Replying to [PosterBoy]: Could you please elaborate, for the benefit of the rank and file Alibaba members: How to go about researching or accessing reliable information on how to research a particular company by contacting trade associations and or industry associations? Many members have no idea of how to go about such a search. Thank you.

Replying to [PosterBoy]:

Good lessons !

Replying to [PosterBoy]: The price from manufacturer to manufacturer differs due to various factors even for a particular product of same quality.
Sometimes the agent will match the best manufcturer to the buyer to suit his need.
Eventhough the price is somewhat higher compared with a trader,we will get the product in time and the processing time is very short
Trader may have many varieties of the same product
but a manufcturer will specialised in one category and product

Trader is also essential provided he will work with integirity

Replying to [Resources]:

yes?I agree with it.

Replying to [Resources]: yes they do it more often than trading companies. as trading companies also have their percentage

Replying to [Resources]:Yes of course, because trader need to recover his expenses also to add up his own margin over manufacturer price.

Replying to [Resources]:yes,exactly.sometimes factory's price is higher than trading company's,the main reason is that some big factory always has a high cost and quote a higher price to the customer,but for some small mill,who can save much production costs,so when they get the trading company's enquiry,and quote them,even the trading company adds some percent profite,the prices is still lower the factory's,i meet the complaint from the factory i worked last years,it's really often happened .

Replying to [keepitreal]:I am unable to understand your point.

Replying to [Resources]:This depends on the qty of order, if you are buyer with large qty, then yes the manufacturer will give you better price then Trader, on the other hand if you are, say buying 100 pcs, when the manufacturer's MOQ is 1000 pcs, then the manufacturere will quote u higher and the trader can give you at lower price.

Replying to [Resources]:offcourse manufactrers have the beter price that the trading compnies but some trading companies give more beter price than the manfactures, the reason is this, the trading compaines force the manufactrer to cut the rates more low for them, and so they offer more low rates to the buyers, and the trading companies know where to get low rate, and which manfactrer is realy in trouble and want to dispose of it prouducts at any cost, i know this happens very rare, but it happens some time and trading companies take advantage of this

Replying to [Resources]:A manufacturer always give the better price then a trading company. The reason is trading company always add there profit and that may be 10 to 15% and some times more then 20%. So it is always there...the manufacturer give the good price and can bargain with him also..