Hello.
I have a customer who bought lots of wine box sets from us. He paid 30%TT then we started our production. After finishing the production we shipped the goods right away.
Our payment terms is 30%TT, but we usually asked for the rest 70% payment after sending the copy of B/L, packing list and Invoice to the customers.
This time, we sent the copy of the documents to him and then sent an email, no reply. I don't think it's good for us to ask for rest payment too urgent, so I just sent him an email again about one week later, still no reply. Days later, I called him and talked with him on phone, he said he would give me a reply, then I kept waiting. Still no reply.
At last, after several calls, I told him the ship will arrived at their port very soon, he told me there's no problem.
How happy I was when hearing that.
Because on the phone he've told me that they've sent the TT, I didn't insist on asking for the bank slip because I believe in him. (Frankly, I am believing in him now.)

But it has been more than 10days and we still haven't recieved the TT. I got stress from my boss and he asked me to call him again and get the bank slip.
I did, but no one answered the phone just a passage of sound--recording in French (German?) which I dont' undersand at all. The only sentence that I understand is the last one --- Thank you.

Can anyone analyze for me or give me any advice.
It's normal that the TT will take so long time? By the way, this customer is in Belgium.
Thanks in advance.
Best regards!

Replying To  [Fei Wong]:

Something smells fishy there Fei.

In Belgium they speak French.

I would keep trying to call him, and when you DO get through to him, tell him that you need a copy of the TT he supposedly sent so you can get your bank to check from your end.

A TT does NOT take more than 48 hours (usually).

I think that he did NOT send the TT.


You should ALWAYS ask customers to fax you copies of the TT.

When I buy, I ALWAYS fax a copy of the TT to the Factory as a matter of course.

When I sell, I always INSIST on getting a fax copy of the TT.

Replying to [grigo]:
Hello, grigo, thank you for your opinion.
I will insist on their sending me the bank slip from now on.

Maybe I'm to childish. But I still believe that he's sent the T/T from the bottom of the heart. Actually, when he sent the 30% deposit last time, it did spend many days, maybe one week. I didn't mean to remember how long it has takn so I am not so sure now.
Frankly, he's sent USD9500 to us before production and he can not get the goods without our original B/L, so he would love the goods, I think.
And frankly, I'm a little unhappy and confused why he didn't my emails, but I still don't believe that he told lies to me.
He is still a serious businessman in my eyes though I don't understand him sometimes.


Hope everything's going well tomorrow! because my boss ask me about this case everyday and if I can not deal with this situation well asap, he will be crazy, maybe.

Replying to [Fei Wong]:
dear fei
you must relax youself and thinking about the whole things.
you should make true whether your client can pock up your goods through you cipy B/ L ., if not --------don't warry about it .iam true he will rouch with you tell your a good news or a bad news . you can to do is trying to contact with him and wait for reply of them.

Replying to [Fei Wong]:
Fei, we will never ever deliver goods before confirmation of new customer's payment for balance. All my customers are happy with our payment terms that goods will be deliver only after confirmation of full payment.

The trouble you involve in seems a scam. But don't dejected. If your goods are saleable to his market, he will come back to you with the payment of balance. Then make sure you need full payment before delivery from this buyer in later deals.

Replying to [Fei Wong]:Dear my sister,do you still remember me ,I am little friend.Don't worry ,you will get the rest payment from them.What you should do now is to contact them every day,send emails to them.if they do not reply ,give them a call.I believe that they will give you the rest payment in view of the long term business relationship.Good luck to you !dear sister!

Replying to [Fei Wong]:

Hi,Fei Wong,

The situation is not good I feel. But do not too much worry.

You can check it out if they can take the merchandise away by the B/L copy first. And keep calling or email them.

And everybody who concerns, if you have customer from Belgium, try to ask them if they know Fei Wong's customer.

Guys, let's get together to help Fei Wong out of this trouble !

Replying to [Fei Wong]:

Hello, Wong Fei,

Is the shipppng company / forwarder appointed by your customer or your company? Contact them immediately. Send them in written form that the goods should not be released without the original B/L.

Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. You would not regret for taking too many cautious steps.

Tom

Replying to all:

Dear all, thank you very much for all your opinions!!!

Our quotation is CIF prices so the forwarder is our own forwarder. The goods can not be picked up without the original documents.

Maybe we shoud ask the customers to balance the payment before the delivery but frankly, I feel a little embarrassed to ask for the payment so .... en, so impatient or urgent?
And sometimes the customers need the goods very urgently, if we only delivery the goods after receipt of the rest payment, the goods will be deliveried.

Ok, I will ask the customers to balance the payment and send the bank slip copy to us before delivery from now on. That's the safest to us, maybe.

God bless me! Please let us receive the money tomorrow!!!

Replying to [Fei Wong]:
Firstly,after you get the sum of 30% TT ,give them a message to tell the progress anyway,as you know,it is a key turning-point !
Secondly,in my eyes,waiting is not the solution.Go to find the information about this guy who can receive because the message can give you some hints.Try to find more and more collection about it.

Replying to [Fei Wong]:
Fei,I think he is serious and really wanted to do business with you,since he has paid 30% deposite in advance.Insiste on asking for the balance.God blesses you.