Dear buyer, which would you prefer to choose as your business partner, manufacturer or Trader??
Post 1 of 18
Dear buyer, normally as an buyer which would you prefer to choose as your business partner, manufacturer or Trader??
As we all know that manufacturer has their advantage: lower price and they can control their quality more convenient, also timely after-sale service.
But as a Trader they also have their advantage: they have big range of items, they can provide more service etc...
So as a buyer, when you want to import, which is your first choice??
Thank you
As we all know that manufacturer has their advantage: lower price and they can control their quality more convenient, also timely after-sale service.
But as a Trader they also have their advantage: they have big range of items, they can provide more service etc...
So as a buyer, when you want to import, which is your first choice??
Thank you
05 Sep 2007 02:41
Post 2 of 18
Replying to [Vickyliang]:
As a Chinese exporter, I think that most of buyers prefer manufacturers. Low price and control quality as you said.
But I also see many traders (I mean do business for a long time) maintain good terms with buyers. Their opinion is they act as agent with factory, they can get compatitive price from factory with variaty goods. Also factory is willing to cooperate with traders. In some cases, traders become shares of that factory too.
What is most influenced thing in final business? quality & price I think. Also personal characters.
Should anyone who can provide the above things, I think he or she can win.
What do buyers think?![[em15]](http://img.alibaba.com/images/eng/style/icon/emoticons_wish_you_wealth.gif)
As a Chinese exporter, I think that most of buyers prefer manufacturers. Low price and control quality as you said.
But I also see many traders (I mean do business for a long time) maintain good terms with buyers. Their opinion is they act as agent with factory, they can get compatitive price from factory with variaty goods. Also factory is willing to cooperate with traders. In some cases, traders become shares of that factory too.
What is most influenced thing in final business? quality & price I think. Also personal characters.
Should anyone who can provide the above things, I think he or she can win.
What do buyers think?
05 Sep 2007 18:24
Post 3 of 18
Buyers will nearly always answer this question by saying that they only want to deal direct with the manufacturer. In my opinion it would be silly to close off all opportunity to deal through a trading company on some items and in some business areas.
Sure dealing direct with the manufacturer you have exposure to the factory price and full exposure to factory process etc. The direct contact can in some cases remove some of the problems of dealing through third parties. Any foreigner who has traded in China would have an understanding of where the phrase 'Chinese whispers' comes from!!
The downside is that dealing direct with a factory also exposes a buyer a lot more to the problems that factories encounter.
If you can establish a good relationship direct with a supplier then that is of course the best way to do business. But to cultivate and maintain this relationship you generally need to spend time on the ground here in China with that supplier.
If you are new to buying, if you are buying products from a new factory, or if you are buying new products for your range then there are a lot of advantages that a trading company can offer.
1. it is a myth that prices are naturally more expensive through a trading company. Due to buying power, negotiation power, and other facets such as return of local taxes, you can find that prices through a good trading company are actually better than what you can get yourself.
2. trading companies can shield you from dependance upon one supplier and if something happens such as a factory fire they can generally help you to move production to another supplier
3. a good trading company can help you find the best supplier for your needs not just the cheapest, biggest, most active supplier. Remember that probably only about 20% of suppliers in China actually advertise online.
The thing that I notice is how some of the biggest retail buyers in the world CHOOSE to deal through trading companies. There is a reason for that!
Sure dealing direct with the manufacturer you have exposure to the factory price and full exposure to factory process etc. The direct contact can in some cases remove some of the problems of dealing through third parties. Any foreigner who has traded in China would have an understanding of where the phrase 'Chinese whispers' comes from!!
The downside is that dealing direct with a factory also exposes a buyer a lot more to the problems that factories encounter.
If you can establish a good relationship direct with a supplier then that is of course the best way to do business. But to cultivate and maintain this relationship you generally need to spend time on the ground here in China with that supplier.
If you are new to buying, if you are buying products from a new factory, or if you are buying new products for your range then there are a lot of advantages that a trading company can offer.
1. it is a myth that prices are naturally more expensive through a trading company. Due to buying power, negotiation power, and other facets such as return of local taxes, you can find that prices through a good trading company are actually better than what you can get yourself.
2. trading companies can shield you from dependance upon one supplier and if something happens such as a factory fire they can generally help you to move production to another supplier
3. a good trading company can help you find the best supplier for your needs not just the cheapest, biggest, most active supplier. Remember that probably only about 20% of suppliers in China actually advertise online.
The thing that I notice is how some of the biggest retail buyers in the world CHOOSE to deal through trading companies. There is a reason for that!
05 Sep 2007 18:39
Post 4 of 18
Replying to [Egernia]:
we are a leading manufacturer of China, our main products are Van(Refrigerator van, Insulated van), Store/stake truck, Dump truck, Explosion-proof Vehicle(it is mainly used for transport something easy explosive), Powder tanker, oil tanker, Truck Body, concrete mixer truck, Many kinds of semitrailers, etc.
We have been in this area for more than ten years, And also our products have been exported to many countries, owing to our products' high quality and our good servce, our products are popular at home and abroad and gained us high repuation.
So, if you are interested in our products, please feel free to contact us, and we will give you our best products and our best service. Hope to establish a long term cooperation with you, and expand our business together.
Looking forward to your early reply.
Best regards,
Sunny Xu
(Sunny, please do NOT post contact information. Against the rules. Mod)
05 Sep 2007 20:05
Post 5 of 18
Replying to [Egernia]:
Dear Egernia, thank you very much for your detailed analysis.
Yes, you are right. Manufacturer and Trading company, they both play an irreplaceable role separately in business. Maybe sometimes it based on buyer's purchasing intentions.
Dear Egernia, thank you very much for your detailed analysis.
Yes, you are right. Manufacturer and Trading company, they both play an irreplaceable role separately in business. Maybe sometimes it based on buyer's purchasing intentions.
05 Sep 2007 20:06
Post 6 of 18
Replying to [Egernia]:Excellent post. I agree with your view.
06 Sep 2007 00:47
Post 7 of 18
Replying to [sunny xu]: Hey Ms Xu, pls do not post trade lead here. This's the forum for discussion not promot.![[em1]](http://img.alibaba.com/images/eng/style/icon/emoticons_smile.gif)
06 Sep 2007 00:51
Post 8 of 18
Replying to [sunny xu]:please e-mailme your company details and your products/prices for export to lusaka,zambia,africa. i am particularly interested in tippers/dump trucks and scooper trucks for scooping large earth quantities and transporting. thanks.
my e mail is saabkohya@yahoo.co.uk
my e mail is saabkohya@yahoo.co.uk
06 Sep 2007 10:40
Post 9 of 18
Replying to [Vickyliang]:
In purchasing context of a manufacturing company purchases are categorized into two categories
Direct material
Parts or raw material that is purchase and it is in the product that the buyers company manufactured. For this category normally the buyer would like to buy direct from the factory if possible. The quantity is larger and constant communication is needed between the buyer and manufacturer. In some cases if the buyer’s qty is not huge enough then they have no choice but to buy from a trader. However they tend to buy from the trader who are specialize in the product that the market.
Indirect material
Purchases in this category are the items that help in the buyer’s manufacturing process and those purchases are not in the products that have been manufactured by the buyers company. Hence the quantity is lower and the quality requirements are not that tight. It can be from the stationary, manufacturing equipment, daily production item such as glove, finger cots, wipers and etc. For these item the buyers have no choice but to buy through a trader
In purchasing context of a manufacturing company purchases are categorized into two categories
Direct material
Parts or raw material that is purchase and it is in the product that the buyers company manufactured. For this category normally the buyer would like to buy direct from the factory if possible. The quantity is larger and constant communication is needed between the buyer and manufacturer. In some cases if the buyer’s qty is not huge enough then they have no choice but to buy from a trader. However they tend to buy from the trader who are specialize in the product that the market.
Indirect material
Purchases in this category are the items that help in the buyer’s manufacturing process and those purchases are not in the products that have been manufactured by the buyers company. Hence the quantity is lower and the quality requirements are not that tight. It can be from the stationary, manufacturing equipment, daily production item such as glove, finger cots, wipers and etc. For these item the buyers have no choice but to buy through a trader
06 Sep 2007 17:10
Post 10 of 18
Replying to [David Frencken]:
Dear David, thank you for your detailed analysis.
Yes, you are right. Maybe sometimes buyer choose supplier depend on their requirements. Which is convenient of from Trader, which is convenient of from manufacturer.
Dear David, thank you for your detailed analysis.
Yes, you are right. Maybe sometimes buyer choose supplier depend on their requirements. Which is convenient of from Trader, which is convenient of from manufacturer.
06 Sep 2007 17:25
Post 11 of 18
Replying to [Vickyliang]: I prefer manufacturers because i can get goods with nice price and qulity. But on alibaba, it is difficult to distinguish manufacturers and traders because alibaba is only the showroom of suppliers and the information is overmuch. There is no difference to know little information for us foreign buyers. ![[em4]](http://img.alibaba.com/images/eng/style/icon/emoticons_sad.gif)
07 Sep 2007 02:17