Summary:
This is a guide to purchasing ("sourcing") from China, and working with Chinese factories. It will probably be most helpful to people like me - entrepreneurs developing a new product or starting a new business that need to obtain parts and raw materials from China. It is written humorously, but hopefully there is some useful advice.
I've been doing a lot of shopping recently. I have one favorite store. I buy nearly everything there.
Do you think Home Depot is big? Wall Mart? Amazon? Ebay? McMaster Carr?
HAH!
They are all pathetic and insignificant compared to The Greatest Store The World Has Ever Known. I am sure you are wondering - "how is that possible? no store is bigger than Wall-Mart!" . You are wrong my friend. There is One Store bigger than Wall Mart. MUCH bigger. Where do you think wall-mart, amazon and mcmaster go when they need to buy something? Sorry jimmy - they don't go to another wall-mart. They go to The Store. It is where all goods come from. ALL of them. You know it as: China.
Perhaps you thought you had to be a "big player" to buy from China? Think again. You and me can buy direct from The Greatest Store The World Has Ever Known. It's easy and fun! I will show you how.
So, say thanks to your new friend Globalization, read on, and soon you too will be a global sourcing expert...
This is a guide to purchasing ("sourcing") from China, and working with Chinese factories. It will probably be most helpful to people like me - entrepreneurs developing a new product or starting a new business that need to obtain parts and raw materials from China. It is written humorously, but hopefully there is some useful advice.
I've been doing a lot of shopping recently. I have one favorite store. I buy nearly everything there.
Do you think Home Depot is big? Wall Mart? Amazon? Ebay? McMaster Carr?
HAH!
They are all pathetic and insignificant compared to The Greatest Store The World Has Ever Known. I am sure you are wondering - "how is that possible? no store is bigger than Wall-Mart!" . You are wrong my friend. There is One Store bigger than Wall Mart. MUCH bigger. Where do you think wall-mart, amazon and mcmaster go when they need to buy something? Sorry jimmy - they don't go to another wall-mart. They go to The Store. It is where all goods come from. ALL of them. You know it as: China.
Perhaps you thought you had to be a "big player" to buy from China? Think again. You and me can buy direct from The Greatest Store The World Has Ever Known. It's easy and fun! I will show you how.
So, say thanks to your new friend Globalization, read on, and soon you too will be a global sourcing expert...
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1: A Little History
It used to be that buying stuff from far away places was hard. You had to send a ship across the ocean for a couple years, they might all die at the hands of a storm or bandits, and in the end maybe you get a few grams of Pepper for a piece of gold. woot!
In more modern times, international trade was not so expensive or risky, but it was inaccessible because you had to know someone. 20 years ago if i wanted to buy something from a factory in Mexico, how would I do it? If I didn't know someone my best shot would probably be to go to Mexico and start driving around until I found a factory, buy some samples on the spot and write their address and phone number on a piece of paper and drive home.
As you might expect, the greatest agent of change in our lifetimes - the internet - plays a central role here. In the last 5 years countless Chinese companies have figured out that if they make a web page and hire someone with enough english to process an order, they can bypass lots of middlemen and be far more accessible to their potential customers - YOU!
In more modern times, international trade was not so expensive or risky, but it was inaccessible because you had to know someone. 20 years ago if i wanted to buy something from a factory in Mexico, how would I do it? If I didn't know someone my best shot would probably be to go to Mexico and start driving around until I found a factory, buy some samples on the spot and write their address and phone number on a piece of paper and drive home.
As you might expect, the greatest agent of change in our lifetimes - the internet - plays a central role here. In the last 5 years countless Chinese companies have figured out that if they make a web page and hire someone with enough english to process an order, they can bypass lots of middlemen and be far more accessible to their potential customers - YOU!
Visit Our Store »
Go Pro Today »
I plan to visit china.I have a gift store at Baghdad- Iraq. i am interested in novelties, kitchen accessories, house accessories, baby stuff and related items as a unique, strange and nice gift to buy . i plan to buy these stuff in small quantities for my store. I wonder if these items can be found in showrooms in china or i have to visit the factories in different places which is not always convenient. if anyone can help in telling me where and how to buy these items i would be much obliged.I plan not to waste my time at china and go directly to the right place.
My name is Saad Mahsoub and email is (smahsoub@yahoo.com), my skype is (saad.mahsoub).
Thx.
I would love to give you my best support .
We are the purchase service provider in china, devoted to apparel and textile industry. We are very pleased to be your eyes and ears in China.
Looking forward to your reply. My skype is mollyzhang6. Email is mollyzhang@shininghub.com
Molly Zhang
Those of you who want to learn more about buying from China have a look at my blog:
www.youngmoneychina.com
Thanks and good luck.
If a factory claims their factory is in a certain province in China but the number is a mobile phone registered in Hong Kong, you know you have a problem.
I did a lot of Googling for different information and strategies before starting my own importing business. I eventually went with this Guide on How To Import from China but there are others available online as well.
Good instructions for online. But there is ANOTHER offline way to buy from China directly if you're a stores owner or big online selling company.
It;s GO TO YIWU! The huge wholesale market there would be a good start to buy from China directly.
You can read all info. of Yiwu market and how to buy from Yiwu China on this site - http://www.yiwu-market-guide.com/ . Fresh and original content, 100% !
i think my items from taobao the quality and style are good.The agent is also helpful.They experienced in purchasing from taobao and told me some shopping experience there.Sometimes they recommended me serveral stores of taobao if i became interested in something that the agent just well known.
I m satisfied with taobaobuying agent as yet.
My name is Anita,we have good reputation in the international trade field.Hope you guys could try our website:)))
Contact me any time if you need any help: janice.sijie@gmail.com, or mobile +86 139 1367 2090.
Also....I am looking for chinese printing company to print my 300 page novel and to possibly print for other novelists in U.K.
Maybe we can work together.....Bob.
I am quite sorry that to reply you sooo late! I was busy for my new apartment decoration and was not able to check my emails without internet access.
Now, may I ask if you are still interested in cooperation with me?
Please let me know.
Thank you!
Janice
Thanks for sharing in this site.
I got cheat just few days ago from some Chinese that selling Apple products. Once they put their hands on my sent money $450, they're other faces revealed to me. They starting to tell me I have to buy more quantities than they asked before which is 3 items as minimum. They are just a fraud company.
The fraud company is: www.z-mall.com
Also I have about 18 companies that came with above address, but I don't know if they are fraud or not because I was curious to deal with them after what happened to me. Also Still one company waiting from them to send a Laptop, but no answer from them! I hope they are not fraud too : /
Furthermore, I have ordered many USB that have large capacities, but either they fake or don't keep the data for long time. The good news that they sent me something and they did not keep the money for them selves :)
* How much do you charge for shopping agent?
* How can I get my money or my goods if I have someone in China?
Thanks
Vegtor
I am sorry that you got cheat online on some Chinese websites. It also happen to our local people. You just need sharp eyes.
And pls remember you will never get cheaper Apple products in China. The real apple products are more expensive due to the import tax. But for some USB sticks, I could help to find cheaper but good quality ones if you wish.
The way I do the online shop agency is that you let me know what do you want to buy and we confirm via email, I then purchase them for you then ship to you ( not big qty only), you pay via paypal.
More details, you may contact me via my email: janice.sijie@gmail.com.
Janice
Fraud site: http://www.billion-store.com/
Lots of rules to buy from china. The article is good.
And i have some experience about buying online. I like to buy from echinawallet and chinabuye. They can offer best service. Do you have any other ideas, please feel free to tell me.
really usefull for future references, gonna rate it 5/5
and a typo: in step 15 in the end, you wrote "which are not things i have buy." where it should be "which are not things i have bought."
You can pay wiht paypal.
Sorry. That's a good one.
Since I think your a cyclist, I thought you would be interested.
Through your recomendation I have contacted a seller in China and they are willing to send me two nice bikes for $560ea. even though they request a min. order of 30. Its now a mater of shipping costs.
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/260514347/Alloy_Road_Bike_Shimano_105_Road.html
You say that by sea (FOB) and pick up at the docks is a bureaucratic nightmare! Damm. That sucks for me because thats the cheapest way to get it here. He quoted me $18 FOB by sea each or $560 to express each of them. Based on, if I am reading it right, the Harmonized Tariff Schedule I would only pay 11% (duty/tax). Here is where I need your advice because I want to do this myself since there seams no way to do this cheaply with a middle man like freight forward, and that is what do I need in the way of paper work before I go down to the docks in Brooklyn to pick these up?
my research tells me so far I need for an "Informal Entry"; the Harmonized Tariff Schedule number, a bill of sale to appraise the goods for duty charge
Any of your advise on this would help. Thanks a bunch
Wonder if I could score one of them. :)
Best bet would be shirts? Since they make so many.
Steven
http://scrabblecheat.com
oh and I forgot, they only let you pay with paypal... :/
Wikipedia FOB
tanstaafl
yes - I am a nerd.
It could be worse. My sister's friend in first grade (in Malaysia) decided she wanted her English name to be "Canary". Pronounced "cannery". "Daisy" isn't a weird name, just anachronistic.
"(3) be respectful! you are talking to intelligent people, they just don't know english well."
Thank you for pointing that out.