Seems to me that so many people, both Buyers and Sellers, keep posting this question on this forum.
The simplest way is this.

1. IF the product is rather inexpensive (like pens, keyrings, etc), then I suggest the SELLER pays for the samples, and the BUYER pays for the Courier Fee. I would also add (as the Seller), to tell the Buyer, that this fee will be deducted off his first order. This to me is FAIR. This will also weeed out "Sample Hunters"

2. If the product is an expensive item (like a refrigerator or TV etc), then there is NO question about it. The BUYER pays for the sample AND the Freight charges.) . And NO, this will NOT be deducted off the first order.

Come on all you Buyers out there, what could be fairer? If you can't even pay for the Courier Fee (as per example 1 above), then how on earth can you pay for an Order?????

I have been doing so for many years and it has been very successfull.

Quoting from [grigo]:

Replying To [grigo]:

I feel confused now.

The client has told me his DHL A/C,and i phoned the DHL to test the validity of the A/C.In the first time,DHL told me the A/C is invalid,so i feedback to the client.In the second time,the client gave me a A/C which is same to the previous.

But this time,DHL said it is a valid A/C,all i have to do is to sign a letter of guarantee in case of client protest. So i am hesitate now.

While,I think the procedure you said is more secure.But why it is also usable what you said can't be used any more?

 

hello, I am agree with you.

As usual, we send the samples for free but the freight will be collect by customer. If we have to develop the new mold according to buyer's design, then we will charge the mold charge to buyer, but it will be return by first order.

Seems it's better for buyer and seller. Mostly buyer can accept this term and it's fair for each other.

Quoting from [grigo]:


Seems to me that so many people, both Buyers and Sellers, keep posting this question on this forum.

The simplest way is this.


1. IF the product is rather inexpensive (like pens, keyrings, etc), then I suggest the SELLER pays for the samples, and the BUYER pays for the Courier Fee. I would also add (as the Seller), to tell the Buyer, that this fee will be deducted off his first order. This to me is FAIR. This will also weeed out "Sample Hunters"


2. If the product is an expensive item (like a refrigerator or TV etc), then there is NO question about it. The BUYER pays for the sample AND the Freight charges.) . And NO, this will NOT be deducted off the first order.


Come on all you Buyers out there, what could be fairer? If you  can't even pay for the Courier Fee (as per example 1 above), then how on earth can you pay for an Order?????


I have been doing so for many years and it has been very successfull.

Hello,

I couldn't agree with you more.

We are the manufactory for Children furniture (such as car bed, bunk bed, bedroom set). I have met the problem with the samples.

The furniture is made of high quality MDF, so the weight is a little heavy, for example, for one car bed, the weight is about 65 KGS, if we send the sample to the customer by air/ express, the air freight will charge much money, maybe more than the product value 2-3 times.

So, the best and economic way is send the sample by sea, the shipping fee will much cheaper than air freight.

But there is the problem, as usual, we quoted the price is based on FOB price term, so, here will charge FOB local charges when we export the goods, as usual, the FOB Local charges total about 299.3 EUR (Including trucking fee from factory to the port, clear custom fee, inspection charges, doc fee......). So, who will pay the FOB local charges?

one more thing: one car bed sample, the product cost is 80-90 EUR, weight is about 65 KGS.  

so, now, if the customer want to buy one sample, he need to pay: The product cost (80-90 EUR) + FOB Local charges (about  299.3 EUR) + Shipping fee + local charges at import port.

of course, all the charges will be returned to the customer at this future quantity order.

Do you think this is fair?

If the factory pay the sample cost and FOB local charges, we can consider about this: if there are 3 customs want to get the samples, the factory pay all the sample cost and FOB local charges, is it fair? if there are 300 customer from the different countries, should factory pay all the sample costs and FOB lcoal charges?

If so, how could factory survive??

(There we don't know who is real business man, or is sample hunter)

so, we lost some customers, who want to get the free samples, who don't want to pay the FOB Local charges, who don't want to pay the product cost, who don't want to pay the courier charges.

So, sometime, I'm confused and I'm tired to explain to the customer whom want to get the samples about my quotation.

Someone suggest me that quote the price by EXW price term. Yeah, by this way, the total charges that the customers should pay to our side will be cheaper. But, most of customer, haven't get any shipping agent in China local port, I'm afraid they will pay more at the shipping agent company. That is not what I expected.

So, for the sample, FOB price term is better or EXW price term is better??

What should I deal with the sample order about my products?

Which way the customer will feel it is fair and can be accepted?

Quoting from [grigo]:


Seems to me that so many people, both Buyers and Sellers, keep posting this question on this forum.

The simplest way is this.


1. IF the product is rather inexpensive (like pens, keyrings, etc), then I suggest the SELLER pays for the samples, and the BUYER pays for the Courier Fee. I would also add (as the Seller), to tell the Buyer, that this fee will be deducted off his first order. This to me is FAIR. This will also weeed out "Sample Hunters"


2. If the product is an expensive item (like a refrigerator or TV etc), then there is NO question about it. The BUYER pays for the sample AND the Freight charges.) . And NO, this will NOT be deducted off the first order.


Come on all you Buyers out there, what could be fairer? If you  can't even pay for the Courier Fee (as per example 1 above), then how on earth can you pay for an Order?????


I have been doing so for many years and it has been very successfull.

I agree. but if they really want to do business, they don't care for some sample fees

Quoting from [grigo]:


Seems to me that so many people, both Buyers and Sellers, keep posting this question on this forum.

The simplest way is this.


1. IF the product is rather inexpensive (like pens, keyrings, etc), then I suggest the SELLER pays for the samples, and the BUYER pays for the Courier Fee. I would also add (as the Seller), to tell the Buyer, that this fee will be deducted off his first order. This to me is FAIR. This will also weeed out "Sample Hunters"


2. If the product is an expensive item (like a refrigerator or TV etc), then there is NO question about it. The BUYER pays for the sample AND the Freight charges.) . And NO, this will NOT be deducted off the first order.


Come on all you Buyers out there, what could be fairer? If you  can't even pay for the Courier Fee (as per example 1 above), then how on earth can you pay for an Order?????


I have been doing so for many years and it has been very successfull.

I am completely agree with this rule.  It is a very good suggestion.

Quoting from [tonyyyyy938]:

TOTALLY  AGREE ,PERFECT !

Nothing but I just want to state that buyers and sellers should establish mutual-trust and friendship between each other if they are really business man,not samples hunters.Whatever samples or courier fee,just do the way which party is more easier to get this matter through.     

If I have a Fedex account or a TNT account it is all stupid to ask for courier fee if my clients do not have either one.This is just a case in point.

best regards

Tony

 

Hi everybody

Im Chris, I import goods. (newbie)

I can appriciate that seller would want to have the expences covered.

But no one is helping us buyers, to how, what ....I havent got either DHL or Fedex, and i havent got a clue how it works. Some one told me that it is expencive to use DHL and Fedex?!

If any of you guys know about this, please let me know.


Last time i got goods from USA, i had to pick it up at customs.

Another time i could pick it up at the local postoffice.

Im waiting for a shipment from China, and this time it will be deleivered directly to my adress. OMG is this confusing!

I paid $100 too much on a buy, and I told the supplier that he could go out and have dinner on me. He wouldnt take it, but he will deduct it at my next buy.


I have only ever got 1 sample, and out of that, i made a buy. (paid $100 freight fee - 18 kg.)

Well thanks for reading


Take care

Chris

Quoting from [grigo]:


Seems to me that so many people, both Buyers and Sellers, keep posting this question on this forum.

The simplest way is this.


1. IF the product is rather inexpensive (like pens, keyrings, etc), then I suggest the SELLER pays for the samples, and the BUYER pays for the Courier Fee. I would also add (as the Seller), to tell the Buyer, that this fee will be deducted off his first order. This to me is FAIR. This will also weeed out "Sample Hunters"


2. If the product is an expensive item (like a refrigerator or TV etc), then there is NO question about it. The BUYER pays for the sample AND the Freight charges.) . And NO, this will NOT be deducted off the first order.


Come on all you Buyers out there, what could be fairer? If you  can't even pay for the Courier Fee (as per example 1 above), then how on earth can you pay for an Order?????


I have been doing so for many years and it has been very successfull.

test

Quoting from [grigo]:

Replying To [Shagrila]:

YOU can no longer call DHL in China and give them your customer's DHLnumber.



DHL will no longer accept this.



You have to give your customer in India your address and telephone number, and ask him to call his DHL Office in India, and ask them to arrange China DHL to pick the parcel up from you.



That way, you are also covered that teh Indian Customer has to pay for the delivery.

Quoting from [grigo]:



Seems to me that so many people, both Buyers and Sellers, keep posting this question on this forum.


The simplest way is this.



1. IF the product is rather inexpensive (like pens, keyrings, etc), then I suggest the SELLER pays for the samples, and the BUYER pays for the Courier Fee. I would also add (as the Seller), to tell the Buyer, that this fee will be deducted off his first order. This to me is FAIR. This will also weeed out "Sample Hunters"



2. If the product is an expensive item (like a refrigerator or TV etc), then there is NO question about it. The BUYER pays for the sample AND the Freight charges.) . And NO, this will NOT be deducted off the first order.



Come on all you Buyers out there, what could be fairer? If you  can't even pay for the Courier Fee (as per example 1 above), then how on earth can you pay for an Order?????



I have been doing so for many years and it has been very successfull.

I think it's fair for the two parties.