Importing wholesale skateboard decks from China can bring you high profit margin but working with suppliers from China is far from a walk in the park. There are pitfalls and traps and if you are not careful, it is easy to get scammed by companies claiming to be wholesalers but never fulfill their order. Also the language barrier is a problem when you need to negotiate for special requests or tailored deals, thus hampering your business operation. Some of the issues can be addressed while others are here to stay.
One of the major things troubling importers of wholesale skateboard decks from China is how to determine the actual credentials of the company listed online before doing business with them. You can minimize the surprise factor by first contacting them through telephone or email. Check that the telephone number provided online is valid and is a land line instead of a cell phone. Also, if you can, verify that the address given is not a fake. Most of the time, verbal communication may not be possible so you will need to make use of emails and subsequently chat tools like MSN or Yahoo! Messenger to communicate with your prospective supplier. It will help you get to know the distributor of wholesale skateboard decks better and get faster response.
It is not enough to just contact them. China exporters will all have a Certificate of Import & Export issued by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. They are also required to register with the Chinese Customs Office and obtain a registration number from Business Information Centre (BIC). Ask for a copy of the certificate and registration number issued by BIC from the wholesalers.
Another major problem is the issue of quality. Request for a sample from the wholesalers so as to ascertain the kind of goods you are getting from them. Pay for them if necessary. Any serious and reputable wholesalers will not hesitate to do that.
Secured payment modes like credit cards and PayPal are, unfortunately, unavailable to most of the Chinese wholesalers. It is relatively difficult to obtain a credit card and that is why the exporters do not have the facility due to low usage. Most of the time, wired transfer and Western Union are the only payment options available. You can minimize your risk by ordering is smaller quantity for first few shipments and increase gradually.
Nothing beats reviews and feedback from peers in the same trade on distributors of wholesale skateboard decks. You can find them on online wholesalers’ directories. These will help you make better informed decision. Go for paid directories as the free ones may not restrict who can post comments and hence may not provide accurate feedbacks.
George Tho is a webmaster and reviewer of online services. Read his review on an online directory with a database of over 4000 reviewed suppliers and wholesalers in different trades together with a lively forum filled with retailers that will help you source for wholesale skateboard decks here
Author’s review website on Clickbank products: http://www.clickbankproductreview.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Tho
Posted in Retail |