A letter to the buyers
Post 1 of 4
Dear all buyers,
Our company is a paid member in alibaba, and i will get the inquiries from all over the world every day. Six months passed, i have sent out hundreds of quote sheets, i find it's really difficult to find a real buyer. the follwoing are some buyers done:
Group A buyers: they will send a inquiry said very interested in our products, and want have a long term cooperation with us, after recommend some hot products to them, 99.9% will not reply any more.
Group B buyers: they will told me which products we are interested, and ask me to quote, after know the price, they will disappeared.
Group C buyers: they said very interested in our products, and want to see the samples, they do not want to pay the sample, even the shipping fees, it seems they are just want get a free sample.
Group D buyers: They will ask many details about the products, and are very satisfied the samples, they even promised to issure a order, but they still disappeared at last.
I was disappointed so many times, but once i received a inquiry, i will try my best to satisfy them.
If you are a buyers belong to the above groups, will you tell me what are you thinking buyers?
Also will you tell me what should i do?
Our company is a paid member in alibaba, and i will get the inquiries from all over the world every day. Six months passed, i have sent out hundreds of quote sheets, i find it's really difficult to find a real buyer. the follwoing are some buyers done:
Group A buyers: they will send a inquiry said very interested in our products, and want have a long term cooperation with us, after recommend some hot products to them, 99.9% will not reply any more.
Group B buyers: they will told me which products we are interested, and ask me to quote, after know the price, they will disappeared.
Group C buyers: they said very interested in our products, and want to see the samples, they do not want to pay the sample, even the shipping fees, it seems they are just want get a free sample.
Group D buyers: They will ask many details about the products, and are very satisfied the samples, they even promised to issure a order, but they still disappeared at last.
I was disappointed so many times, but once i received a inquiry, i will try my best to satisfy them.
If you are a buyers belong to the above groups, will you tell me what are you thinking buyers?
Also will you tell me what should i do?
10 Aug 2006 00:20
Post 2 of 4
Replying to [tina liu]:
Tina,
It is a learning process. You will learn how to use your time and resources wisely, instead of wasting on those non-serious people who're only enjoying inquiries.
Working with group D buyers who knows what they want and who can raise questions on detail specifications.
Also, be patient and follow up on the samples feedback. You will pan out for your diligent work.
Good luck!
Tina,
It is a learning process. You will learn how to use your time and resources wisely, instead of wasting on those non-serious people who're only enjoying inquiries.
Working with group D buyers who knows what they want and who can raise questions on detail specifications.
Also, be patient and follow up on the samples feedback. You will pan out for your diligent work.
Good luck!
10 Aug 2006 02:09
Post 3 of 4
Replying to [tina liu]:
Your are pointing an excellent point as this is all about the effectiveness of trade portals like alibaba. Patience is a point to consider. But i think that you should bear in mind that many buyers don't use only trade portals and they use other channels.
Internet is not the good channel for all the commodities in B2B relations. Alibaba is considered to be a very good reference in internet based business in the world.
Then to make an idea i would suggest to look in your category how many suppliers are registered on Alibaba and compare it to the suppliers in other categories; it should be comparable depending of your category otherwise, if you are too many suppliers, compare the number of the paid members to the buyers and the buying inquiries. I can't give you a ratio, but you should be able to appreciate if competition is high between suppliers (B or D category of inquiries) on alibaba in your category. If you feel this is not just competition or possible low number of transactions (as it seem that A group is also important), then you should change trade portal or be patient or seek buyers through other channels than Internet.
In case B and D are important, i would suggest to review your strategy and make a kind of assessment of your competitors either on alibaba and other channels and make a good positionning either on your prices and either your services and, why not, products.
GOOD LUCK![[em1]](http://img.alibaba.com/images/eng/style/icon/emoticons_smile.gif)
Your are pointing an excellent point as this is all about the effectiveness of trade portals like alibaba. Patience is a point to consider. But i think that you should bear in mind that many buyers don't use only trade portals and they use other channels.
Internet is not the good channel for all the commodities in B2B relations. Alibaba is considered to be a very good reference in internet based business in the world.
Then to make an idea i would suggest to look in your category how many suppliers are registered on Alibaba and compare it to the suppliers in other categories; it should be comparable depending of your category otherwise, if you are too many suppliers, compare the number of the paid members to the buyers and the buying inquiries. I can't give you a ratio, but you should be able to appreciate if competition is high between suppliers (B or D category of inquiries) on alibaba in your category. If you feel this is not just competition or possible low number of transactions (as it seem that A group is also important), then you should change trade portal or be patient or seek buyers through other channels than Internet.
In case B and D are important, i would suggest to review your strategy and make a kind of assessment of your competitors either on alibaba and other channels and make a good positionning either on your prices and either your services and, why not, products.
GOOD LUCK
10 Aug 2006 16:25
Post 4 of 4
Replying to [tina liu]:
1. Your way of writing tells that you are very assertive and very clear about what you are doing. This is a good sign of success.
2. The reason for your temporary desperation is nothing but lack of awareness: You must not expect more than 3 to 5 % if internet enquiries to be materialized. Hence there is no meaning for become desperate on this.
3. Another fact you must understand is that these are the part of yoor job. Your boss must be much experienced and he / she must know the above fact. Hence it may not be a frustrating issue for them
4. As far as you are not sending any samples on free of cost or freight, you are not losing anything financially
5. Your attitude is the first & important factor which will lead you to success: Always be positive and bounce back to the positive mental attitude immediately after every failures / negative feelings or emotions.
6. As Mr.Spixonline said, try to analyze the past communications and try to develop a new comunication strategy for the future dealings.
7. As Mr.Spixonline said, try all other trade sites as well as non-internet client services.
You will find one day that you are a great successful personality.
1. Your way of writing tells that you are very assertive and very clear about what you are doing. This is a good sign of success.
2. The reason for your temporary desperation is nothing but lack of awareness: You must not expect more than 3 to 5 % if internet enquiries to be materialized. Hence there is no meaning for become desperate on this.
3. Another fact you must understand is that these are the part of yoor job. Your boss must be much experienced and he / she must know the above fact. Hence it may not be a frustrating issue for them
4. As far as you are not sending any samples on free of cost or freight, you are not losing anything financially
5. Your attitude is the first & important factor which will lead you to success: Always be positive and bounce back to the positive mental attitude immediately after every failures / negative feelings or emotions.
6. As Mr.Spixonline said, try to analyze the past communications and try to develop a new comunication strategy for the future dealings.
7. As Mr.Spixonline said, try all other trade sites as well as non-internet client services.
You will find one day that you are a great successful personality.
13 Aug 2006 00:42
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