, it is possible they will all specify the same MOQ, but usually they vary. The fact that they are all the same does suggest that they are traders. Have a look at their websites and see if there appears to be any difference in the illustrations or are they all the same product.
• With FOB ports of Nantong and Dongguang being so far apart, that suggests that there are different factories involved but that does not prove that the suppliers are manufacturers.
  
• Ask for a smaller order quantity using the methods I describe in my book. If they are not willing to budge, that pretty well confirms that they are traders.
• PM me the names and I can tell you if they are really manufacturers or not.

Samples. The one with the "broken" mold being the only one with a newer version is quite possibly a manufacturer, but it is the availability of a newer version, not the story of the "broken" mold that suggests that possibility.

Shipping Samples. If you want samples from several sources it might pay you to use a consolidator in China to receive them all and send as one parcel. Prepaid air couriers will usually be the most cost effective, unless you are willing to wait a few weeks for China Post. The difficulty is synchronizing delivery to the consolidator. Suppliers will promise to deliver on a certain date, but will rarely do so.

Wow what a quick respones. Thank you for that

 

[Bosstradamus]

Walter,

Thank you so much for looking into those manufacturers for me. This helps so much. I've actually been moving slower than I should because I was so unsure about so many of those manufacturers. Thank you!

 

[DrkSide]

Just a quick question. I sent a message to a supplier and they did respond. The only thing that they wanted to know was what my website is. I am sure this is a vetting process for newcomers vs established importers.

I have a website. But it has very little functionality with only two products currently under this brand. I don't mind sending them the link but is there anything else I should consider before sending it to them.

Thanks!

 

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[Phones]

@Walter Hay , I thank you again for the help you provided me at probably the most crucial part of my venture (all my funds were on that shipment). Just bought your book

 

[Walter Hay]

Walter,

Thank you so much for looking into those manufacturers for me. This helps so much. I've actually been moving slower than I should because I was so unsure about so many of those manufacturers. Thank you!

Happy to help. Now that you know who is a genuine manufacturer and who is not, it should speed up your progress.

For the benefit of other Fastlane members, one of the biggest causes of delay in getting a new importing business off the ground is wading through masses of potential suppliers. Going to a big trade fair like the Canton Fair attended by Bosstradamus is no guarantee of finding the real deal.

Those considering visiting trade fairs might like to check out my post on the subject: Sharing my lifetime experience in export/import. Product sourcing specialist.

 

[Walter Hay]

Just a quick question. I sent a message to a supplier and they did respond. The only thing that they wanted to know was what my website is. I am sure this is a vetting process for newcomers vs established importers.

I have a website. But it has very little functionality with only two products currently under this brand. I don't mind sending them the link but is there anything else I should consider before sending it to them.

Thanks!

There are various ways to respond. One that I know is often used by people in your situation is to find a website that is suitable for their purpose and send a link to that.

They do want to know if you are a serious buyer. If your first communication did not mention that you are established importers and you did not give yourself a title such as Purchasing Department Manager, you could start again using a different name and email address. Be sure to use a business name. Even if you don't have one you can invent one.

 

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[Walter Hay]

@Walter Hay , I thank you again for the help you provided me at probably the most crucial part of my venture (all my funds were on that shipment). Just bought your book

Messages like this (not the part about buying my book although I am pleased to know that) make what I am doing worthwhile.

 

[GuestUser140]

Read through the thread, bought the book. Reading it now and planning on starting importing this week.

Great info so far!