Five Tips for Identifying Bad China Sourcing Agents
Partnering with a China sourcing agent is a great way to acquire your goods. China sourcing agents can help you navigate through the challenges of producing goods overseas. Language barriers, knowledge of shipping imports, and quality control are all challenges faced when working with manufacturers in China. It is crucial to have a good sourcing agent to help avoid mistakes and tackle obstacles. Here are five tips for how you can avoid a bad China sourcing agent.
- Proper Business License
For any business to be legitimate, having a license is standard. The license needs to be for the services you are requesting. A proper business license lets you know that you are working with a professional who knows what they are doing. It’s also good to note that you are within your rights to ask to see a China sourcing agent’s license before doing business with them.
- Location of Sourcing Agent
One of the main benefits of working with a China sourcing agent is overcoming language barriers. Another benefit of a China sourcing agent is working with someone who knows China holidays and their impact on business. If the sourcing agent does not speak the language or understand key details about China, this may not be the agent for you. Proximity is imperative to the success of the sourcing agent you choose.
- Customer Reviews
Checking out customer reviews is easier than ever. You can simply use any of the main search engines and see the reviews of any business. This is also an uncomplicated way for you to read the reviews for sourcing agents in China that you may be considering. Reviewers allow you to see how well the sourcing agent worked with other businesses. You can also ask for references when evaluating a potential third-party partner. This way, you can get real-time feedback and ask specific questions. Having a high percentage of negative or low point reviews is an immediate red flag.
- Communication Practices
One key pillar of any partnership is communication. In both our professional and personal lives, we value people who communicate well. The same applies to a sourcing agent. Since your China sourcing agent is going to be your eyes and ears to the manufacturer, they must communicate well and promptly. You will want to work with someone who is accessible and able to answer questions. As you consider a sourcing agent, lookout for people who are poor communicators or are hard to contact. If the sourcing agent is not open to video and phone communication and wants to limit you to only email, run for the hills.
- Quality Control Practices
Quality control is an important responsibility of a China sourcing agent. A sourcing agent should check your products at different intervals. The agent should inspect the quality of your goods. A good sourcing agent will learn about your products to know what to check. They will catch mistakes so that you don’t waste time with inadequate products. A sourcing agent who does not seek samples is not a good partner.
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