The Wholesale Forums

[orchid]

I am facing a big problem, please help:

Through thorough searching I know that products I want to import are selling very well and the market is a niche market but I actually have very little selling experience on these products. They come in many different shapes, sizes and I don't which sizes/shapes sell the best. The supplier from China that I found (seems legit) has so many of different ones on their online catalog. I am just started contacting them by email. Should I ask the price quote for all of the different sizes/shapes. Will they laught at me? I might import only 1 or 2 CBMs first to test which item in this category sells the best and I don't want to arrange shipping, so should I ask for CIF quote?

Should I ask them to send me a sample of each of individual item in the category that I am interested in ( I can pay with problem)? If I give them my Fedex account number for the sample to be sent, how do I know that they will not overcharge me for shipping?

Any advice, please help?

[Anthony]

This is really where supplier trust comes into the equation. If you haven't asked them about the sizing of all the individual products, then it would be a good idea to ask. They should have these dimensions readily available anyway, I'm quite surprised they aren't present on the products themselves in the online catalogue. They certainly won't laugh at you.

Regarding samples, you would probably be best to approach this initially by asking what their policy is on samples, some companies are more strict than others. Put your proposition to them, the worst they can say is no. For the first order you could use one of their delivery methods or provide them with your Fedex account, either way I don't see any reason why they will overcharge you on shipping if they are a reputable firm.

Hope that helps.

[Andy777]

To find out which sizes/styles sells best, use eBay's "Advanced Search" function or more sophisticated software like TeraPeak.

Even if you do not plan to sell them on eBay, it should give a good overall picture.

[orchid]

Thank you Anthony and Andy777 for your advice. I had used the advanced search and TeraPeak on Ebay earlier but couln'd find which sizes/styles sells the best because statistics are not many enough and therefore they may be screwed. The only way I think will help me find out is me trying selling them.

I would like them to send me samples first. I will ask them what their sample policy is. However, do you think it is OK to ask them send each sample for each size/style? After that I will try one cuber meter or two. Do you think my plan is OK?

I started asking them quotes on some items on Friday but they haven't answered so far. I can't really wait and want to expedite the process because I want to start importing as fast as possible. I don't know how big their factory really is. Do you think that big manufacturers tend to respond very slow? What should I do to make them respond faster?

Thank you

[blavann]

Remember that big suppliers don't often answer emails at the weekend, nor work for that matter.

Also take into regards the time difference, at what time on Friday did you send the email, what time (in their time) would they have received it, maybe they didn't get around to reading it, maybe they decided to leave the sums until Monday.

Now take into account today, what time is it over there? Maybe they haven't done the sums yet, maybe they're such a big firm that they are working their way through tons of emails.

China is 7 Hours ahead.

So unless you sent your email at about 10am, the chances of them getting it before close of business on Friday is very doubtful.

Although they have had all of Monday, possibly to work through tons of emails, and add you on to a to do list.

As much as we like to think we're peoples only customers, we aren't

[orchid]

I asked the for quote on Friday noon, China time. Probably they were working through tons of emails on Monday as you said. You may be right. Hopefully they are going to respond to my request soon. However, I am afraid that my email may get lost in thousands of email they receive everyday. I might have to re-email to them. I just want to pick up the phone but I don't know Chinese.... This email process seems very very slow. I don't know how long it will take...