Can anyone tell me why so many suppliers I contact just ignore my emails? Am I approaching things the wrong way? I have made several good business partners and have been trading successfully for around 2 years but I still get frustrated with only 50% or maybe even 1 in 3 suppliers answering my initial email.

I normal put something like...

Hello,

We are a UK company interested in expanding our product range and we are interested in stocking some of your products. Could you please send me prices of product x , product y and product z.

Many thanks,
Dave
Company details

Is this too short? Should I be introducing my company more and talking more about quantities we require (the problem is that quantity usually depends on price)


Any advice would be welcome. Also should I accept the first price? I sometimes negotiate a small amount off but sometimes they state prices for 50pc, 100pc, 1000pc etc - are these prices usually rigid? If I want 100pcs should I just accept the price they give or ask for a better price - it seems just asking for more money off without a good reason is cheeky but I don't know Chinese culture too well.

Thanks

Replying to [Skiz]:Dear friend, i think you should adv the product name,style, quantity, packing and so on.

I am a garment manufacture and usually i only reply the letter which adv the detialed information.

Replying to [Skiz]:

Most of chinese dont understand english.
Thats why they ignore you.

Replying to [MARK ]:when the e-mail is useful for the recived ,they willl be resent asap.so you don't worry about this .there are many suppliers will do it i they would like to business with u .

good luck !

Replying to [Skiz]:i am sorry ,i donnot think so . i reply every Email if from USA. the chinese culture is the same with USA , mabey next time if some one donnot reply you . you can ask me , because i am chinese i can tell you the tures . welcome you anytime .

Replying to [Skiz]:
cause now chinese company can be devided into 3 levels.
1first level big company.they have their own dept of business.
2.trading company which they specialized in communicate both with the buyer and the supplier ,they answer very fast.
3.small and middle size company
they do not have their own dept of business.they sell goods to trading company.and ask trading company to help commuciation with the buyer

Replying to [Skiz]:maybe you should also tell the quantities.

Replying to [Skiz]:
Hello;
I am jacky from China,your article on Alibaba is well understood.
Generally speaking,The Chinese is not so frank,most of them like to express things by many means,which i don't like either,so I work as a foreign tader ,i like the person who speak frankly.

If any interest,please visit our website:www.pcase.en.alibaba.com
MSN:lukyshan@hotmail.com Business mail:jacky@pcase.com

Replying to [Skiz]:
Hi,
Don'y worry for that.
You also ignore them
and contact with me to cooperate about Turkish goods.
For example we produce various of interior wooden doors.

If you interested in, don't hesitate to contact with me.
ismail@dorline.com.

Sincerely..
Ismail Erdogan

It is very interesting to see all of the replies that are coming in from our Chinese counterparts in the factories and trading companies.

I think that it is importnat to acknowledge that the Chinese individuals who are active on this forum are not really representative of most Chinese suppliers. First of all many of them are confident with their English . Secondly most of them seem to have a genuine interest in the business hence their presence here. Thirdly by being active here they get a feeling for what foreign buyers do and dont want.

So Chinese suppliers who are not active here may not have good English abilities, may not really be seeking a lot of new business, and may not really understand what foreign buyers want.

Among our Chinese counterparts who have posted in this thread I have seen a lot of suggestions that look to me more like excuses, such as the following:

a. The email could be coming from a spy - yes the contact could very well be from a spy but then it could be from a legitimate customer too. Since you don't know then wouldn't it be best to try to find out. Why not reply to the initial request and ask for information? Surely if the person is a spy then this will become evident, but if it is a customer then you are giving yourself a chance to get business.

b. The information is inadequate - so why not send an email stating that you need more information and perhaps outlining what information you would like to know. If it is not a legitimate customer then they won't know how to answer or may just ignore your request for more details, however if it is a legitimate customer they will likely tell you the details you need to know and you will have a chance for business.

c. My emails often don't get through - well if you are aware of this then perhaps you should establish an email account that is more reliable. I am not sure how you can do internet trading business if your emails are not getting through.

d. Maybe the person is not a serious enquiry - yes maybe they are not and maybe you would be wasting your time to reply as maybe you wouldn't get an order. But I can guarantee that by not replying you are guaranteeing that you won't get an order so surely maybe the chance if worth taking.

I hope this helps our Chinese colleagues understand how important and valuable replying to customers is!

Replying to [Skiz]:In fact ,as newer for the trading ,the problem now we are talking which is a real problems for me .
when i got the enquiry from buyer.they just says i want to buy your prodducts,please give me quotation .as a seller,that is confused for me what is the buyer really want to get .and if i give the all kind of the quotation for him .i have to spent a lot of time .
if not ,maybe i will loose a chance .and can you tell me what can i do?
thank you