Has anyone ever bought bulk from China?

Discussion in 'General Business' started by Mysticwonton, Jul 20, 2011.

  1. #1
    Hello, I think I have a problem. I don't know what to do.

    10 days ago, I sent $237 to a company in China via Western Union.
    I talked to this woman who claims she was in the sales department for this company for quite a while. At least 6-8 emails before purchasing. She told me the prices they had, I asked for a trial order of 30 pieces. She gave me their Western Union information. I sent it to them. And she gave me a tracking number and said it's been sent. 5 days later I still see no tracking number, I wait a few more days, still no tracking number. So I try contacting her.. No answer, I thought hm, it's the weekend.. they don't work weekends. Tried again Monday, and Tuesday, and now Wednesday. Still no reply.... she seemed oh so happy to talk to me until I paid.. Now am I being ignored after paying? Was I ripped off? I found this company through
    made-in-china.com so I thought it'd be quite legitimate.
     
    Mysticwonton, Jul 20, 2011 IP
  2. lifeplayer

    lifeplayer Notable Member

    Messages:
    15,609
    Likes Received:
    475
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    265
    #2
    I purchase quite many product from china but I only pay via paypal.
    Normally I only go for those popular website or use those agent to purchase the product since those agent accept paypal and they can help to purchase product and do all the communication for you until you get the product, else they will refund the money. Another reason is that still not many selling at china accept paypal
     
    lifeplayer, Jul 20, 2011 IP
  3. Mysticwonton

    Mysticwonton Peon

    Messages:
    143
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #3
    Thank you. Yea paypal sounds more safe because if there is a problem they can refund for you huh. Well guess I lost $257? Western Union can't refund my money. I just handed it over huh. I've emailed every email this company has.. and no reply.. bye bye money.

    Don't ever use newbonwe.com
     
    Mysticwonton, Jul 20, 2011 IP
  4. cfb

    cfb Peon

    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #4
    A neighbour company bought $300 worth of goods from China recently after wiring the funds to them. Loads of communication before the sale, none after.

    He only had to wait 8 weeks for the goods, but they did turn up. And he was chuffed with the quality as well as the $850 saving.

    I would assume in your scenario that the outlay is a worthwhile gamble... I've been dealing with the Chinese for 10 years, and they are in the main trustworthy.
     
    cfb, Jul 20, 2011 IP
  5. swoopo

    swoopo Peon

    Messages:
    71
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #5
    dont ever send money via western union without knowing the person. A legitimate company would hardly ever offer western union as a payment option. When i see a western union logo on a website i do my homework on the site or just walk straight away. Hope this helped for the future.
     
    swoopo, Jul 20, 2011 IP
  6. cfb

    cfb Peon

    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #6
    Plus the fact WU are a rip off.
     
    cfb, Jul 20, 2011 IP
  7. jamalujas

    jamalujas Member

    Messages:
    50
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    #7
    Kindly Try those suppliers who accept pay pal . Most of the peoples are doing fraud . Don't use other money sending sources. I am Also taking goods from china but always use paypal
     
    jamalujas, Jul 21, 2011 IP
  8. USA-signups

    USA-signups Greenhorn

    Messages:
    41
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    #8
    I have bought some electronic products from china through alibaba.com.Paid through paypal and received my goods after 14days. Long wait but never had any communication problems with the suppliers.
     
    USA-signups, Jul 21, 2011 IP
  9. pokerhex

    pokerhex Peon

    Messages:
    60
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #9
    sounds like a scam
     
    pokerhex, Jul 21, 2011 IP
  10. D3rek

    D3rek Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,345
    Likes Received:
    5
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    100
    #10
    what did you buy through china? are the quality good? heard there is alot of fake stuffs
     
    D3rek, Jul 21, 2011 IP
  11. Sensei.Design

    Sensei.Design Prominent Member

    Messages:
    3,847
    Likes Received:
    162
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    310
    Digital Goods:
    1
    #11
    Are you dropshipping or selling self developed products?

     
    Sensei.Design, Jul 28, 2011 IP
  12. ApocalypseXL

    ApocalypseXL Notable Member

    Messages:
    6,095
    Likes Received:
    103
    Best Answers:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    240
    #12
    When you buy from a territory where you can't phone local authorities and file a complain expect this to happen . I never buy stuff from outside US/EU/AUS/NZ simply because the quality is rubbish and the chances of getting ripped off are very high .
     
    ApocalypseXL, Jul 28, 2011 IP
  13. legitnick42

    legitnick42 Peon

    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #13
    Yes exactly/ Most of the stuff is just replicas.
     
    legitnick42, Jul 29, 2011 IP
  14. lifeplayer

    lifeplayer Notable Member

    Messages:
    15,609
    Likes Received:
    475
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    265
    #14
    Neither of them....lol
    Actually i was helping some self developer to find the manufacturer from china before and therefore i have some experience.
    On the other hand, i always hang out those shopping site to find some good and cheap product for my own. So far i can say that I'm satisfy with the product.
     
    lifeplayer, Jul 30, 2011 IP
  15. ApocalypseXL

    ApocalypseXL Notable Member

    Messages:
    6,095
    Likes Received:
    103
    Best Answers:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    240
    #15
    I suppose that you can get stuff air shipped for cheap from China to Malaysia since you're a lot closer to them then we are . The quality will always range from "really bad" to WTF for Chinese products . The only thing worth buying from the is rare earths .
     
    ApocalypseXL, Jul 30, 2011 IP
  16. Sensei.Design

    Sensei.Design Prominent Member

    Messages:
    3,847
    Likes Received:
    162
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    310
    Digital Goods:
    1
    #16
    remember that topic but disagree I had a guy shipping me some examples for metal work for dropshipping and it was not as bad as I expected. But still there was room to improve, that's also true.

     
    Sensei.Design, Jul 31, 2011 IP
  17. lifeplayer

    lifeplayer Notable Member

    Messages:
    15,609
    Likes Received:
    475
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    265
    #17
    i actually agree with Sensei.Design, you can only get what you pay for.
    For example, if the product's market price is $100, you can actually get cheaper like $70~80 but when you deal with those seller who offering $10, then probably you will get scam or get a "rubbish". However, that's one very important point is that when purchase from manufacturer directly in mass product, always sampling check on every single lot, they are sending very good sample but when go to mass lot, the quality might drop.
     
    lifeplayer, Jul 31, 2011 IP
  18. cfb

    cfb Peon

    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #18
    If you can get China to dropship cheaply, and as long as the product is good quality, then you're onto a winner.

    Quality is key as we know. Yes a lot of stuff coming out of China is rubbish. Anything own brand electronics, or something with moving parts and you're asking for trouble - the recent high-speed-train rail crash is a classic example! (What is Chinese for "DOH!")

    But they are good at copying lumps of metal to pretty exact tolerances. I used to import containers of letter boxes and cig bins into the UK, and they sold like hotcakes until the recession kicked in (plus the fact that everyman and his dog started doing it).

    The real problem with China is getting the cheapest price. I can guarantee that 90% of those doing business there already who believe they are dealing with the manufacturers, are actually dealing with an agent who speaks passable English, and puts his 50% mark up on. Even if you've been to China and done the factory visits. It was the agent who picked you up from the hotel, the agent who got you that cup of hot water in a plastic cup with loads of green tea leaves at the bottom of it, the agent (and the manufacturer) who walked you round the factory, the agent who took you to the local massage parlour for a (ahem!) foot massage, and the agent who dropped you back off at your hotel on the Nanjing Road.

    Not once did you speak to the manufacturer. And hence why there are so many agents, and why you don't get the best price.
     
    cfb, Aug 4, 2011 IP
  19. dragster

    dragster Peon

    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #19
    everything cfb said is true. But you have to understand something about the chinese market/manufacturers. Most of the products are made in really specialized shops. For example, I have a website selling phone spare parts and accessories. The Nokia LCD's are made by a manufacturer. The iPhone LCD's and touchscreen by another. So you really need a middleman if you want to get all the stuff you need for an online business. And these middleman are either fake and not really sell anything, just scam you to send them money through WE, or are for real and deal with crappy goods so they make a nice profit or are for real and sell good products only from major and serious manufacturers. The trick is to find the last kind :)
     
    dragster, Aug 14, 2011 IP
  20. toybreastcom

    toybreastcom Greenhorn

    Messages:
    70
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    #20
    I havent bought in bulk, if I do buy i buy with a dropshipping method.

    Even with the dropshipping method, i've had tons of trouble with chinese companies (them sending a faulty product and refusing to refund)
    I recommend you stay away from chinese companies in general, it's too big of a risk to take.
     
    toybreastcom, Aug 14, 2011 IP