Additional Questions to ask

When first talking to a supplier I try to keep the questions list short so I do not overwhelm them; but immediately after the first responses, I will have a second list of questions prepared to ask. The questions often vary based on the potential suppliers' answer as well as some relating specifically to the product.

Questions you should ask

What are the payment terms

What payment options do you accept See our guide about paying a Chinese Supplier: https://www.cosmosourcing.com/blog/what-is-the-best-way-to-pay-a-chinese-supplier

Do you have a Bill of Materials?

Shipping method, cost terms?

Can I get a quote for the product to be FOB as well?

What is the production lead time?

Optional questions to ask

What are you sample terms?

Do you have a catalogue? This one is good to see if there are a factory or a sourcing agent

How many years of experience do you have?

Can you add our logo to the product and/or the packaging?

What packaging options do you have?

Shipping Related Questions

Not factoring in shipping is one of the most common mistakes that first-time buyers make. Most people think that shipping is easy, but it’s not. The most common mistake is not knowing the intercom terms and forgetting to negotiate which terms to use. If you do not know about the intercoms then check out our guide here . The questions below are a good first step to get you started.

What are the shipping terms? See our guide for shipping

Can I get a quote for the item in both EXW and FOB?

Can you do DDP and if so can I get a quote?

Which port will this ship out of? Or What is the closest port?

What is the weight of the package?

What are the dimension of the package?

How many units per packages?

Will you have individual units packages and then packaged in a master package? Note usually if your item comes packaged they can pack bundle the several of the packages into a large box.

Are you familiar with FBA fulfillment and prepare the packages so that that they can be received by a Amazon Fulfillment center?

PRODUCT SPECIFIC QUESTIONS

Every product is different so it’s impossible to come up with a list of your exact product, but There are many things you need to know about it from a supplier. Before you source, you need to know the attributes that of the product you want. This can be the material its made of, the color, the production method, how it’s packaged and more. So spend a little bit of time and brainstorm what you want and what question you need to ask to get the product the way you want. You should revise this questionnaire multiple times throughout the sourcing process as the more you talk to the supplier the more you learn and figure out or the more you want to know.







FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS TO ASK SUPPLIERS ON ALIBABA

Now that you’ve gotten an initial response from your supplier, you need to sort the ones that you think are worth following up with. Before and during the negotiation phase you should be talking to half a dozen suppliers or more depending on the product. While questions can vary depending on the product, here are a few to ask to use as a reference.

Do you understand what FBA is and what the packaging requirements are?

Have you ever exported to the USA (Or wherever you’re shipping to)? If so, how often?

Do you have the proper certification to ship to the USA?

Do you have SINOSURE or other trade insurance?

If I place a full order, how quickly can you ship it?

What payment terms do you require for a new customer?

Can you refund my sample fee if I place a full order?

What is the best selling product made in your factory?

SUPPLIERS TEND TO BE YES-MEN

There are two things to note when you get your responses. First, Chinese very often say yes, regardless of if they can or not. Second, they often give vague answers. When you get a simple ‘yes’, make sure you follow up so that they explain and you can get a feel for how knowledgeable they are. Chinese culture is very hesitant to say ‘No’ to save face, so you’ll almost always get “yes” or “we’ll try,” or something similar as a response. ‘We’ll try” doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t, but it does mean they may give an effort, with no guarantees.

It’s perfectly fine for you to press them on vague answers, in order to get more specific details. While it isn’t uncommon for them to give vague answers if they don’t know, there is also a fair chance they may not understand your question due to poor English. If you believe it’s the latter, rephrase the question in simpler terms. Keep pressing until you get firm answers you are happy with or move on.

Let Cosmo Sourcing do it for you!

If you don’t want to do create a Product spec sheet, Request for Quote or Validation by yourself, the let Cosmo Sourcing do it for you. We bundle all three of these steps into the PLAN step, which is the first step of our Simple Sourcing package.

PLAN // FIND // MAKE // SHIP

Our Simple Sourcing Package, is designed to do everything to turn your idea, into a shipped product. Simple Sourcing Comes with four steps: PLAN, FIND, MAKE and SHIP.

Give us your product idea, and we’ll work with you to find suppliers, oversee the manufacturing and ship it to its final destination. Cosmo can do everything from creating a product spec sheet, validation, sourcing, ordering and evaluating samples, arranging inspections, finding freight forwarders, quality assurance, negotiations and even working with prep and fulfillment centers in the States.

If you are starting a new business, then finding products and suppliers for your products is one of many things you need to handle. our services are designed to handle every part of your business in China and Vietnam, so you can focus on the rest of growing your own business.

We have helped clients ranging from Fortune 500 to small FBA sellers. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us and let us know how we can help you. info@cosmosourcing.com OR Visit us online at Cosmosourcing.com



