If you are a business owner searching for quality (and cheap) products from China, be warned it is time consuming and has the potential to be a huge risk.
In this blog we explain to you why the path is difficult and what you can do to make the best decisions for your business from the beginning!
Let me assure you, products that look great online can look VERY DIFFERENT when they arrive at your door!
Let’s look at the three options you can choose from:
- Travelling to China and sourcing products yourself.
- Using a China Sourcing Agent (such as TL Enterprises).
- Going online to Alibaba with a HIGH CHANCE of being scammed!
1. Travelling to China and sourcing products yourself.
Time and cost. Travelling to China and the cost for airfares, visas, hotels and transit is expensive. Not to mention the time you will waste, not only in transit but in research. Sourcing a trustworthy supplier in China is difficult and stressful.
The culture and language are a separate issue altogether. The way Chinese people do business, when they do business and how they do it is very different to our business culture. If you make a mistake this could cost your business greatly.
2. Using a Chinese Sourcing Agent.
An experienced agent that has a good reputation and great customer case studies is like finding a needle in a haystack.
They will be able to guide you in all aspects of the buying process and they will have an intimate knowledge of ‘how’ to do business in China.
You will have access to great Chinese contacts, you will save a huge amount of time and you will feel confident that your products will be sourced from a reputable Chinese supplier.
This is by far the best option for an Australian business.
3. Going online to Alibaba.
This is definitely the cheapest way to source your Chinese products. But it is by far the riskiest.
- Up to 40% of people listed as Chinese manufacturers are NOT the real deal.
- You have a HIGH CHANCE of being scammed.
- The product you view online is often very different to the product you receive.
In summary, we know that hundreds of Australian companies have benefitted from importing Chinese products. However, the obstacles can be huge and business costs can be high so it is vital you take the correct steps from the beginning.
Our recommendation? Always use a trusted Chinese Sourcing Agent preferably based in your local CBD.
In Perth the leading Chinese Sourcing Agency is TL Enterprises.
For more information contact Jaco Lyu Managing Director at TL Enterprises: jaco@tlenterprises.com.au
