Quoting from [Sammy2]:I have a colleague that is currently in talks with a company in China. She received pricing for the item of interest and requested a sample be made. The company is charging for these samples (about 4 times the final cost of the final product) plus expecting her to pay for shipping. (They will deduct the sample charges if an order is placed).Is this normal?I was under the impression that samples were free but that you had to pay for freight?Please advise.Thank you.
That is normally,i am sure.
As you know,we do have so many clients,and lot of them want free samples from us.But don't you think that is a huge pay,even they won't make a order after they received the samples.
So most of us will accept to charge the samples at the beginning,then we will refund the money after we received the real order from you.
Sammy try to put yourself in the shoes of the manufacturer here. Imagine that you got 5 requests for samples a day from various people from around the world, in the knowledge that maybe only 5% of those would lead to orders, the other 95% of samples disappearing.
Factories have two choices here in my opinion:
1. Go the free sample route and then just add these 'marketing' costs onto product prices. The problem here is that the legit customers who end up placing orders end up paying for all of those who didn't.
2. Go the 'user pays' system and let each individual customer cover the sampling costs with the promise of a return of those costs if the sampling leads to orders.
Option 2 is what most factories do.
So you as a customer need to be sure that you are ready to place orders if the sample is good, and you need to make sure that you do enough due dilligence before paying for a sample so that you know that the supplier is one that can actually do production.
I don't agree with the factory charging more than the FOB price for the sample however. I have had factories ask me for as much as seven times the FOB price for a sample. In those cases I always walk away. Yes I understand that the costs to a factory in making a sample is more per item than in production but that is a legitimate cost that they should bear. I as a customer have incurred costs in locating their factory, contacting them, negotiating with them, paying for samples and sending the samples - each party needs to wear some of the costs and trying to get the customer to cover every part of the cost is unreasonable.
So in your case I would probably look for another factory and just pay FOB price for the sample.
Quoting from [Sammy2]:I have a colleague that is currently in talks with a company in China. She received pricing for the item of interest and requested a sample be made. The company is charging for these samples (about 4 times the final cost of the final product) plus expecting her to pay for shipping. (They will deduct the sample charges if an order is placed).Is this normal?I was under the impression that samples were free but that you had to pay for freight?Please advise.Thank you.
Dear Sir,
I am glad to answer your question. I am really happy to answer your question. I am a slow thinker for this. Actualy, once you decide not to pay the sample fee, it means you have not understood the abilitiy and capability of your partner yet. Maybe you think just want to have a try on sample only and see what will happend in the near future.
From the other hand, your partner, so called supplier, perhaps also is not so sure about you yet. In this case, both of you must talk more and negotiate for further information about each other. If time will not allow you do so, then you might need to pay money to save time, but in most circumstances, time is enough for both side to understand each other. If both sides are confident to reach a good business, I think the fee of sample is always nothing.
I am a slow thinker, welcome to reply.
Best regards
Slowthinker 2008
Quoting from [Slowthinker]:Quoting from [Sammy2]:I have a colleague that is currently in talks with a company in China. She received pricing for the item of interest and requested a sample be made. The company is charging for these samples (about 4 times the final cost of the final product) plus expecting her to pay for shipping. (They will deduct the sample charges if an order is placed).Is this normal?I was under the impression that samples were free but that you had to pay for freight?Please advise.Thank you.
Dear Sir,I am glad to answer your question. I am really happy to answer your question. I am a slow thinker for this. Actualy, once you decide not to pay the sample fee, it means you have not understood the abilitiy and capability of your partner yet. Maybe you think just want to have a try on sample only and see what will happend in the near future.
From the other hand, your partner, so called supplier, perhaps also is not so sure about you yet. In this case, both of you must talk more and negotiate for further information about each other. If time will not allow you do so, then you might need to pay money to save time, but in most circumstances, time is enough for both side to understand each other. If both sides are confident to reach a good business, I think the fee of sample is always nothing.
I am a slow thinker, welcome to reply.
Best regards
Slowthinker 2008
Thanks everyone for your replies.
I do understand about paying for samples. In fact I charge samples from my company however when my collegue told me it was going to be 4 times the FOB plus shipping I became concerned.
She went ahead and agreed to this so I'll let you know the outcome.
Quoting from [Egernia]:Sammy try to put yourself in the shoes of the manufacturer here. Imagine that you got 5 requests for samples a day from various people from around the world, in the knowledge that maybe only 5% of those would lead to orders, the other 95% of samples disappearing.
Factories have two choices here in my opinion:
1. Go the free sample route and then just add these 'marketing' costs onto product prices. The problem here is that the legit customers who end up placing orders end up paying for all of those who didn't.
2. Go the 'user pays' system and let each individual customer cover the sampling costs with the promise of a return of those costs if the sampling leads to orders.
Option 2 is what most factories do.
So you as a customer need to be sure that you are ready to place orders if the sample is good, and you need to make sure that you do enough due dilligence before paying for a sample so that you know that the supplier is one that can actually do production.
I don't agree with the factory charging more than the FOB price for the sample however. I have had factories ask me for as much as seven times the FOB price for a sample. In those cases I always walk away. Yes I understand that the costs to a factory in making a sample is more per item than in production but that is a legitimate cost that they should bear. I as a customer have incurred costs in locating their factory, contacting them, negotiating with them, paying for samples and sending the samples - each party needs to wear some of the costs and trying to get the customer to cover every part of the cost is unreasonable.
So in your case I would probably look for another factory and just pay FOB price for the sample.
i think you are very much right
Quoting from [Egernia]:Sammy try to put yourself in the shoes of the manufacturer here. Imagine that you got 5 requests for samples a day from various people from around the world, in the knowledge that maybe only 5% of those would lead to orders, the other 95% of samples disappearing.
Factories have two choices here in my opinion:
1. Go the free sample route and then just add these 'marketing' costs onto product prices. The problem here is that the legit customers who end up placing orders end up paying for all of those who didn't.
2. Go the 'user pays' system and let each individual customer cover the sampling costs with the promise of a return of those costs if the sampling leads to orders.
Option 2 is what most factories do.
So you as a customer need to be sure that you are ready to place orders if the sample is good, and you need to make sure that you do enough due dilligence before paying for a sample so that you know that the supplier is one that can actually do production.
I don't agree with the factory charging more than the FOB price for the sample however. I have had factories ask me for as much as seven times the FOB price for a sample. In those cases I always walk away. Yes I understand that the costs to a factory in making a sample is more per item than in production but that is a legitimate cost that they should bear. I as a customer have incurred costs in locating their factory, contacting them, negotiating with them, paying for samples and sending the samples - each party needs to wear some of the costs and trying to get the customer to cover every part of the cost is unreasonable.
So in your case I would probably look for another factory and just pay FOB price for the sample.
i don't think so. i think there are two types both buyer and saler. all of these boss are thinking a question that how trusty they are ,and they are afraid because they can't sure if it is faker,so they need to consider the benefits of theirselves.
in china there are many large-scale enterprise adn they can bear the cost,but it is no doubt that so many enterprise are not in these range ...they are seeking chance scrupulously, so when you are trading in china , i think it is normal unless you are full proved that the probability is nearly 100% of order.
Quoting from [Sammy2]:I have a colleague that is currently in talks with a company in China. She received pricing for the item of interest and requested a sample be made. The company is charging for these samples (about 4 times the final cost of the final product) plus expecting her to pay for shipping. (They will deduct the sample charges if an order is placed).Is this normal?I was under the impression that samples were free but that you had to pay for freight?Please advise.Thank you.
Yes, it is normal.
Generally each special sample will requried more cost than large quantity products, some comany will charge more than final order. But if you are real buyer, this sample cost will return to you when you place an order.
Quoting from [Sammy2]:I have a colleague that is currently in talks with a company in China. She received pricing for the item of interest and requested a sample be made. The company is charging for these samples (about 4 times the final cost of the final product) plus expecting her to pay for shipping. (They will deduct the sample charges if an order is placed).Is this normal?I was under the impression that samples were free but that you had to pay for freight?Please advise.Thank you.
Dear Sir,
As a sales in China,I can tell you something why we suppliers are asking for sample fee.
1.we receive so many inquries per day from samples hunter.It will be a large costs for us to provide these free samples.
2.Samples?we ask sample fee to verify whether this buy is sincere,or just for collecting free samples.No doubts there are a lot of people do this way to collect free samples per day.Normally,we will refund this sample fee to buyer once they order.That is our sincere.
3.4 times of sample fee?Yes,sometimes I do that.Just to turn out it is a real buyer or fake one.But on contrary,don;t forget we will refund 4 times of sample fee to buyers once they order.It is fair.....We are not working for this small amount of samples,just in order to avoid wasting too much time and energy on these kind of junk inquries.
Hope buyers can understand our position,tks!
cheers,
wendy
Quoting from [Sammy2]:I have a colleague that is currently in talks with a company in China. She received pricing for the item of interest and requested a sample be made. The company is charging for these samples (about 4 times the final cost of the final product) plus expecting her to pay for shipping. (They will deduct the sample charges if an order is placed).Is this normal?I was under the impression that samples were free but that you had to pay for freight?Please advise.Thank you.
Dear Sir,
As a sales in China,I can tell you something why we suppliers are asking for sample fee even it is cheap.
1.we receive so many inquries per day from samples hunter.It will be a large costs for us to provide these free samples.
2.Samples?we ask sample fee to verify whether this buy is sincere,or just for collecting free samples.No doubts there are a lot of people do this way to collect free samples per day.Normally,we will refund this sample fee to buyer once they order.That is our sincere.
3.4 times of sample fee?Yes,sometimes I do that.Just to turn out it is a real buyer or fake one.But on contrary,don;t forget we will refund 4 times of sample fee to buyers once they order.It is fair.....We are not working for this small amount of samples,just in order to avoid wasting too much time and energy on these kind of junk inquries.
Hope buyers can understand our position,tks!
cheers,
wendy
Well ...well .. everyone got their own opinion/policy.
A matter of fact :
- Perspective from Buyer side and the Seller side ! especially secure the biz.
- The object it self ? knowing first of what product, it is about ?
special order, customize design, New-fashion, etc that need some "Protection"
or just a kind of : Milk, sugar, coffee, bread, paper, tissue or pampers?
- If the product is Ordinary and can be certified by ISO .Lab-test . and others, it will be more simple. by presentation that certificate...
So, next time please do not generalized "the merchandise- object"
Knowing he Product-knowledge is the basic of essential to doing sales/purchasing,
it would shown your achieving level in Sourcing a "thing/service"
Keep on ... to the closely definition ....