What is the difference between a buying agent, middleman, commission agent, international trader, sourcing agent, etc.?
Post 1 of 15
I've been reading a lot of posts on how to be a buying agent, middleman, international trader sourcing agent, etc.. But the distinction seems to be vauge at best.
What really are the differences between these positions???
For me, a buying agent and sourcing agent is the same. They act and represent the buyer in their our country or territory in looking for qualified vendors for the buyer to order/purchase from. They get they fees based on commision they have agreed with the buyer.
Middlemen, commission agents, international traders on the other hand look for end buyers and suppliers and try to put a deal together. They get their fees from the mark-up they place on the seller's price before passing it on to the end buyer.
All of these requires know how and experence not to mention an appetite for a certain amount of risk. As with other businesses, a thorough study must be made. By this I mean he/she have thorough knowledge, experience, etc. before even thinking of going into the business. Dealing with import and export can be a good source of income but only if the person in prepared. A mentor with experince would be the best in my opinion.
I am not knocking anyone down but it seems that there are many people trying to get into this without the least amount of idea how to proceed and just try to "wing it'.
I'd appreciate other's opinions.
What really are the differences between these positions???
For me, a buying agent and sourcing agent is the same. They act and represent the buyer in their our country or territory in looking for qualified vendors for the buyer to order/purchase from. They get they fees based on commision they have agreed with the buyer.
Middlemen, commission agents, international traders on the other hand look for end buyers and suppliers and try to put a deal together. They get their fees from the mark-up they place on the seller's price before passing it on to the end buyer.
All of these requires know how and experence not to mention an appetite for a certain amount of risk. As with other businesses, a thorough study must be made. By this I mean he/she have thorough knowledge, experience, etc. before even thinking of going into the business. Dealing with import and export can be a good source of income but only if the person in prepared. A mentor with experince would be the best in my opinion.
I am not knocking anyone down but it seems that there are many people trying to get into this without the least amount of idea how to proceed and just try to "wing it'.
I'd appreciate other's opinions.
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24 Mar 2008 18:19
Post 2 of 15
Replying to [Caragui]:
In my point of view:
Middle man is general word for the rests.
Trader buys then sells.
Buying agent, commission agent, sourcing agent are quite same in function: sourcing good commodities, good price, good supplier then offer to buyer, helping them to corodinate the delivery, payment, etc., everything after signing sales contract. They may get payment from seller or buyer or both.![[em10]](http://img.alibaba.com/images/eng/style/icon/emoticons_silly.gif)
In my point of view:
Middle man is general word for the rests.
Trader buys then sells.
Buying agent, commission agent, sourcing agent are quite same in function: sourcing good commodities, good price, good supplier then offer to buyer, helping them to corodinate the delivery, payment, etc., everything after signing sales contract. They may get payment from seller or buyer or both.
25 Mar 2008 04:10
Post 3 of 15
Replying to [Caragui]:These positions are not same, I'm sure. they have difference in datail. If not, they can use a name.
27 Mar 2008 19:05
Post 4 of 15
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welcome to visit our website!You can never find such a low price in other place...
(we are one of china's biggest wholesaler of electrical product such as:digital cameras, mobile, LCD TV, Laptops Notebooks, Digital Video, GPS,Mp4, ... and so on.)
If you make a big of order from our website,we will give you more of special discount,thank you very much
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MSN : malleeby@hotmail.com
E-mail : malleeby@gmail.com
28 Mar 2008 03:11
Post 5 of 15
Generaliy speaking, they are the same in function. Different in the operation process.
28 Mar 2008 18:16
Post 6 of 15
Replying to [Caragui]:
The most important role of an intermediate ( call it by any name Middleman,buying agents or commission agents) is VALUE ADDITION.
If these peoepl dp npot have a role to play they would never exist.
We are a 20 year old Hong Kong Trading co engaged in Garments business.
All our purchase is from China.We act as Buying Agents for buyers in Europe and USA.We offer to buyers what factories in China cannot offer:
New designs, New fabrics,New collection of garments,Quality production plus credit.We ensure buyers with reasonable compensation in case of late deliveries or quality problems.In my 20 years of China buying not even 1 Chinese Co however big cannot offer or even come close to what we offer to our overseas buyers.
Like us most HK cos work this way.HK cos are probably the best Trading Co is the world for the Value Addition they offer.Some of the biggest Garment Trading cos are based in HK, the best Buying Offices are based in HK.
For us Chinese factories or I/E cos are no competition.Most Garments cos in China are mere tailor shops.The biggest overseas buyers shop thru HK or have their own buying offices in China because of Value Addition to buyers.
Simon Datta-Hong Kong
The most important role of an intermediate ( call it by any name Middleman,buying agents or commission agents) is VALUE ADDITION.
If these peoepl dp npot have a role to play they would never exist.
We are a 20 year old Hong Kong Trading co engaged in Garments business.
All our purchase is from China.We act as Buying Agents for buyers in Europe and USA.We offer to buyers what factories in China cannot offer:
New designs, New fabrics,New collection of garments,Quality production plus credit.We ensure buyers with reasonable compensation in case of late deliveries or quality problems.In my 20 years of China buying not even 1 Chinese Co however big cannot offer or even come close to what we offer to our overseas buyers.
Like us most HK cos work this way.HK cos are probably the best Trading Co is the world for the Value Addition they offer.Some of the biggest Garment Trading cos are based in HK, the best Buying Offices are based in HK.
For us Chinese factories or I/E cos are no competition.Most Garments cos in China are mere tailor shops.The biggest overseas buyers shop thru HK or have their own buying offices in China because of Value Addition to buyers.
Simon Datta-Hong Kong
28 Mar 2008 19:55
Post 7 of 15
Replying to [Caragui]:OK, my opinion comes from 10 years of experience, first when you try to win money from PC contacting B2B deals or oportunities, you must know how to do it.
Then when you make a lot of failures, you are learning step by step, but when you are in front of a real Trader or real Broker, you are nothing. This must change your head and procedures for work, get money for travel and check avaible of materials for offer. Many people work: GRAINS, GOLD, FUELS, FERTILIZERS and now the Ores or Minerals. But you must choose only one, for become an expert, travel, buy, go to the banks procedures, LC's are difficults if you dont know about it. But the main point makes the different, when you export and keep doing a get experience, you can call yourself a Trader, as many offices in world wide want that you be their representative in your country. So a middle man, buying agent, must be that. Other lines are death. If you handle LOI & BCL your are showing that you begin in this. Dont forget this.
Then when you make a lot of failures, you are learning step by step, but when you are in front of a real Trader or real Broker, you are nothing. This must change your head and procedures for work, get money for travel and check avaible of materials for offer. Many people work: GRAINS, GOLD, FUELS, FERTILIZERS and now the Ores or Minerals. But you must choose only one, for become an expert, travel, buy, go to the banks procedures, LC's are difficults if you dont know about it. But the main point makes the different, when you export and keep doing a get experience, you can call yourself a Trader, as many offices in world wide want that you be their representative in your country. So a middle man, buying agent, must be that. Other lines are death. If you handle LOI & BCL your are showing that you begin in this. Dont forget this.
29 Mar 2008 20:35
Post 8 of 15
Replying to [Caragui]:
You seem to have a good grasp of it Caragui, I dont think some of the other responses were all that helpful. One thing I like to say though if you are contemplating using Alibaba you must really do your homework on these traders etc...many are just scammers. Try to look for a trader who has been doing this for 3+ years. There are many repeat first time "Gold Suppliers' on Alibaba searching for their next victim to cheat.
You seem to have a good grasp of it Caragui, I dont think some of the other responses were all that helpful. One thing I like to say though if you are contemplating using Alibaba you must really do your homework on these traders etc...many are just scammers. Try to look for a trader who has been doing this for 3+ years. There are many repeat first time "Gold Suppliers' on Alibaba searching for their next victim to cheat.
29 Mar 2008 22:57
Post 9 of 15
Replying to [Caragui]:
A buying agent is an opportunity seeker of a particular product or services with the assistance of a middle man who serves as an agent between the product and the service to be rendered. While commission is the money or service he/she receives for the work or service he/she has rendered. Therefore a middle man works purposely in order to receive wages and is wages comes in commission for whatsoever service he/she has rendered.
A buying agent is an opportunity seeker of a particular product or services with the assistance of a middle man who serves as an agent between the product and the service to be rendered. While commission is the money or service he/she receives for the work or service he/she has rendered. Therefore a middle man works purposely in order to receive wages and is wages comes in commission for whatsoever service he/she has rendered.
30 Mar 2008 05:23
Post 10 of 15
Replying to [Caragui]:
if you have the friends
in them,
it makes all same!
hONEST is valued
if you have the friends
in them,
it makes all same!
hONEST is valued
31 Mar 2008 08:07
Post 11 of 15
Quoting from [Caragui]:
I've been reading a lot of posts on how to be a buying agent, middleman, international trader sourcing agent, etc.. But the distinction seems to be vauge at best.
What really are the differences between these positions???
For me, a buying agent and sourcing agent is the same. They act and represent the buyer in their our country or territory in looking for qualified vendors for the buyer to order/purchase from. They get they fees based on commision they have agreed with the buyer.
Middlemen, commission agents, international traders on the other hand look for end buyers and suppliers and try to put a deal together. They get their fees from the mark-up they place on the seller's price before passing it on to the end buyer.
All of these requires know how and experence not to mention an appetite for a certain amount of risk. As with other businesses, a thorough study must be made. By this I mean he/she have thorough knowledge, experience, etc. before even thinking of going into the business. Dealing with import and export can be a good source of income but only if the person in prepared. A mentor with experince would be the best in my opinion.
I am not knocking anyone down but it seems that there are many people trying to get into this without the least amount of idea how to proceed and just try to "wing it'.
I'd appreciate other's opinions.
Buying agent maybe work for a factory,just a department of a big association.Middleman is between end user and seller.They don't use the product also don't produce.They just buy and sell.Comisssion agent define the income modes as a middleman.International trader also is a middleman ,they just buy and sell in different countries.Sourcing agent is also a buying agent .
01 Apr 2008 17:54