What are the Best Ways to Source Products from China?

by alex| in Web to Print on August 23, 2019 7:00 am 1649 /

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If you run a business whether offline or online, one of your most important jobs is to source products and materials at the right price. This helps you remain an active seller within the market and protect your profit margins.

China is an economic and industrial super-power. Their products are cheap and innovative, at least affordable to use by a larger public. If you source products directly from China it will be a worthwhile and viable option.

Getting products from the right place shall be profitable to you, however, it may turn to be costly when you purchase you purchase a wrong place. The right and wrong place is determined in terms of product location, quality of products, and the cost of purchasing the product (Cost Price).

Let’s discuss in detail to know the best ways to source products from China:

Choose an independent sourcing agent:

1. It is better to go alone when sourcing a product from China. For that, you need to visit China, spend time to search for reliable suppliers. The risk involves searching a reliable supplier if you have got enough skill to search for the right one.
2. The other option is choosing an independent sourcing agent in your state, with local offices and staff in China.
3. You may come across young Chinese people who become agents overnight and represent only a few carefully chosen manufacturers. This means you may not get a better deal as you are not as your job is not being distributed to several suppliers for quotations.
4. There are minimal chances that you’ll receive quality products, as this small group of manufacturers won’t supply quality products as they would be with a proper independent sourcing agent.

Provide detailed product specifications:

1. Provide detailed specifications of the products you require through the agents from the manufacturers. Moreover, I used the word “ detailed”. Chinese have a very different understanding of the word “detail” than we do. You should be clear about what you want, else you’re sure to get something different.
2. This can be a very time-consuming, costly and frustrating process if you have to spend weeks and perhaps months working over the details.
3. So make sure that you have done enough homework before ordering any product from China.
4. If you are manufacturing your own products, send the manufacturer a
   sample of your manufactured product and ask them to take a record of it ap per your new specification.
5. Hence it is advisable to provide detailed product or material specifications so that it may reduce the risk of purchasing materials that are unsuitable for your intended purpose.

Request for a sample:

1. If you decide to negotiate straight with a supplier in China, even if you provide a comprehensive specification, there is no assurance that you will receive what you want from the supplier. That’s why requesting a sample of the item or raw material you require is vitally essential.
2. It is often found that the first sample they send for your reference, won’t match your exact specifications. You have to keep a record of these issues so that you can get them back for rectifications.
3. Now, the manufacturer needs to understand your specifications, which largely depends upon experience, attention to detail and the value of your ordered product.
4. However, if you are working with an agent, you are likely to eliminate such issues and work with reliable manufacturers who will deliver on their promises. It is the responsibility of the agent to provide you with a sample product and describing the detail to suit yours to match your specifications.
5. So, it is always advisable to seek for a sample of the product before you order.
6. You make take time to test the product to make sure how it works, and will it meet the expectations of the people.
7. You may also conduct a survey to check its demand within the public.

Hire a quality inspector:

1. If you order Chinese products for the first time, you may consider hiring an independent product quality inspectors, that can inspect the product quality right at the place when the product leaves the factory.
2. You can hire these quality inspectors from a reliable firm of inspectors by may taking help from your independent sourcing agent.
3. Beware of the fraudulent and dishonest inspectors. Before hiring check for valid credentials. Seek help from your agent to recommend inspectors used before.

Quality Assurance:

Although it is the agent’s responsibility to ensure regarding product quality, you cannot keep your eyes closed. You need to reassure the product quality when delivered, in the following ways:

1. Make a background check: This is also known as the vetting process. Question your agent to follow the vetting process when looking for a new supplier. Check business timing, certification, customer base, etc. It is the responsibility of the agent to ensure that the product is sourced from a trustworthy manufacturer.
2. Quality Certifications: Ask your agent to check for the quality certificates. ISO 9002 is one of the valid accreditations that is held by many Chinese manufacturers. In some cases, manufacturers also create a false accreditation of their own. However, they have been detected by the Chinese government. On your part, you should be alert on such fraudulent manufacturers.
3. Certificate of Authorization: Your agent should be able to supply authorization certification, upon your request. This certificate provides evidence that your agent is authorized to supply goods from that manufacturer. It helps to guarantee that a licensed supplier actually manufactures the products you receive.

Do not prioritize price only:

It is often found that people purchase cheap products from China to save expenses. This may seem attractive to be attractive, however in terms of application, it may be no more than garbage. Hence it is usually wise to avoid purchasing the cheapest Chinese products.

Conclusion:

Sourcing products from China is the best way to grow your business. You can manufacture quality products and equipment at a very appealing cost to the greatest standard. That’s why so many other companies look for China as a way to become more competitive and profitable.