Re: Verifying your supplier
I'd like to add my methods too, if thats OK, ;-)
DON'T ORDER OVER £50/$100/1pcs FIRST ORDER
A sample is exactly that, do not rush into things thinking you're going to make a heap load of dosh, order small, check the quality, and gradually build up orders as your investment capital grows.
Also - if you order a big batch on your first order - it may potray to the seller that you have low quality control, and that he/she can sell you any old rubbish.
HAVE A HANDFUL OF SELLERS FOR YOUR SPECIFIC AREA
It's good to gauge current prices, and plus (this has happened with me a few times), if you stick with a seller long enough, you may think you've got yourself a nice little partnership going on - But I've known them to try and boost up the prices higher than the current market, maybe because he/she believes you're not shopping around.
FIND THEIR BASELINE
Although you do not want to scammed, that doesn't mean accepting the first price they offer you that is not unrealistic yet seems cheap enough.. Haggle.
My method is this, and I've had over 6yrs of transactions with only ONE loss of goods, and that wasn't my sellers fault, but a customs seizure.
1. Haggle to an OK price, note scammers may accept lower than a current market price - because they have nothing to sell you! Find their lowest price, they'll usually explain something about how it is their rock bottom price.
2. Take their details for WU or however you're paying,
3. Wait a day or so, and see if you can knock them down a bit more from your first quote just before you process your payment, until you get the - "friend, this is last price, my boss...blah blah" etc
My point is this way you will root out any potential scammers if they go too low, you're alarm bells should start ringing.. it's also going to get you a good price.
DONT BE PUT OFF BY WESTERN UNION,
For some Chinese people PayPal is a real inconvenience, it can take them 6months to "Withdraw Funds" - what takes 3-7 days in the UK/USA, so for many, it's not really an option.
Find a sellers you're confident in and you'll be OK
Linear Mode
November 2009
