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The Mysterious Payment Methods a Factory Might Ask For

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'Do you take Venmo?' Unfortunately, no. But don't worry, paying for your order is less uncomfortable when you understand the different options. Wire Transfers or Telegraphic Transfer (T/T) For large transactions, a wire transfer is the fastest way to pay a supplier in China. It is accepted by all Chinese...

Supply Chain Management: Comparing Alibaba and the Canton Fair

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We recently wrote a two-part blog about sourcing from China using supplier platforms like Alibaba, Sourcing From China: The difference between Alibaba and doing it yourself. In this two part series, we discussed sourcing through Alibaba and how this differs from traditional importing. Most veteran importers have attended the Canton...

When do I need to visit the factory?

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If you are thinking about sourcing in China, you will probably be wondering if and when you’ll need to stump up for a trip over there. Luckily, technology today makes it less necessary for you to do so. Here we outline three common reasons business owners make the trip, and...

Made in China vs. Made in Italy

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  Many importers think hard about whether to move their supply chain to China because of the “poor quality” stigma that goes along with it.  Admit it, many people ignore the fact that, for instance, super-high quality electronic products are made in China. Despite vast improvements on quality over the...

The Future of Chinese Manufacturing

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Economic data out this month is providing reassurance for those who trade with and source consumer products in China. New data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows industrial output up 6.3% during August from a year earlier, rising from 6% in July. The data suggests government spending and strong property sales...

5 Things I wish I Could have Known Before Establishing a China Supply Chain

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We were all new importers at one time even if some of us (not me!) are now wise and savvy with our years of experience. We all remember things we wish we had known when we first started sourcing from China.  Today, we see new importers popping up everywhere, they...

China sourcing: The nightmare scenario

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Processing a claim against a factory – Part II In last week’s blog, Processing a Claim Against a Factory – Part I, we talked about the main causes of a claim. It is important to understand that all claims are different when it comes to China sourcing, and there is...

China sourcing: The nightmare scenario – Part I

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Processing a claim against a factory – Part I Reason for Claim Quality problems are the last thing people want to deal with when it comes to their China supply chain, but many importers experience these types of problems.  And let’s be clear: if you receive bad quality merchandise from...

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