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!

"Everything will be well, my guy. Don't worry!"

Replying to [PhilJack]:

Thanks for your reply. Actually,I've tried to call him and no one answered the phone except sound recording. I've sent emails to him but no reply. It seems the only thing I can do is waiting.

And I told him the new information about our production after receipt of the deposit. But no reply, it seems he is not so interested in this information.


Replying to [Handson]: You words make me feel better, thanks! Hope you are right and I'm right.

Replying to [Mickymouse]: Thank you for your kind wish.

Replying to [Fei Wong]:

Maybe your customer don't have enough money to pay you in a short time and he is still waiting for his customers to pay him.

or he got accident(as you said nobody picks phone up)

Replying to [Fei Wong]:
Dear Fei,

Firstly pls be calm and analyse the suitation :
1)-the cargo arrive in the port already .
2)-the customer can clear custom and take the cargo with or w/o the B/L ?
3)-whose forwarder is it ?

--so call the bank whether they get the money or whether there is a swift same amount as the balance --mostly the bank in your side can track it once the customer really do it .
--if the customer do it already ,then no problem ,you can relax and prepare to deliver the document or do telex release once your finicial department declare they get the money at last .
-if the bank can't track this amount ,pls contact the customer asap ,to push him again
-to contact the forwarder again to track the shippment ,whether the cargo was taken or not ,and check the cost of shipping bank once the customer reject the products .

---even the worst things happens ,also keep calm ,always you can find the way

Good luck!

Replying to [Pelles] and [snowmay]
I made the phone minutes ago and this time there is someone answered the phone!!!
I talked with him and asked him to send the bank slip copy to me.
He said ok! Great! Hope everything's going well !
Hello, snowmay, thank you very much for useful opinions.
You seems to have much experience of the international trade. Thanks again.

Replying to [Fei Wong]:
dear fei:
i m afraid your customer will get the product when the cabinet arrived belgium.and who assigns the transportation company ? i think you must contact the transportation company.if you have any hope to stop the customer Receives the assigns,you do immediately!
i don't sure if what i say is right.good luck to you !

Replying to [Fei Wong]: Fei wong,
Calming your mind, don't too much worry in this situation, surely god will bless you !


everyone !
Let's get together to help Fei Wong !

Replying to [Fei Wong]: I think you will be alright because he already gave the 30% up front and he should know that he can not pick up the goods without making the full payment. Sometimes some problems might arise just because of the communicating in different languages. Good luck.

Replying to [malleeby31]:
Hi, guy. Don't make such spam any more. You should know people always detest those spammers like you. You're considered as gadfly with bad morality. No one is going to do business with you.

Any way, what you're doing can not make you friend or bring you business, but only do harm to your reputation and push your company to extremity.

Replying to [Fei Wong]:

Next time ask for 100% irrevocable L/C at sight, if your delivery terms is by CIF it is even better.

Reason,
Buyer must bank in the money for full amount before can apply L/C, this way you are sure that your buyer have the money.

If all your documentation is correct to the L/C condition there is no way they buyer don't pay, their bank will chase and put pressure on them to pay up.

This is a good example why I always say T/T is not good enough for both buyer and seller. This is a good example, what happen if even they pay 30% T/T in advance but do not have enough money to pay the 70% ? What happen to your goods? You as a seller have to pay the storage charge in Europe and it is in Euro that will be very expensive. Or else you have to ask your forwarder to send it back to China. Even you get 30% payment you will be at lost.

Luckily there is no problem in this case. Next time you better ask for L/C it is much safer.

Your 30% is already USD 9000, so the total amount must be USD 30,000 this is a big amount don't take a risk. If the deal really screw up I don't think you can still work in this company anymore.