Dear my friends,
How are you? One of my customers want to order from us, but he want to receive the goods at the end of next month, so by sea needs a long time, now he want to change to by air! Because I gave he is the FOB price, it's no matter by sea or by air! But for now he didn't ask us to produce mass products. I don't know what he want to do!

How can I catch hold of this customer? who can give me advice? thanks very much!

Replying To  [lindy]:

Why don't you ask the customer how soon can he place the Order?

Tell him you need time to manufacture in order to catch his deadline.

Air or Sea, doesn't matter, if you quoted him FOB.

It is up to the Customer to tell you where to deliver the goods to.


Communicate with the client to arrange everything.

Replying to [grigo]: I agree with u.
because we also meets some customer like this.
they told us that the order are very urgently.and it should be catch the time exactly. after that, they are didn't placing an order at all.

we have met a customer on this month.
From Oct.7 to Oct .15. price , sample and other terms have been confirm. they told us that because of the time are so urgently.
it should be sent the goods by air. we are confirm with them everything.
they are still didn't placing the order untill now.
sometimes it sounds like a joke story.

I think that you should be specific in your contact with the customer.

Let them know how long the air shipment will take approximately and remind them that they need to add a few days for customs clearance etc.

Then let them know that in order for them to receive the products before a certain date (let's say December 1st) that you would need order confirmation and payment before November 1st.

Finally let them know that late order finalization and/or payment will push the delivery date back further.

Once that is understood then a customer who legitimately needs the product on time will know to make the relevant arrangements in time. If they don't need the products urgently then at least you will be avoiding confusion if they try to make a shipment after the deadline.

glfreightforwarders in New Orleans is a SCAM they do not have a License to ship cargo or move cargo etc. FMC the say theu use PAN AMERICA SHIPPING ALSO NO NVOCC#

Replying to [lindy]:

Lindy, if I am not mistaken your company is selling those multi knife and plier. If your customer wants to buy some small volume for sample or qualification purpose sending by air is still making sense.

If the volume is large, for such product, it don't make sense to send by air, so you better find out if he is serious about it, which i think most probably not.

I saw you put the exclaimation mark on the word air ! .....so I guess it is a very rare thing that any of your customer ask for it. If it is rare you better be prepared most probably it just don't happen.

In other product like what i'm in, air shipment is a normal thing

Replying to [David Frencken]:

Dear David,
Thanks for reply! Now the customer place the order to us! so the problem is ok!

Replying to [lindy]:

Congratulations! Lindy!

Stay brave and lucky.

Tom

Replying to [lindy]:Congratulations! Lindy!