Hey,


I sent 3 inquirs last week (6 days ago) to 3 different suppliers, but still no answer. Is this usual, do everyone answer or should i try to find someone else? Is this a problem when trying to contact suppliers from China?


Best regards

Haakon

Yes this is one of the biggest and most common problems when trying to make initial contact with suppliers in China.

Perhaps you could think that if a supplier does not reply to my enquiry then that is not the sort of supplier that you want to deal with and in that way you can vett possible suppliers.

But in my experience even suppliers that do not respond to initial emails can be good opportunities.

I recommend the following:

a. Don't use the contact system here at alibaba as you have no idea where the contact went and whether it even got through;

b. Make contact with suppliers directly through their own website and email addresses;

c. Send your enquiry to all listed email addresses at that factory as sometimes someone may leave the factory and an email address becomes inactive;

d. Make sure that your first contact states clearly who you are, what kind of company you are, and be smart about the information you request. Show the supplier that you know their product and their terminology so that they can see that you are a real buyer;

e. But dont make your initial email too long. Keep it to the point;

f. Send a follow up email after 5-7 days;

g. If you dont get an answer then pick up the phone and call them.

I often find that when I call the factories will claim that they never received the initial email but if you push them to actually have a look 90% of the time they miraculously find the email and then respond.

Good luck getting over one of the earlier hurdles in what will be many!!!

Quoting from [oleisbest]:


Hey,



I sent 3 inquirs last week (6 days ago) to 3 different suppliers, but still no answer. Is this usual, do everyone answer or should i try to find someone else? Is this a problem when trying to contact suppliers from China?



Best regards


Haakon

My proposal is after email inquire,if no answer within two days,you'd better call them.

Normally,they will reply you.

In addition,please read Egernia reply "d"

Hope you succes with Chinese business!

Quoting from [Intermec]:

Quoting from [oleisbest]:



Hey,




I sent 3 inquirs last week (6 days ago) to 3 different suppliers, but still no answer. Is this usual, do everyone answer or should i try to find someone else? Is this a problem when trying to contact suppliers from China?




Best regards



Haakon

My proposal is after email inquire,if no answer within two days,you'd better call them.

Normally,they will reply you.

In addition,please read Egernia reply "d"

Hope you succes with Chinese business!

Thanks a lot for both your answers. I will try again, following your advise, hoping this will make it easier to get a answer :)

Quoting from [oleisbest]:




Hey,





I sent 3 inquirs last week (6 days ago) to 3 different suppliers, but still no answer. Is this usual, do everyone answer or should i try to find someone else? Is this a problem when trying to contact suppliers from China?





Best regards




Haakon

hey,Haakon

As a toys supplier in China,we received many inquires from all over the world.I will not reply them or delay replying until i am free at all for the following inquires:

1)Sending his inquiry to all golden suppliers,of course I know it is normal for buyers to compare about price and quality.But pls send to every supplier one by one,don't  cc to all at one mail.When I get thess kind of mails,i will not reply unless i am free.

2)Like those write : Hi, Sir or Madam!I need all kind of toys,pls send me price list with all of your products,thanks" For these mails,I must to doubt if it were my conpetitor???I will never send them our price list.The only way I do is asking them to visit our website,if any interesting,then I may quote for you.But so far,no one answers after viewing our website.

3)talk big inquiry.

But normally,if only your inqury is sincere and indicate what products you are looking for?And if any requirement ?Then I trust you will get responese from china suppliers soon.

Good luck!May a best and smooth business bridge between you and China suppliers.

wendy

Quoting from [beginning of dream]:

Quoting from [oleisbest]:





Hey,






I sent 3 inquirs last week (6 days ago) to 3 different suppliers, but still no answer. Is this usual, do everyone answer or should i try to find someone else? Is this a problem when trying to contact suppliers from China?






Best regards





Haakon

hey,Haakon

As a toys supplier in China,we received many inquires from all over the world.I will not reply them or delay replying until i am free at all for the following inquires:

1)Sending his inquiry to all golden suppliers,of course I know it is normal for buyers to compare about price and quality.But pls send to every supplier one by one,don't  cc to all at one mail.When I get thess kind of mails,i will not reply unless i am free.

2)Like those write : Hi, Sir or Madam!I need all kind of toys,pls send me price list with all of your products,thanks" For these mails,I must to doubt if it were my conpetitor???I will never send them our price list.The only way I do is asking them to visit our website,if any interesting,then I may quote for you.But so far,no one answers after viewing our website.

3)talk big inquiry.

But normally,if only your inqury is sincere and indicate what products you are looking for?And if any requirement ?Then I trust you will get responese from china suppliers soon.

Good luck!May a best and smooth business bridge between you and China suppliers.

wendy

good ! so many buyers sen dme an E-mail like that they need all kind of products and ask me send them the price,i think it is unbelievable.

Quoting from [oleisbest]:


Hey,



I sent 3 inquirs last week (6 days ago) to 3 different suppliers, but still no answer. Is this usual, do everyone answer or should i try to find someone else? Is this a problem when trying to contact suppliers from China?



Best regards


Haakon

,we don't like quote price all the time,sometimes enquiry we got only ask us to give price,no sincerety

Quoting from [oleisbest]:


Hey,



I sent 3 inquirs last week (6 days ago) to 3 different suppliers, but still no answer. Is this usual, do everyone answer or should i try to find someone else? Is this a problem when trying to contact suppliers from China?



Best regards


Haakon

 In my option they use to answer.

Do not use the automatic inquiry system on all b2b places on the net, you have bad controlls who many you may send, and it can be duplicate mails.

Send from your own mail, or even better from their website. Is usally not difficult to find the webplaces, but sometimes the connections is painfully slow.

I use to not send inquires to an exporter WITHOUT its own web-sajt.

Tell somthing short about your company, refer to your website, so make it short.

Ask for relevant information on the products, if they can export the quantitees (so small) you need and  how to obtain samples.

I think some companies get flooded of mails from not serious potential buyers, and if they have  reason to belive its one of those, they may not answer.

Thanks for many good replies. I have still heard nothing, but will take your advise to consideration and try again. Hopefully this will make the difference :)

Quoting from [oleisbest]:


Thanks for many good replies. I have still heard nothing, but will take your advise to consideration and try again. Hopefully this will make the difference :)

In my opinion ,no anwer means two things may be.

first : they don't have the products you inquiried.

second:they haven't got the proper price about what you asked,may be it need time to check out the price from factory.

Quoting from [Egernia]:

Yes this is one of the biggest and most common problems when trying to make initial contact with suppliers in China.

Perhaps you could think that if a supplier does not reply to my enquiry then that is not the sort of supplier that you want to deal with and in that way you can vett possible suppliers.

But in my experience even suppliers that do not respond to initial emails can be good opportunities.

I recommend the following:

a. Don't use the contact system here at alibaba as you have no idea where the contact went and whether it even got through;

b. Make contact with suppliers directly through their own website and email addresses;

c. Send your enquiry to all listed email addresses at that factory as sometimes someone may leave the factory and an email address becomes inactive;

d. Make sure that your first contact states clearly who you are, what kind of company you are, and be smart about the

I agree with you!

 

 

information you request. Show the supplier that you know their product and their terminology so that they can see that you are a real buyer;

e. But dont make your initial email too long. Keep it to the point;

f. Send a follow up email after 5-7 days;

g. If you dont get an answer then pick up the phone and call them.

I often find that when I call the factories will claim that they never received the initial email but if you push them to actually have a look 90% of the time they miraculously find the email and then respond.

Good luck getting over one of the earlier hurdles in what will be many!!!