I'm sorry, but has everyone in international trade gone lazy?! In reading through the many forums on Alibaba I have come across the same common broad questions many times.

• "can anyone give me a good freight forwarder?"
• "can you tell me a good supplier in China?"
• "is XYZ real or a scammer?"
• "I'm thinking about doing business in the western hemisphere, anyone have a list of honest suppliers/buyers they can give me?"
• "I'm lazy and don't feel like doing my own due diligence, please someone hold my hand and do the work for me"

It is so simple, if you are looking to find a freight forwarding company, GOOGLE IT. Here is the results page;
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=freight+forwarding&btnG=Google+Search

Look at all of your options, do some research, call them, get some info. Once you have narrowed it down to a couple you would like to use, then ask the question: "has anyone here ever used ABC for shipping? I'm thinking about using them and would like your opinion."

Or you could ask the question to your supplier/buyer, if they have been doing business for awhile they should be familiar with at least one freight company that they prefer using.

Or, how about doing due diligence yourself on the company you are dealing with, instead of asking everyone on this site to do it for you, for free, on their time: "can anyone tell me if XYZ Inc is real or a scammer?". Hmm, how about you research the company and their contact information yourself.

There have been countless forums on how to do this research and yet so many of the members of this site are asking someone else to do this service for them, for free. Haven't they done enough by writing extensive instructions on how to do it.

Here are few of these fantastic posts:
http://resources.alibaba.com/topic/18274/Marketing_and_Business_Planning.htm
Thank you Aussie
http://resources.alibaba.com/topic/7855/Ways_to_Identify_Scammers.htm
Thank you TwoRivers
http://resources.alibaba.com/topic/17530/Tips_for_you_to_verify_Chinese_companies_.htm
Thank you Business In China
http://resources.alibaba.com/topic/18101/Product_Sourcing_and_Certification.htm
Thank you Rizzob http://resources.alibaba.com/topic/12377/Most_important_documents_in_order_of_business_negotiations_.htm Thank you Ranger
And there are many, many more out there.

What works for you will be different than what works for someone else. We all have different business models and different needs. Do the research yourself and you will get exactly what you are looking for. Ask someone else to do the research for you and you will either get a broad answer that doesn't fit your needs, or you will get a very specific answer that fits their needs instead of yours.

Basically, do the research yourself and then ask specifics.

If you want someone else to do all the leg work, hire a representative in the country you are doing business with and pay them to handle the headache.

Half the questions asked can be answered by the person asking it if they would just step back and look at the situation. For example; "XYZ will give me an unbelievable price on widgets, they have a website, and answered the phone number they gave me, but they can only receive money by western union. Are they for real?"

Are you kidding me?!! Right there, price too good to be true, only receive western union. This is the point where you walk away and don't look back.

Do yourselves a favor and read all of the forums on Alibaba. You will learn a ton about international business and be able to fend for yourself.

Buyers: Really research the product you are looking for so that you know where it is produced. i.e. Televisions are not produced in Indonesia. Also, know the brand, major companies like Sony and Seiko are not going to allow their product to be devalued on the global market.

Sellers: Really research the market you are selling into. 100,000 HD flat screen televisions to Nigeria? Does any company on the planet buy 100,000 of one kind of TV on one order?

I'm not saying that people shouldn't ask questions in these forums, but come on people, the forums here are becoming clogged with questions that shouldn't need to be asked. Please, read the forums and you should be able to answer most of your own questions.

 

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[Copied from Due Diligence to Basics. PS ... well said Cali. I nominate it for "Best Post of the Year" ... Cheers mate, Aussie ]

 

Replying to [Cali Rugger]:

Cali, I did using my sources before replied. Thank you and let us bring to the light.

rgds
erl

very good post.

Replying to [Cali Rugger]:
My thoughts exactly!

Replying to [Cali Rugger]:This is the best post i have read on the forum. I have spent the last 6 months carrying out due diligence with positive result Google is my best informant

Replying to [Cali Rugger]:Hi Cali ,
Greetings from New Delhi (India),
This is Ajay Bedi, , a new member with Alibaba.The point you have raised is quite valid.The outsourcing bug is even biting the individuals also, that is why we are looking for people who could lend us help for our own work & cause.
I personally feel that we need to sweep our own floors.

Take Care
Ajay

Replying to [Cali Rugger]: sometimes it isint just lazy thing to do.SOme people do have money & want to start business but problem with them is they dont have idea on how to start this forum can be usefull to them.

Replying to [Cali Rugger]:
I couldn't agree more there is such a plethera of knowledge to be had you just have to dig in and do it

Replying to [Cali Rugger]:

That was really worth reading.You talk sense Mr.Cali.
Doing Business is an art, you need talent and a lot of commonsense.

"kind word and Gun" is okay ..people can take this quote lightly.Everyone loved "The Godfather".

Not knowing things are not considered senseless.. but the approach to acquire knowledge makes a lot of difference..

Abdul
UAE

Replying to [Cali Rugger]:
I don't think there is anything wrong by asking people if they have done business with XYZ. You can do your research but SCAMMING companies can be so suave. Someone asked about a company and thank goodness they did because the answer to his question saved him losts of money from being ripped offf

I'm new at this. Well said. I'll certainly take your advice.