Supplier China vs India

[Samy Bazizi]

Hi, I am currently looking for a reliable supplier for a LED business. I used to find my suppliers on Alibaba, but after numerous deceptions, I am considering finding a supplier in India on websites like indiamart.com.

What are you guys thoughts on this? And not only for LED but for any kind of business.

 

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[maleek]

India, in general is much more difficult to source anything from then in china. The only people that I know who have successfully done so, have literally gone to India to over see the packing and shipping process. They also got to see the quality of the products first hand.

 

[ddzc]

I tried sourcing from India (Electronics) and found the prices absolutely ridiculous (resale pricing) and they were really behind (many years) with technology, so I went back to China

 

[Kamil G]

Hi,

If You're looking for led supplier, i can share with You my contact. I was buying from him and the quality was very good. I am from poland and i sell led here. This is chineese supplier.

 

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[sparklyshadows]

The key to finding good suppliers on Alibaba is only doing business with gold suppliers and suppliers that accept paypal. Once you have these two must-have requirements out of the way, you can weed out the good suppliers from the bad ones with a well-prepared list of questions to ask them.

Most seasoned importers swear by Alibaba and don't recommend going anywhere else. The StartUpBros for example.

Don't be discouraged by the deceptions- there are good suppliers to be found on Alibaba- you just have to develop a good system to pick out the bad ones early on.

My best tip is- always start slow with new suppliers. Small sample orders and then slowly increase the quantity as you gain more confidence and trust in them. Also, always use PayPal and for an added layer of security, use an AMEX =D

 

[1step]

I would go with China, a friend and I are trying to set some stuff up in India and it's been a huge pain. Trust is a bigger issue in India than it is in China, but this is just based on my experiences. I will tag @Goobii here to see if he wants to add anything.

I was in China last year and I walked down a street in Guangzhou that was full of LED light manufacturers - I left blind.

Hi,

If You're looking for led supplier, i can share with You my contact. I was buying from him and the quality was very good. I am from poland and i sell led here. This is chineese supplier.

First post... how convenient.

 

[Goobii]

I would go with China, a friend and I are trying to set some stuff up in India and it's been a huge pain. Trust is a bigger issue in India than it is in China

I'm trying to set up an entity there & to say its been challenging is an understatement. The information on the government website is contradictory to what a lawyer or accountant in India will tell you. I'm already down $500 in just getting the correct documents attested for this entity. Who you contact, how you contact will be the same way you would a manufacturer in China. Plus side for India is that most of them speak English, so communication may be easier to some extent.
This is the advise that @WalterHay gave me - "you could try contacting the World Trade Center in Mumbai http://www.wtcmumbai.org If you do go there, you will find a treasure trove in their library, but you would need to allow at least a full day to research possibilities."

I believe that most manufacturers in India cater for the domestic market, but with the latest push from the new government for the 'Made in India' brand - things will change. How soon is anyone's guess? I generally look at India v China like this:
- China = Hardware; India = Software
- China = Products; India = Services
This isn't to say that quality products don't exist in India. They do. But you have to be on the ground & research them, or ask for samples first.
Just like in China - A 'Yes' (the famous head wobble) can mean a Yes/No/Maybe. Due Diligence is a must. Getting on the ground would be highly recommended.

India, in general is much more difficult to source anything from then in china. The only people that I know who have successfully done so, have literally gone to India to over see the packing and shipping process. They also got to see the quality of the products first hand.

This is true. I thnk more so for quality control. I've heard stories of the samples being superior quality than the actual product itself, and after paying thousands of dollars in orders & shipping the company simply does not exist! OUCH!

Hi, I am currently looking for a reliable supplier for a LED business. I used to find my suppliers on Alibaba, but after numerous deceptions, I am considering finding a supplier in India on websites like indiamart.com. What are you guys thoughts on this? And not only for LED but for any kind of business.

Indiamart has a good rep but as I said above, Due Diligence is a must. You might want to read Walter Hays book as well to guide you further in dealing with manufacturers from India.

 

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[H. Palmer]

If you compare India with China, in general India is better for outsourcing services (like a helpdesk or a virtual assistent), while China is almost always better for production outsourcing. Including samples.

One thing with China is it is very difficult to get money out of China. So if you base a company there, there is a risk in getting the money out.

 

[Wizard]

@Walter Hay

Walter may have some insight on this. I remember reading either in his AMA thread or his book I can't remember exactly.

 

[Walter Hay]

@Walter Hay

Walter may have some insight on this. I remember reading either in his AMA thread or his book I can't remember exactly.

I have thanked a few contributors for their insights on this issue. Generally they are confirming what I have written in my book, but one that is spot on is the post by @maleek "India, in general is much more difficult to source anything from then in china. The only people that I know who have successfully done so, have literally gone to India to over see the packing and shipping process. They also got to see the quality of the products first hand."

I once paid for a sample to be produced in India and it was brilliant quality. The small trial order that followed was trash! It had not even been made in the same factory. On closer study I realized that I knew the factory where the sample had been made in China, not in India.

@ddzc commented about high prices and that is very true, but that reflects the Indian way of doing business. Generally speaking they are horse trader types, quoting at least double the real price, and you must haggle.

There are other problems in dealing with suppliers in India, and I believe they still have a long way to go before the world's buyers will beat a path to their door.

 

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[Walter Hay]

The key to finding good suppliers on Alibaba is only doing business with gold suppliers and suppliers that accept paypal. Once you have these two must-have requirements out of the way, you can weed out the good suppliers from the bad ones with a well-prepared list of questions to ask them.

Most seasoned importers swear by Alibaba and don't recommend going anywhere else. The StartUpBros for example.

Don't be discouraged by the deceptions- there are good suppliers to be found on Alibaba- you just have to develop a good system to pick out the bad ones early on.

My best tip is- always start slow with new suppliers. Small sample orders and then slowly increase the quantity as you gain more confidence and trust in them. Also, always use PayPal and for an added layer of security, use an AMEX =D

I suspect that at age 76, and after a lifetime in the international shipping, exporting and importing industry, having imported since 1987, I am what you would call a seasoned importer, and I would swear at, rather than swear by, Alibaba.

The deceptions are not just occasional, they are there by the thousands to be found by any who will do their due diligence on any B2B site before they start sourcing. You might like to have a look at my post Alibaba and the 2236 Thieves Sharing my lifetime experience in export/import. Product sourcing specialist.

In another post Sharing my lifetime experience in export/import. Product sourcing specialist. I dealt specifically with the Gold Supplier process.

And just to prove that I don't just pick on Alibaba, you might also look at my post B2B Scams.

There is no need to take the risks of having to "develop a good system to pick out the bad ones early on." There are some perfectly legitimate sites that have done that for you.

In one of my posts I also explained why using PayPal will not always protect you.

 

[MKAmsterdam]

Check this link out, it should have a directory of exhibitors in the manual, along with new products in that space.

http://www.hktdc.com/fair/hklightin...ternational-Lighting-Fair-Spring-Edition.html

 

[jazb]

How are you selling your LED lighting ?

 

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[Walter Hay]

Check this link out, it should have a directory of exhibitors in the manual, along with new products in that space.

http://www.hktdc.com/fair/hklightin...ternational-Lighting-Fair-Spring-Edition.html

There is a directory of exhibitors, but there are a few things that should noted:

• Not all are manufacturers.
• Not all have been verified.
• Use this as a list of possible suppliers if you will, but it is far too late to think of attending. Attending trade fairs requires a lot of preparation. See my post on the subject Traveling to source supplies. Do you need to visit China? Sharing my lifetime experience in export/import. Product sourcing specialist.

 

[Samy Bazizi]

There is a directory of exhibitors, but there are a few things that should noted:

• Not all are manufacturers.
• Not all have been verified.
• Use this as a list of possible suppliers if you will, but it is far too late to think of attending. Attending trade fairs requires a lot of preparation. See my post on the subject Traveling to source supplies. Do you need to visit China? Sharing my lifetime experience in export/import. Product sourcing specialist.

Can you tell me the name of the book you wrote?

How are you selling your LED lighting ?

I sell them to commercials and industrials, with a decoration and installation service coming with the products.

 

[Walter Hay]

Can you tell me the name of the book you wrote?

It is called Proven China Sourcing, although it also deals extensively with sourcing from other countries. You will find a live link in my signature below.

 

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