how to distinguish real customer and bogus customer who only want invitation letter
Post 1 of 14
i have met many this kind of accasions, some customer inquired for
our goods, and seems to be very interested in us, but after half a months inquiry when we are are just going to sign the contarct, he asks me for invitation letter to come to my country. mostly i get disappointed and dont reply him any more.but sometimes i feel maybe i should not do this, or i should give the letter. how can i distinguish he is a real or not?
our goods, and seems to be very interested in us, but after half a months inquiry when we are are just going to sign the contarct, he asks me for invitation letter to come to my country. mostly i get disappointed and dont reply him any more.but sometimes i feel maybe i should not do this, or i should give the letter. how can i distinguish he is a real or not?
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28 Nov 2007 18:59
Post 2 of 14
Replying to [xuan]:I do think u r too alert. Firstly whether the costomer comes to China and visits your company or not, u don't suffer anything even if you do issue an invitation letter for him. However by managing things your way, you might have lost a customer.
During the half-month course of your communicating with the costomer, you should have sensed if the costomer is serious or not, if he is professional or not, if both answers are "yes", also if you are really confident in your company, why not (invite him to your company) ? Generally if the buyer is really interested in your company and products, he still prefer to negotiate with you face to face. Meanwhile, he can have a better understanding of your company by seeing it and talking to you to learn about your management, your facilities, your arts and crafts, your quality control, your credit, your expertise, etc.
At the same time if the inquirer is obviously inquiring not for serious transaction, but for other purposes, you should have sensed it, as I mentioned above( he should have betrayed himself somewhere). He won't be so professional as real buyers.
Good luck.
Bizinchina
During the half-month course of your communicating with the costomer, you should have sensed if the costomer is serious or not, if he is professional or not, if both answers are "yes", also if you are really confident in your company, why not (invite him to your company) ? Generally if the buyer is really interested in your company and products, he still prefer to negotiate with you face to face. Meanwhile, he can have a better understanding of your company by seeing it and talking to you to learn about your management, your facilities, your arts and crafts, your quality control, your credit, your expertise, etc.
At the same time if the inquirer is obviously inquiring not for serious transaction, but for other purposes, you should have sensed it, as I mentioned above( he should have betrayed himself somewhere). He won't be so professional as real buyers.
Good luck.
Bizinchina
28 Nov 2007 21:03
Post 3 of 14
Replying To [xuan]:I FULLY agree with Business in China above.
Also, when the customer requests the invitation letter, and you stop communication, if I was a Buyer, I would immediately think that you do not want me to come to China, because you are NOT what you say you are and are a possible scammer.
28 Nov 2007 22:43
Post 4 of 14
Replying to [xuan]:
but there is one thing i didnt mension in last email, of course if i am a maneger i would like to do this for customer, but i am not, it is a big problem. is it so complicated to make an invitation letter? how ?
but there is one thing i didnt mension in last email, of course if i am a maneger i would like to do this for customer, but i am not, it is a big problem. is it so complicated to make an invitation letter? how ?
29 Nov 2007 18:22
Post 5 of 14
Replying to [xuan]:
Why do your customer want a invitation letter? Because they need it for application of business visa at the Chinese Embassy at their country and later visit China, there is nothing wrong giving that, if you give, you still stand a chance to secure a deal, if you don’t you totally give up and will not get anything on what you have worked on
Why do your customer want a invitation letter? Because they need it for application of business visa at the Chinese Embassy at their country and later visit China, there is nothing wrong giving that, if you give, you still stand a chance to secure a deal, if you don’t you totally give up and will not get anything on what you have worked on
29 Nov 2007 21:49
Post 6 of 14
Replying to [xuan]:
i know this. my boy friend is from other country, he told me when some boys they wants to come to china but can not get visa,they often search for chinese international company and pretent to do business with them, and then get the visa, but never go to that company which he contacted before. i dont know.![[em4]](http://img.alibaba.com/images/eng/style/icon/emoticons_sad.gif)
i know this. my boy friend is from other country, he told me when some boys they wants to come to china but can not get visa,they often search for chinese international company and pretent to do business with them, and then get the visa, but never go to that company which he contacted before. i dont know.
29 Nov 2007 22:19
Post 7 of 14
Replying to [xuan]: Whenever you open the dialogue with the buyer try to find whether he is genuine or just enquiry sender. You can take the help of your embassy in buyers country.
Whenever buyer is asking for invitation letter always provide him the same because there could be a genuine buyer who really wishes to see your setup and finalize the order.
Whenever buyer is asking for invitation letter always provide him the same because there could be a genuine buyer who really wishes to see your setup and finalize the order.
29 Nov 2007 22:21
Post 8 of 14
Replying to [xuan]:
Normally, if a customer who knows your company products very well, asks professional questions and talks with you for more than a month on terms negotiation will be a real customer. If he asked an invitation to visit you, you should more than happy to send him one and welcome his visit.
You have nothing to lose if a foreign customer flies thousands of miles to visit you. It means his sincerity and a big potential for your company. And all he asked is just an invitation letter from you. Why not?
It is not very complicated to issue an official invitation to your foreigner customers. Just go to your local Trade & Development Bureau, fill in the standard form to apply it. It takes 1-2 days to get the stamped official invitation. For customers from North America or EU, they only need an invitation from your company head letter to apply a Chinese visa.
However, there do have some you called "bogus" customers' who only want invitation letters to get visa to China. If you do not know them well but send an invitation, then you may fell in a big trouble if they disappeared after entering China, or detained or conducted any illegal actions in China.
Personally, I am not racial discrimination, but when our company received inquiries from Nigeria, Benin, etc. we will be alert. They asked invitation letter to apply Chinese visa in their first or second email inquiry. However, we know nothing about them. We really have nothing to talk with them, so we rebuffed their requests.
Normally, if a customer who knows your company products very well, asks professional questions and talks with you for more than a month on terms negotiation will be a real customer. If he asked an invitation to visit you, you should more than happy to send him one and welcome his visit.
You have nothing to lose if a foreign customer flies thousands of miles to visit you. It means his sincerity and a big potential for your company. And all he asked is just an invitation letter from you. Why not?
It is not very complicated to issue an official invitation to your foreigner customers. Just go to your local Trade & Development Bureau, fill in the standard form to apply it. It takes 1-2 days to get the stamped official invitation. For customers from North America or EU, they only need an invitation from your company head letter to apply a Chinese visa.
However, there do have some you called "bogus" customers' who only want invitation letters to get visa to China. If you do not know them well but send an invitation, then you may fell in a big trouble if they disappeared after entering China, or detained or conducted any illegal actions in China.
Personally, I am not racial discrimination, but when our company received inquiries from Nigeria, Benin, etc. we will be alert. They asked invitation letter to apply Chinese visa in their first or second email inquiry. However, we know nothing about them. We really have nothing to talk with them, so we rebuffed their requests.
29 Nov 2007 23:05
Post 9 of 14
Replying to [xuan]:
Considering the buyer would be funding out monies to buy your product, especially if this is the first time he dealt with your Company, he would also want to be sure that you are what you say you are, you have the products that you say you have, etc.
The way I look at it is that, you should be happy that your customer wants to see your factory or company, meaning he is really serious. Otherwise, why would he spend the energy and the money just to visit your place.
I guess it is the way you look at things, either the positive or the negative side. As they say, what is there to lose by meeting this guy. If you have not convinced him of your product thru the internet, who knows, once face to fact, you might.
Well, good luck
Considering the buyer would be funding out monies to buy your product, especially if this is the first time he dealt with your Company, he would also want to be sure that you are what you say you are, you have the products that you say you have, etc.
The way I look at it is that, you should be happy that your customer wants to see your factory or company, meaning he is really serious. Otherwise, why would he spend the energy and the money just to visit your place.
I guess it is the way you look at things, either the positive or the negative side. As they say, what is there to lose by meeting this guy. If you have not convinced him of your product thru the internet, who knows, once face to fact, you might.
Well, good luck
30 Nov 2007 02:06
Post 10 of 14
Replying to [xuan]: You know I am having this very same problem but the other way around, I am looking to purchase Video Game COnsoles but have the problem of knowing which compaines are real and which are scams.. I have read that you should not have to pay upfrount because of the amount of fraud all they are asking for payment by either TT or eston Union both are not secure, I am happy to pay by TT or Weston Union once i have the goods in hand i am even prepard to pay by COD (Cash on Delivery) but i am not able to visit the company direct so what do I do? compaines will not go with my Terms so do I say yes and take a chance or hold out till a company is prepard to come by my terms????
30 Nov 2007 12:30
Post 11 of 14
Replying to [xuan]:I think it bogos to think buyer are asking for invitation letter. here is how to stop them.
1. Offer them to buy small quanity from you to establish the trust both company.
2. I had the offer same they decline it so you will know buyer are serious or not.
3. If buyer refused to take sample of your products at least they can do... then shut your self out ..look for new buyer.
4. Any country embassy required business visa invitation letter those who established connection with seller through invoices either small or large. with out transaction history Business visit visa automatic declines (also check your country; requirement).
As For Payment term of other member experss in Alibaba. Wait till they come to your term. always go T/T. !1
All the best!
JFK.
1. Offer them to buy small quanity from you to establish the trust both company.
2. I had the offer same they decline it so you will know buyer are serious or not.
3. If buyer refused to take sample of your products at least they can do... then shut your self out ..look for new buyer.
4. Any country embassy required business visa invitation letter those who established connection with seller through invoices either small or large. with out transaction history Business visit visa automatic declines (also check your country; requirement).
As For Payment term of other member experss in Alibaba. Wait till they come to your term. always go T/T. !1
All the best!
JFK.
11 Dec 2007 12:07