chinese dropshippers, who is legit?

Hi qashkai,

True I don't give away 22 years experience for nothing, and I think $97 is merely a nominal sum when it can save people losing thousands, but I do publish a lot of information for free on WF, and there is some more below.

I know that most people who read my posts will never buy my book, so I do try anyway to guide them on WF sufficiently to prevent them making some serious blunders.

I have been asked why I don't just name the sites that I consider to be very safe to use. Some have asked: “Is it just so people will buy your book?” Well – yes and no. Of course I want people to buy my book, but I also don’t want to be responsible for people losing heaps of money, and that can happen if finding suppliers is seen as the most important part of online marketing of physical products.

Also, there is a lot more to the sourcing and importing process than just searching a site for suppliers. I see too many people on forums like this who jump in at the deep end without doing adequate research. If I just gave out the names of a couple of safe B2B sites, some warriors, maybe even a lot of them, would go there, be delighted with the trustworthy suppliers they find, and start placing orders.

It is not uncommon for people to go off half cocked knowing almost nothing about what is involved in buying overseas. In effect they treat the overseas buying process as though they were buying from the corner store. Some even turn to me for help after they have ordered goods without knowing what to do about actually getting the goods delivered to them.

I have on my files tales of woe that include one who ordered a large shipment of bulky goods. Great price! The problem was, this person discovered that freight was going to cost several time the value of the goods and by the time she came to me for help she had already paid for the goods. I find it hard to believe how careless some people can be with their own money.

If someone intends going it alone without obtaining some guidance, they should at least think carefully about the project from start to finish. Here is a very brief outline. Intending importers should at least complete the first two of the following steps before even starting to source products.

1. Market research. What to sell, how to sell it, are you sure you will be able to sell it, and what prices can you confidently expect to sell it for. That confidence must be based on thorough research, not just checking sold prices on eBay.
2. Determine what maximum landed cost is affordable in order to be competitive, making sure you take into account all selling costs.
3. Search for suppliers using a safe sourcing site. Don't just go to any site casually suggested on forums, because on some of them everything is not what it appears.
4. Avoid suppliers falsely claiming to be manufacturers. Some popular B2B portals have big lists of suppliers claiming to be manufacturers, but they are not.
5. Avoid middle men falsely claiming to be wholesalers.
6. Conduct due diligence on the chosen suppliers.
7. Get quotes. Don’t forget freight.
8. Negotiate payment terms. Beware of W.U., and Telegraphic Transfers.
9. Ensure that all costs to your door are covered and that you have them in writing.
10. Obtain sample/s. Beware of freight ripoffs in this part.
11. If satisfied, place a small order crossing every t and dotting every i.
12. Pay deposit.
13. Pay balance as negotiated, preferably after the goods have landed.
14. Check the goods.
15. If all is well to this point, you are in business. You can do your test marketing and be ready to place another order.

Some may think I have set out everything they need to know, but what I have written is not exhaustive because it takes me 83 pages to set it all out in detail for those new to importing. I hope this helps, but I also hope it makes readers think twice about going it alone.

Overseas buying requires special care and is nothing like buying locally.