After a month of looking for suppliers on Alibaba, I did not find any legitimate suppliers. So two weeks ago, I started to call and send fax to manufacturers directly to get this information. The company, which is based in Japan, did not provide me with their wholesalers but gave me a list of their worldwide affiliates. The company’s sales manager told that their Chinese office can help you with this because they cover most of the Asia and they produce these products. I thought the Japanese sales manager gave me very good information, and I started to contact their Chinese office to get the wholesaler’s information.

I contacted this Chinese office but receive no response; a week later I contacted again - no response neither. Now I’m thinking why they are not responding. I just checked their contact information in their website, and it’s correct.

I was able to get response from Japan very quickly. I am talking about the same company here, just in different location. They all speak English because this company doesn’t hire non-English speaking employees, so they shouldn’t have any problems understanding my request.

So here is my question:

Those who had business relations with China, did you have similar problem with Chinese manufacturers? If so, what did you do?

Replying to [Paul6693]: Maybe you can call the Japan company again and tell them this situation. Maybe they can help you on this.

Replying to [Paul6693]:
Hi, Paul.

That's normal. according what you said, I found that you just using the emails to contact with China office, That's not enough. why?
Le't talk about the reasons:
First you did not get their attention. Some facotries in China are really very good and their order are enough.
Secondly, might your target item is not produced by the facotry, some good factory will inform you that they can not provide you this but some are not.
Thirdly, have you confirmed that they get your email and certain people take charge of your affairs? If not, I should say that your email is junk email.
In China, the cultrue is different from USA, that if you can give them a call, or tell them you want to see the facotry, and that can show your serious sincerity.
Everything have a hard beginning, Wish you can do successfully with the company.

Well, I am in trading company mainly on promotion items meanwhile as 2 clients' buying agent. I know more or less about the factories' psychology.

Replying to [Paul6693]:

It's not strange at all. Why not call them directly?

Replying to [jason sun]: Thank you for advise. I will try to give them a call and go from there.

Replying to [Paul6693]:

Yes you should directly call them and they can speak english.In China, there are so many good manufacturers and they have very good business principles.

Try to do.

Replying to [jason sun]:
Great! Mr.Sun's explaination is out of excellent,in my opinion.

Replying to [Paul6693]:
Hi, This is the sameproblem that one faces when dealing with chinese Factories / companies. They have all the infrastructure to be the "World's Factory" but they sure don't have the there communication channels in place ! I have sent many emails before to many companies but hardly get any replies - the answer is simple They dont know English and we dont know Mandarin ( or what ever). Finally I engaged a English ( not very fluent- but OK ) speaking agent and route all my communication through him. He takes care of my sourcing and we pay him a fee for this service. PS: I am Trying to learn Manadarin off late and picking -up . Moral of the story: If the Mountain doesnt come to Mohammed, then Mohammed HAS to go to the Mountain.

Replying to [Paul6693]:i am a supplier but i would like to share my opinion .when i came to the end of your article,one thing come up from my mind :it s a possibility that they just rent a small place (maybe a flat)in china ,just for contacting .mainly really company is in Japan .

you know ,it is common such things happened in china .becoz they know many buyers are looking supplier from china .there are much money in china ,now the gold is in china not in San Francisco .


anyway ,good luck to you


B.rds,


Jack
(Don't post conact info please... read the posting rules!)

Paul, I have never do so ,if you tell me the reason why you contact me. in spite of if I can help you, I will help you 100%

Replying to [Paul6693]: you can hire a reliable chinese speaking people to your end for make a deal/negotiate business..