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What is the difference between your services and products?
Our clients can choose to buy products from us, in which case, we act as a standard supplier, selling the goods to them at an agreed price. The clients only deal with us and have no interaction with the factories.
Alternatively, some clients choose to appoint us as their buying office, asking us to manage their orders with specific factories. In other cases, our clients might ask us to find suitable suppliers for a given product. They place their orders directly with the factories but we manage the sample development and production programmes. Companies that use us as service provider tend to have stable and regular orders. They need a physical presence in China and by using our services, avoid the expense of running an office here.
Our products are highly customized. Are you able to follow our specifications in detail?
One of our major strengths is the energy that we put into ensuring that sample development and production orders are carried out in strict accordance with the client’s requirements. We are used to working with clients with very tight specifications. For example, we recently worked on a project where we obtained fabric samples from over twenty different factories before we were satisfied that the last one we received was of the right quality.
We find that our orders are sometimes not accepted by Chinese suppliers because they are too small. Are you able to accept small orders?
We have helped many clients with small orders that they could not place with other suppliers. As we have long-term relationships with many factories, we are often able to fulfill orders that the factories themselves would consider too small as stand-alone orders. Where the manufacturing of a product involves the use of moulds, customized fabric or requires other large set-up costs, minimum order quantities are higher unless the client is willing to absorb all the fixed costs. We recognize that, especially for first-time buyers in China, smaller orders are preferable and are willing to explore with the client a number of options to satisfy their requirements. A certain amount of flexibility from the part of the client is always helpful of course.
We often find when buying from China that the quality of production goods does not match that of samples previously obtained. How do we know that the production goods that you send us comply with our quality requirements?
Every single order that we ship is checked by one of our inspectors. We also carry out in-process inspections, especially for new items, new factories or technically difficult products.
Are you able to source anything in China?
The products that we regularly deal with are from the following categories: Agriculture, Baby & Child, Building & Infrastructure Products, Gifts & Promotions, Hospitality and Textiles & Accessories. We can source highly technical products if the client is able to support us through the product knowledge development process. We will decline to source items where we do not have or cannot acquire product expertise as we consider this critical to the quality of our work.
What happens if we find defective products within the orders that we receive?
In the unlikely event that you find defective products among your deliveries, we will ask you to send us a report on the extent of the problem, the nature of the problem and where appropriate, we will ask you to send us samples of the defective items. If the defects were caused by the manufacturing process, we will compensate you for the defective items by replacing the goods, by issuing you with a credit note or any other method that is acceptable to both parties.
Do you own the factories with which you work?
We do not have any equity in the factories with which we work except for a stake in a cut and sew factory that makes soft toys and textile products. We try to maintain long-term relationships with factories as this facilitates quality control and reliability of supply. However, we regularly benchmark prices with other factories to ensure that prices remain competitive.
How long does it take you to respond to an initial enquiry?
We will respond to your initial enquiry within 24 hours, outside mandatory national holidays.
Do you require payment for samples?
It depends on the type and number of samples required. Where possible, we will supply the sample free of charge but all express courier costs are at the client’s charge. As a general rule, anything that is highly customized and requires the use of a mould, will involve a sampling charge.
How long does it take you to send us samples?
It depends on the type of the product. It can take as little as a couple of days to one month if the sample has to be custom-made.
What are your payment terms?
Services – Payment is required upon presentation of our invoice.
Products – A deposit of between 30% to 50% is required for an order confirmation and the balance payable upon presentation of a copy of the shipping documents.
What is the remuneration structure for your services?
The remuneration for our services can take many forms from a commission on the order value, to a fixed monthly fee, to a daily rate. We are open to arrangements that make financial sense for both parties. |
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