What is the Best Way to Find a Good China Sourcing Agent?
If you’re looking to source parts and goods
in the US, China could be your best choice. It is the cheapest country for this
purpose. However, that doesn’t compromise with the quality. Now, you might ask
how China manages to achieve that. Well, the answer is simple. The country pays
low wages to workers who have high expertise in their field. This is the reason
why many Western manufacturers and retailers like to source products from
China. To make things easier for you, you can take the help of sourcing agents.
Read on to find out more.
Ways to source products from China?
There are multiple ways to source products
from China. Let us have a look:
Internet search
This is perhaps the easiest way to find a
supplier. Go to Google, Bing, or any other search engine, perform a search, and
you’re good to go.
Social media
Making use of social media is another great
way to find suppliers. You can read the feedback and make the final decision.
However, not every supplier has a good social media presence. So, don’t expect
it to work all the time.
Trade shows
You can meet some genuine suppliers if you
tend to frequent trade shows. Do a little research about the trade shows in
China and try to attend them. It is one of the most legitimate ways of how many
potential buyers and suppliers meet each other.
Hiring a sourcing agent
The best way to find a supplier is to hire
a sourcing agent. A sourcing agent is an experienced professional who can help
you with everything related to product sourcing.
What is the need for a sourcing agent?
There are multiple benefits of hiring a
sourcing agent. Here are those benefits:
×
Sourcing agents will go to the
factories themselves and evaluate the quality of the product.
×
They are experts in their
field. So, they know exactly what they’re doing.
×
These agents know the business
landscape of their country by heart. So, they will help you decide which
suppliers to choose and which suppliers to reject.
×
Sourcing agents can take into
consideration your preferences and help you choose the right supplier and products.
×
They are willing to provide you
with immediate assistance, be it logistics or shipping.
×
The suppliers speak a specific
language. Sourcing agents are familiar with this language. So, they can have an
uninterrupted conversation with the suppliers.
×
They’re the masters of
negotiation and try to ensure that you get your products at the cheapest rate
possible.
Who can be a good sourcing agent?
To be a good sourcing agent, a person needs
to have the following qualifications:
×
A good sourcing agent must be
great at procurement. The experience they have in procuring products is proof
of their work excellence.
×
They should know how to offer
the most competitive prices to the supplier. They have to make sure that you
get the best deal possible at the lowest price.
×
They must speak fluent
Cantonese and Mandarin. Here, even the slightest miscommunication or
misunderstanding could invite disaster. So, better avoid them.
×
A good sourcing agent must have
in-depth knowledge of the business culture in China.
×
They must know how to deal with
Chinese suppliers. If he doesn’t know the right techniques to negotiate, you
won’t be able to get a good deal. So, choose your sourcing agent wisely.
How to find the ideal sourcing agent for you?
There are mainly three different types of
sourcing agents. You must know about each of them to find the one who suits
your needs. Let us take a look:
Commissioned agent
The first type is a commissioned agent.
They have a good experience in the item you are looking for. You only need to
pay them a small commission of 5 or 10 percent for helping you out.
Trading company
You can opt for a trading company if your
product volume is not that large. Trading companies earn through markups.
However, you would still get your product at a cheap rate if you have mastered
the art of negotiation.
Third-party service provider
If you are ordering in bulk, go for
third-party service providers. Of course, they would charge you a service fee
for every order. However, they are still cheaper despite the large size of your
order.
Now that you know how to choose the best China sourcing
agent, it’s time to put your knowledge to
the test. Good luck!
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