Have you ever met a nigeria customer? What is your experience?

Before I started my job as a foreign sales, some of my friends have told me, customers who come from west aferican may not have good reputation, one should pay more attention to them. But I don't think it is true.

In Canton Fair in 2007, I met two nigeria customers, after the Fair, they visited our factory, and booked an order, 12000 meters chenille jacquard fabric. When they came back, one week later I received 7000USD deposit of them, then I began to do the production. One month later, we finished the order. Then I asked them to arrange the payment of the balance and after that I could do the shipment for them. But they said there was some finance problem of their company. So I had to wait.

2007 was over, but we couldn't ship out the cargos of them. Last year(2008), I called them many many times about the cargos, but they told me their warehouse has got a big fire, they don't have any space to keep the cargos. They wanted me to keep the cargos of them, also they promised me to ship the cargos as soon as they can. Time passed so fast, but I still didn't get the payment of them. Before Chinese New Year holiday, everyone of our company has a good mood to do the plan of the holiday except me. They has promised me to T/T us the money before the holiday. Also my boss told me if I couldn't get the payment of them, our company will not give me any salary then. The worst thing was coming, other people has gone home to enjoy their holiday, I still had to wait in the company. They cheated me, I still didn't receive any payment of them by now. Now I also can't get salary from our company, I am so sad, everyday I have a very bad mood because of this.

I don't think I will do more business with them in the future, now I just want to solve the problem as soon as I can.  What should I do, I think so much about them, but they never thought of me.   who can help me?

So sorry to hear that.I think u'better find a new buyer to sell the goods,and then tell the clients from Nigeria about the thing.In my opinion,the customers from Nigeria maybe just the the same.They cheat us to do something for them,but they do not pay us at last.Yesterday a client from the same country asked me to go to our local government to send an invitation card to her.So that she can know our company very well.And after her visit,she will make an order at once.Actually I only send email to her for the second time.When I ask her for her company'website,she gave no repond to me until now.

That's typical African. Think about this -

In Africa, they have all kind of valuable sources (Gold, diamonds, rubies, coffee, cocoa .....you name it). But why they are still poor?! Why African do not have the same standard of living like everywhere else in the world?! It's all because of the people attitude. They dream most of their time instead of to work. They don't keep their promise as they say. They have no idea that nobody called 2-3years late is delay (I call that "cancelled").

Well, I guess you left the company already by now. And I wish you good luck in the future.