How to Buy from China

Step 6 Your first contact

ok - you're ready to take the plunge. what next?

You can either write an email, or you can text-chat direct. Alibaba etc. have "in-system" email, or you can go to the "contact details" page for the company and find the real web page for the company (most have one). on the real webpage you can usually find a real email address, phone number and often an MSN or AIM chat address. a large number of the companies can live text chat in english. i haven't tried phone calling ever, but i guess it could be fun to try.

Your first contact should be short and to the point. Don't go into too much detail until they reply. You may be making lots of these "intro" emails, and the companies you contact receive lots of them. I usually make my first contact by email, and save the text-chat for a more detailed Q&A that might occur later. Here is my standard intro:

"Hello,

I am seeking a supplier of Scooby-Doo Diapers. Do you sell this? If yes, can you send specifications and pricing?

Thank you very much,
I. P. Frehley
Leakyweiner LLC
web: www.leakyweiner.com
ph: [phone]
fax: [phone]
"

Now, if I have seen some of the companies products on a website somewhere, I might change it to something like this:

"Hello,

I am interested in your Scooby-Doo Diapers Model SD-495F. Can you send specifications and pricing? Do you have any similar models?
.
..."