How To Contact Reliable Suppliers In China - FAQ Guide

Source: DHgate, Tag: E-Commerce Tips

Understand your supplier before you choose them. Find out how to contact suppliers in China and source high-quality products.

• In doing business in China with producers or wholesalers, it's important to learn the right questions to ask and have a general idea of how the whole process works.
  If you're going to do a successful business, you'll want to know who your communication and shipping partners are. You will also want to know how to communicate with wholesalers or manufacturers and everyone else involved.

• We get a lot of questions from businesspersons, merchants, and people who run family businesses about how to find reliable merchants in China. We also get a lot of messages from tourists and newcomers to China about how to contact China suppliers. This FAQ post is going to cover the 22 most frequently asked questions with brief, but informative answers.
  Obtaining Contact Information
  How do you seek out reliable manufacturers and, or wholesalers and actually get to talk to them? What's the best way for a person new to sourcing in China to find, check, and reach out to potential suppliers? We have compiled a few commonly asked questions and answers that should you a head start. Without further ado, here are the best FAQs on how to obtain contact information.

  • What are the Tricks to Finding Contact Information?

• There are a few ways to find the contact information of potential suppliers. You can use complex methods, such as searching the internet and sending cold emails to suppliers. However, these methods are complex and time-consuming. Besides, they may not be successful.
  The trick is to use a trusted sourcing platform. Sourcing reliable suppliers from a professional sourcing agent or a reliable sourcing platform is an easy method to find reliable suppliers. There are very many reliable sourcing platforms you can trust. Some of the most popular ones include Made-in-China, Alibaba, and DHgate.com.
  The contact information can also be found on the suppliers’ websites. Nowadays, most suppliers only provide contact information via their website, but not through agents.

  • Should I Get the Phone Number or Email Address?

• Both calling the supplier or emailing them will work provided the contact information is correct. You can consider contacting China manufacturers directly by emailing them or calling them. You can also use an agent to help you find the right supplier for your business. An agent usually does not charge you for their service, but they usually take a commission from the suppliers you deal with.

  • Can Someone Please Give me Some Good Contacts in China or a List of Good Suppliers?

• A list of email addresses is probably more useful. That's what I mean by "good contacts." To get a sense of how many suppliers there are in China, visit https://www.dhgate.com/ and do a search for whatever you are looking for (i.e. Plastic Injection Molding). There are millions of suppliers listed, including ones that will sell to individuals. Each supplier listed on the site provides their official contact information.
  The Best Ways to Contact China Suppliers
  As a beginner in sourcing from Chinese manufacturers and Suppliers, you may have some doubts about how to contact suppliers. We will discuss some frequently asked questions about how to contact suppliers from China.

  • How Can You Contact Suppliers?

• There are many ways to contact Chinese suppliers, such as ordering from the catalogues of Chinese suppliers and visiting China trade shows and exhibitions. You can use your business associates or friends in China for locating the suppliers. An agent can also be used to locate the suppliers.
  Through the Internet, you can directly visit the Chinese factories' websites and make inquiries online. Email is another excellent option for contacting suppliers. Also, you can use some free services online such as Alibaba, Tradekey or Made-in-China.com, China Wholesale Information Center, or DHgate.

  • What is the best way to Contact Reliable Suppliers?

• To answer this question, you may find the following information very useful.

  • Understand your needs. Before you make a call or send an email, it is important to know what exactly you are looking for in a supplier. That will help you know what questions you should ask.

  • Have a clear idea of how you will approach them and what you need to know before making your first contact with them.

  • Learn how to make initial contact with them. Learn also how best to ask for quotes and samples without falling into any traps that could put your money at risk.

  • How do I contact reliable suppliers on DHgate?

• To contact reliable China suppliers, you can either search by product categories or get into direct contact with some reliable suppliers from China by using the instant messenger tools provided by DHgate.com.

  • How do I Communicate with Suppliers?

• It is very important to know how to communicate with China suppliers. After you select the wholesaler or manufacturer and decide to work with them, you need to communicate with them using appropriate methods. The methods of communication include telephone calls, emails, faxes, and letters.

  • What Does a Typical Contact with a Supplier Look Like?

• It usually begins with a phone call, an email, or a fax inquiry from a foreign buyer and ends when the foreign buyer receives a reply by email or fax and visits the Chinese factory personally if necessary.

  • What Should Be Included in the Inquiry?

• You should put as much information as possible: product description, quantity needed, delivery date and shipping information, etc.
  Most Common Methods on how to Contact Suppliers in China
  We can use the Internet to communicate with our suppliers in China. There are many other ways to contact them, such as visiting trade shows and exhibitions, ordering from the catalogues of Chinese suppliers, emailing them, etc. The following frequently asked questions should shed more light.

  • How Does One Contact Suppliers in China via Email?

• When you have found some interesting supplier's company on the Internet, you can send them an email to get more information about their products and price.
  You can freely write your own email message to tell the supplier about your requirements and see if your product is suitable for them. If they think it is okay, they will give you a formal quotation in a word document or Excel file as an attachment.
  Carefully review the quotation before replying. After that, they may ask you to provide samples of your product or ask you a few questions if necessary.

  • Is It Possible to Contact Suppliers in China via Website?

• If you want to contact Chinese suppliers via the website, you may visit the websites of DHgate.com or any other Chinese business-to-business websites.

  • Can I Contact Suppliers Directly via Phone, Fax, or Chat?

• Yes, phone, fax, or chat are some of the most effective ways to contact merchants and manufacturers. For some other products where there is no link to Contacts Us (or Email Us), you may try to contact the suppliers directly via phone/fax/chat.

  • Which is the Easiest Way to Contact Suppliers at Trade Shows?

• If you meet a potential supplier at a trade show, ask for their business card. If you want to contact them later, the best way is to ask for their business card, so you can use it when contacting them again.
  Questions to Ask When you Contact a Supplier
  Asking all the right questions is of paramount importance for anyone who is about to start a transaction with any Business in China. Contacting reliable suppliers in a far country is not easy, but it can be done if you know where to look and the right questions to ask before you contact them. Below are some useful FAQs about how to contact suppliers in China.
  These questions are good for you if you want to know more about how to contact reliable suppliers in China.

  • What is your Company's Minimum Order Quantity?

• Various companies have different sets of minimum order quantities. You won’t be able to place an order if the amount of goods you want to purchase from the company doesn’t meet their minimum order quantity (MOQ). Some companies will tell you that their MOQ is 500pcs per item, but for some special items, they can accept smaller quantities.

  • Do you have Stock Products?

• This question is very important, especially if you want to get the supplies immediately. Most companies usually have some stock products that can be used as samples or sold directly without making a new mould.

  • Do you Accept Customization?

• If you are looking to purchase customized items, be sure to ask your potential supplier if they offer customization services before you start any business relationship with them. Most companies usually welcome OEM orders and ODM orders as long as the quantity can be negotiated with the sales team.

  • How long does it Take for My Order to Arrive in my Country?

• It depends on your order quantity, the shipping method, and how far your country is from China. It also depends on the company supplying you with the products. If all documents are ready, it usually takes about 10-20 days for small sample orders or 20-40 days for large bulk orders to arrive at your door (Port). For DHL express shipment, it usually takes 3-7 days for small sample orders or 5-15 days for large bulk orders to arrive at your door (Port).
  Getting Ready to Contact a Potential supplier
  You can’t claim that you how to contact suppliers in china when you don’t even know how to get ready for exercise. You need to be aware of what contacting the company entails. Armed with the basics, you will find it easier to communicate with china suppliers.

  • How can I Prepare myself before Contacting a Supplier?

• The best thing to do is to think about your business problem, and then decide what information you need from a supplier before contacting him. Make a list of questions that will help you get the information you need to make an informed decision.

  • Are there any Rules or Regulations I Need to Follow?

• There are no laws to follow specifically when you are contacting a supplier in a foreign country (in this case, China). You do not need to be certified, you don't need to join any organization and you certainly don't need to bring gifts.
  Nevertheless, you should at least be serious as an importer. Do not contact a supplier right away without having done some research on the company and its product first. Order samples first if necessary to check their quality. Once a supplier is picked out, place an initial order small enough that failure or success does not make a big difference to your financial situation. Contacting too many suppliers at once will not benefit your business at all. The best thing is to establish a relationship with one or two reliable suppliers that fit all your needs and stick with them for future orders.

  • What Information should I Provide when Contacting a Supplier?

• The most important information you should provide is what you want. If you write something like "Please give us the price for 10,000pcs of plastic injection mouldings" then any Chinese supplier can understand what you need.

  • How Many Suppliers do we need to Contact?

• It depends on the product you are developing and how big your production will be. The more suppliers you can reach out with, the more competitive products and prices that can be offered which help reduce costs and avoid potential risks because there are more choices to choose from.

  • How Much Does it Cost to Contact Suppliers from China?

It depends on how you choose to contact them. If you use the Internet and email, your cost will be lower. You will only incur the cost of using the internet. If you choose to call them, your telephone company will charge you as per their call rates. Suppliers don’t charge you when you contact them. Contacting a company through an agent will cost you more because the agents charge for their services.
Conclusion
Suppliers are the foundation upon which every business is built. Choosing the right one can mean the difference between thriving and failing, but doing so may not be easy if you how to contact suppliers in China, the questions to ask, and how to communicate your business needs effectively. Listed above are some frequently asked questions that may help you get better at contacting companies and making the most out of it.