Another tip that i use is to view source, (right click on your mouse > view source).

Often you can see is the code has been lifted from another site with the comment tags. I know that this is a simple and NOT totally effective it shows an element of professionalism to ensure that their site is clean and hasnt been lifted from someone else.

Also, if the site/company you are interested in starts mouthing off about clients and links to them, again, view source. If some of the pages are identically built then that client he links to is a lie and start to question their integrity.

Best method is to go out there and meet people -

By the way - I was in China recently and i met a big cheese that gave me his business card with a hotmail account and he has turned out to be fine.

I know that its better to have a yourowndomain.com but i get the impression that the Chinese dont place as much emphasise as this.

Yes, best way is to meet in person and talk . we can't judge a company only by the email address or some surface things .

great article, thank you!

Great tips! You are a veteran!

Thank you for the valuable tips. I have printed them out and placed them by my computer

As seller and factory from China , I agree to these ideas for all friends for reference . But In fact , many company don't have their own paid address , just like my boss . He believe yahoo is free and good .And many seller use their a mail to work for their company, because it is imposible to open a email for each selling people in a company. so not always obey all careful rule but we should be careful and trust .

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Last edited by hancrafts; 13-01-2008 at 03:43 PM.

And about payment

" L/C is going to charge me around 3%. if i sell $10000 that is going to cost me $300. that is a lot. "

Quote:
Originally Posted by JGClifton
3% really isn't that bad. Something worth looking at too:

http://nochex.co.uk/merchant-services/


Yes , It is secure to make sure to get your money or goods .
But fro small order , just forget it , you just chat and talk will know if they doing real business. So I use T/t get money and send goods to my customer. That is good too.

Originally Posted by lister

By the way - I was in China recently and i met a big cheese that gave me his business card with a hotmail account and he has turned out to be fine.

I know that its better to have a yourowndomain.com but i get the impression that the Chinese dont place as much emphasise as this.

Yes , You experienced it and know the truth. so our Chairman Mao is really right. " Practice make truth " he said these words about 35 years agooooooooooooo!!!

Disagreed with point 2.
some manfacturers in China admeasure salesmans using e-mail address similar as sales01,sales02. quite a lot suppliers using free e-mail address.