The Wholesale Forums

[londonking]

I go to China once or twice a year for past 5 years and each year I go things have changed a lot. The strategy I use it to make contact with supplier, get quote, exchange e-mails and ask all the questions you need about the product. Do this with about 4-5 suppliers and then let them know you will be visiting them at a certain time. The real suppliers will respond and welcome you with open arms. I have since now opened my own company and office in Hong Kong and contracted out a company that does all my pre-shipment inspections in Mainland China. This way I know I have the correct goods as per my order and goods arrive at my UK warehouse ready for selling.

Do not go to China without making initial contact from the comfort of your home/office. The Chinese are good at spotting novices! Remember they eat dragons for Breakfast! Good luck!

[SGFB]

Originally Posted by denislbg

I suggest you find a sourcing agent for you , because they know the China resources more than you . it save time and cost also.

... and get your stuff top with a hefty commision by the sourcing agent? I would think that that will more or less defeat the purpose of visiting China personally

[SGFB]

Originally Posted by londonking

... let them know you will be visiting them at a certain time. The real suppliers will respond and welcome you with open arms. Good luck!

Good advice from londonking... but I am not to sure about the above statement. The manufacturers are pretty "tight" with agents/traders so doing that will give the supplier plenty of time to prepare for a "setup".

Do that long enough and you will realised that ALL chinese suppliers "own" factories... well at least they "share" factories with their relative OR other suppliers that you already know AND/OR relative of other supplier that you know AND/OR maybe a few hundreds of the "manufacturers" found in Alibaba etc...

[SGFB]

Originally Posted by Wirelessgt

well hi every 1 , reading all those coment help me a lot , but make me comfuse, i am in a mobile phones Bussines, and electronisc , i was thinking to make a trip to china , and meet couple supliers, but just to be thinking and make a trip is part of the invest, bcauz fly ticket from here is about $2500 plus everithing, and come back whith empty hand ??¡¡¡¡??? i been studing chinese market , but some times the difference and dollars of merchandise will be prbably $10 prbably $13 dollars of diferrence of the price of USa , like some 1 say the back up support is ?????? so any advice guys .. I will Tnaks ATTT. A:C Guatemala City.. Will worth the Trip..

Not a good idea to get mobile phones in China unless you are looking for the chinese local brands. Nokias, samsung.. good brands that are sold cheaply in china are usualy fake or refurbished (they are very very very good at it)

Accessories will be a better choice actually... things like bluetooth, headphones, plastic covers and stuff (make sure that they are unbranded) or you might get problem when you are at customs.

[SGFB]

Originally Posted by denislbg

How many of you have been to China?

Been staying here for the last 3 years

and your point being

[easy-imex]

you should 'get into' trading before you actually go to china. Ive been living in china since 2004 and exporting and its been a long learning curve and still continue to learn.

If your going to go you should be in China to actually buy, so line up the goods you want to before you go. Try and time your trip so you can inspect what your buying before you leave china. They will see, with all due respect, stupid forigner all over you so prepair to shafted, and i dont mean 'scammed' just shafted!

You do have to start somewhere, but I dont think going to china is a good starting point! Best of luck anyway!

[ronlee]

Think i will stick to the uk wholesalers for now,