I want to give an example first to explain what I am going to state.

One of the buyers would like to order TPR yogo mats. I was helping to source as a sourcing agent.

She had some requirements, like material,size, thickness, color, printing, logo.

At the beginning, she would like to have an order of 150 mats with 3 colors and 3 logos.
I told her, 3 colors and 3 logos for 150 mats would be a problem for most of the factories.
Then she decided to has 1 color and 3 logos for 150 mats.

After I searched and checked with factories, the sizes are international specification, which most of the factories have in stock.
The buyer required the factory can meet the internation color NO she gave.
But they don't have the exact colors as my buyer required in stock.
If the factory want to produce the colors, their MOQ is 1000 mats.
They can sell the close colors from their stock at small quantity if the buyer accept.
The buyer prefer to have the color she would like to order.

Another problem, the buyer would like to have the logos printed on mats.
The factories explained that they don't print logos on TPR mats.
Because printing on TPR material will cause the fade and uneven dyeing problems.
They suggest the buyer to use emboss instead of printing.
But this is not what my buyer want.

The third problem, I suggest the buyer to hase 1 logo instead 3 logs for 150mats.
But she needs 3 logos. 
In that case, the plate-making fee for one logo will make the unit price much higher and less quantity of emboss will also raise the price.
(one factory told me the reference plate-making fee is USD300-400 for one emboss logo)

So my buyer would like to cancel her purchase plan.
I guess she is so disappointed with such a situation.( I would like to say sorry to her if she can see my post here)
She may be also disappointed with what i can do.
But nothing I can help but also hope to cancel. As I felt it is tough to proceed such a small order but with some impossible requirements.

Many buyers don't know the industry field and wish to order the products like they are shopping in a shop or supermarkets, have many choices and can choose what they like. This is quite against the real situation, especially in China.
The buyers don't know one simple item covers lots of working procedures.
The factories also have to buy the materials from the material suppliers, the materiall suppliers also have their MOQ requirments.

Nowadays the profits for Chinese factories is rather low, if the buyer place a small order, the factory can't earn money after deducting all the production cost.
They are unhelpful is not they are willing to do, it is they would lose if they accept a small order.
They try to sell sample orders, I know most of the time they really don't earn money,but they expect the repeat orders and big orders afterward.

My suggestion for the new foreign buyers:
It is acceptable to place a trial order/sample order to test the quality and market first. Although you are willing to pay higher for a sample order.
But when you would like to proceed a sample/trial order, pls try to make it easier, and with possible requirements.
This will make your purchase plans in China proceed easier and more smoothly.

The plate fee is a bit high in my opinion. US3-400?

is it possible tp print with silk screen? that would be cheaper, right

hellojasmine wrote:

I want to give an example first to explain what I am going to state.

One of the buyers would like to order TPR yogo mats. I was helping to source as a sourcing agent.

She had some requirements, like material,size, thickness, color, printing, logo.

At the beginning, she would like to have an order of 150 mats with 3 colors and 3 logos.

I told her, 3 colors and 3 logos for 150 mats would be a problem for most of the factories.

Then she decided to has 1 color and 3 logos for 150 mats.

After I searched and checked with factories, the sizes are international specification, which most of the factories have in stock.

The buyer required the factory can meet the internation color NO she gave.

But they don't have the exact colors as my buyer required in stock.

If the factory want to produce the colors, their MOQ is 1000 mats.

They can sell the close colors from their stock at small quantity if the buyer accept.

The buyer prefer to have the color she would like to order.

Another problem, the buyer would like to have the logos printed on mats.

The factories explained that they don't print logos on TPR mats.

Because printing on TPR material will cause the fade and uneven dyeing problems.

They suggest the buyer to use emboss instead of printing.

But this is not what my buyer want.

The third problem, I suggest the buyer to hase 1 logo instead 3 logs for 150mats.

But she needs 3 logos. 

In that case, the plate-making fee for one logo will make the unit price much higher and less quantity of emboss will also raise the price.

(one factory told me the reference plate-making fee is USD300-400 for one emboss logo)

So my buyer would like to cancel her purchase plan.

I guess she is so disappointed with such a situation.( I would like to say sorry to her if she can see my post here)

She may be also disappointed with what i can do.

But nothing I can help but also hope to cancel. As I felt it is tough to proceed such a small order but with some impossible requirements.

Many buyers don't know the industry field and wish to order the products like they are shopping in a shop or supermarkets, have many choices and can choose what they like. This is quite against the real situation, especially in China.

The buyers don't know one simple item covers lots of working procedures.

The factories also have to buy the materials from the material suppliers, the materiall suppliers also have their MOQ requirments.

Nowadays the profits for Chinese factories is rather low, if the buyer place a small order, the factory can't earn money after deducting all the production cost.
They are unhelpful is not they are willing to do, it is they would lose if they accept a small order.
They try to sell sample orders, I know most of the time they really don't earn money,but they expect the repeat orders and big orders afterward.

My suggestion for the new foreign buyers:

It is acceptable to place a trial order/sample order to test the quality and market first. Although you are willing to pay higher for a sample order.

But when you would like to proceed a sample/trial order, pls try to make it easier, and with possible requirements.
This will make your purchase plans in China proceed easier and more smoothly.