Your China Trading Partner

Product Sourcing, Due Diligence, And Supplier Auditing In China

2012-04-20T03:06:00.000-07:00

Our Services

Your China Trading Partner focus specifically in the areas of China-based product sourcing, product procurement, manufacturing outsourcing, due diligence, and factory / supplier auditing in China.

Product Sourcing

Your China Trading Partner product sourcing service consists of a three stage process. You may sign up to all, or some, of these stages and the processes of which they are constructed.

We employ a tailored and structured process which we have refined and developed over time, and which is based upon our experience of working with a growing number of foreign companies and a widening supplier base in China.

Using our experience and skills we are able to quickly identify a range of suitable manufacturers for our clients.

Upon identification of a suitable supplier matching our client’s needs, manufacturer verification procedures and processes can be instigated, and which will conclude with a complete report including factory visit, background check, credit report, and license checks.

Once this has been completed Your China Trading Partner will assist with project deployment in China; ensuring that client specifications and requirements are fully understood by the manufacturer.

Stage 1 – The Pre-Production Processes

Supplier Sourcing And Suitability Evaluation
Supplier Verification Incl. Site Visit, Background And Credit Checking
Product Sample Generation And Evaluation
Project Deployment

Stage 2 – The Production Processes

Quality Control Measures Design, Agreement, And Implementation
On-Site Product Inspection
Pre-Shipping Planning And Management

Stage 3 – The Post Production Processes

Pre-Shipment Inspection
Randomised In-Batch Defect Searching Process
Shipping Planning And Management Implementation

If you would like to know more don't hesitate to contact us.

Factory Sourcing

Attempting to determine, from your own country, and without a very expensive and time consuming visit to China, which Chinese company presents the most suitable option as a potential manufacturer of your product, or as a supplier, is an impossible and highly risk-filled task.

However, for us it is a relatively easy and economical task to perform; finding that supplier for your specialist OEM supplier is par for the course at Your China Trading Partner.

It’s just what we do.

Identifying, reviewing for suitability, and inspecting a wide number of potentially qualified manufacturers, whilst providing you with sound, seasoned, and experienced China-based business advice, to assist you in your evaluation and final decision-making process, is a relatively simple task.

Your China Trading Partner removes the pressure of finding the most suitable OEM manufacturing partner for your product production requirements.

Utilising our seasoned and highly experienced working knowledge, as your in situ Project Manager in China, and directly engaging with chosen suppliers and manufacturers; each individual project’s specific requirements and foci are planned, structured, and monitored from inception to completion.

Your China Trading Partner Provide The Following:

Background Investigation

Factory Sourcing

Project Planning and Implementation Advice

Project Pricing Negotiation

Regular Progress Reporting

Site Inspections

Attempting to formulate and produce a project based upon emails, telephone calls, and Skype may seem like a cheap and reasonable alternative in today's financial climate; however, it is an approach which is fraught with potentially disastrous or financially ruinous problems, in addition to the inherent and inevitable linguistic and cultural communication failures, which serve to suck up and waste valuable project time.

Your China Trading Partner, by virtue of our physical presence on the Chinese mainland, and our cultural and linguistic knowledge, can avoid all of the obvious pitfalls you would almost certainly experience, should you try to complete your project on your own terms, from a distance, and without specialist in situ liaison.

Be advised, this is one place and time in your business life and career that you really don't want to go it alone.

If you would like to know more don't hesitate to contact us.

Due Diligence, Factory / Supplier Auditing And Verification

Factory Auditing And Verification Service

We at Your China Trading Partner have seen, and come into personal contact with, so many disastrous failures between western and Chinese businesses not to take supplier verification extremely seriously.

Mopping up a project disaster is not a pleasant experience for anyone involved.

Remember the old adage:

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Still not convinced?

Just make a call to your country’s embassy in Beijing and ask them about the number of your compatriots who have lost money in China in the past month, never mind the last year, for confirmation of the absolute necessity of proper due diligence.

The fact is (and we mean no disrespect to the many genuine, hard-working, and honest Chinese businesses and suppliers) that China has both a history and reputation for corruption, business complacency, and fraud; and knowing that your project and company money are being safely managed by a properly licensed, registered, and stable company is essential to your personal and business peace of mind, not to mention your company time and delivery commitments to supply your own clients.

"This is a critical step in your business operations and needs to be treated with due respect, care, and diligence."

Your China Trading Partner can do what you can’t do; particularly ensuring that there are no nasty surprises waiting for you down the line.

We Can Access, Review, And Advise On The Following:

Business Conduct Record

Current Credit Status

Current Legal Foreign Trading Status

Identify Principle Shareholders

Official Company Registration

Other Legally Associated Business Entities

Proposed Contracts And Agreements

Safest Payment Methods

Supplier Banking Details

All of the above are accessed, investigated, and reviewed before you commit any of your company monies to the project; thus, ensuring the financial safety of your project.

We look forward to working with you.

How To Trade Safely With China

2012-04-17T09:13:00.000-07:00

Some, or all, of the following may sound a little condescending; I hope you'll forgive me. However, you need to know that I am contacted on a daily basis by individuals who have all made the most appalling and foolish mistakes.

I would love to have a figure on how much money disappears into China on a daily basis, never to be seen again.

Let's begin with the fact that you want to trade with China, but you don't feel safe. So what's new? Trading with China can be a very profitable way to do business, particularly for the small business or entrepreneur.

However, the safety of your transaction, and the possibility that you may, sooner rather than later, be a victim of cyber-fraud should be something which worries you very much, as is evidenced by the rise of cyber-fraud between China and the west in recent years. This eventuality is evident all over the internet on BBs and trade-sites where people are lodging their impotent complaints of having lost to the cheats of China. There are, however, steps you can take to ensure the safety of your transactions, and to seriously mitigate your risk. The following information could help you save your investment, heartache, stress, and the personal shame and embarrassment - all of which will accompany such a loss.

So, what does a Chinese scam look like? What form does it take?

Well, before I go into this in any depth allow me to say that the majority of people out there attempting to trade with China seriously need to reconsider their approach in recognising or determining with whom they are dealing.

The one thing all of us should be aware of, is that the internet is infested with scammers in the same way that a homeless dog is infested with fleas; it's an electronic Petri dish which breeds scammers on a vast and multitudinous scale. Indeed, it would not be short of the mark to say that the internet is the most dangerous place to perform business. Therefore, the first thing you need to understand is that the people who are going to scam you are very savvy and clever, running highly organised schemes of mass deception, which have been carefully designed and implemented to trick and mislead you. These people are professionals at what they do. And their systems become more highly tuned with every successful scam, as they learn from their experience as they go along. Over the years I've read a lot of hard-luck stories written by victims and posted broadly across the internet. Sadly the majority of them leave me with a "Huh?" of disbelief at their naiveté.

Here's what the scammer knows:

There is always someone wanting products cheaply; even more so in the current financial climate.
"If you build it, he will come" If they build a website offering incredible prices, then people will visit.
If you like the incredible price you will email.
S/he knows that a little polite conversation on MSN will further reel you in.
They know and understand that the medium in which these frauds and deceptions take place is called the World Wide Web; and just like a real spider's web, the spider (the scammer) patiently lies in wait for the flies (which is you).
S/he knows that the law of averages is on their side, and not on yours.
They know that they live in a hugely populous nation laden with heavy bureaucracy, and that chasing them up will be almost impossible for you.
They know that it is easy for them to disappear, and setup the same web of deceit again elsewhere.
They know and understand desperation.
Lastly, they know that you want something for nothing (or at least at a ridiculously cheap price) - and so they give you nothing for something.

All of the above gives them a massive sense of self-confidence, and which in itself, provides them with more backbone than you could imagine.

Here's what you know:

Wow! This is an incredible deal, I was really lucky to find this.
I can't believe my luck.
You feel a little nervous about the deal, but you just have to take the risk, and so you convince yourself that it'll be O.K.
You send the money, and then s/he stops communicating with you, or they begin to prevaricate, or even say they need extra money for your goods to clear Chinese customs.
You received a tracking number that doesn't work.
You can't believe what a complete and utter idiot you have been.
You think, "How did I not see this coming?"
You realise you did see it coming, but decided to ignore your own instinct because you thought that if it is real you will have found a great supplier at a great price.
You've lost your money!
You suffer a huge amount of personal pain, grief, humiliation, a deep sense of shame, and a sensation akin to having been raped.

You can save yourself a lot of heartache, misery, embarrassment, and personal shame by performing necessary Due Diligence before transferring any monies.

Otherwise, you may just find you've given away a lot of money, with little effort, to a stranger you'll never trace on your own.

Trade Safely!

Your China Trading Partner Are TsingHua TongFang Computers' Agent

2012-04-17T06:53:00.002-07:00

As of the 30th of April 2009, Your China Trading Partner were installed as the African, European, and North American agent for TsingHua TongFang Computers, part of the largest SOE (State Owned Enterprise) in China.

TsingHua TongFang (THTF) presently ranked in the top 10 leading manufactures in the world, in the first 6 in the Asia-Pacific Region, and number 2 in the Chinese domestic market (IDC figures), and which also owns the largest and most advanced PC production factory in the world, with a total area of 50,000 Square Meters, and a production capacity of 5 million units per annum.

This multi-billion dollar Chinese brand currently holds the number 2 position in the CE, PC, OEM, and ODM China markets, and as such is a world leader in the production of computers and associated technologies.

THTF, a state-owned enterprise (SOE), is partnered with TsingHua University in Beijing, which holds the largest equity stake in the group. As the commercial arm of TsingHua University, THTF's main goal is to build industry chains within the information and environmental energy industries, and which include the production and servicing of products as diverse as PCs, laptops, notebooks, net-books, mobile telephones, LED chips, security systems, and digital TVs.

If you're looking to buy large quantities of computers, please, feel free to contact us here.

Wastewater Treatment Systems Design And Manufacture

2012-04-17T06:17:00.001-07:00

We Can Design, Manufacture, Ship, And Implement Industrial And Commercial Waste-water Treatment Management Plant

Your China Trading Partner has exclusive connections with a senior specialist designer of industrial and commercial waste-water treatment and management centres, plant, and facilities.

The industry areas, in which our designer can operate, and the diversity of product applications they have to offer you are quite extensive; as is their practical industrial working experience.

Listed below is a basic sector-by-sector breakdown of the spheres in which our waste-water treatment and management centre designer can design and operate.

In steel, iron, rolling fields, heat treatment; we can provide you with complete water treatment systems, including water treatment equipment, water treatment equipment instrumentation, water treatment equipment electrical control equipment, water treatment equipment automation control systems, and water treatment equipment human-machine interface.

Water treatment equipment including: cooling equipment, heat transfer equipment, pumps, filters to remove suspended solids in sedimentation tanks, dosing systems, scraper, sludge thickening and de-watering equipment, write-organic, acid and waste-water, water softening installations, in addition to salt water equipment, steel-making waste heat recovery systems.

In addition to the above, we can also offer water treatment facility designs for chemical plants.

Essentially, we can provide plans, designs, and assistance in the construction in complete accordance with your industry, national, and local government requirements.

Our experience is, as can be seen from the listings above and below, extensive; whilst our years of engineering and application experience will provide you with the exemplary service you expect and require.

Industry By Sector
Brewing & Distilling
Chemical
Commercial Buildings
Food & Beverage
Hotels & Leisure
Mining
Paper & Textiles
Pharmaceutical
Plastic Extrusions & Moldings
Power Generation
Shopping Malls
Steel & Other Metals

Principal Applications
Canal Water Filtration
Cooling Tower Enhancement
Effluent Treatment
Environmental Protection
Heating/Cooling Systems
Industrial waste water
Municipal waste water
Potable Water
Process Water
Reverse Osmosis Protection
River Water In-Take
Sea Water In-Take

Finished designs can be fabricated/constructed in China, then shipped from China to their final destination, to be erected under the guidance of the designer himself (should you so wish).

Thus, you can rest assured that the whole operation will be focused and concentrated into one complete package, over which the designer maintains overall design and quality control.

If you have any queries regarding our specially designed industrial and commercial waste-water treatment and management centres, plant, or facilities, please don't hesitate to contact us here.

Games Consoles, XBOX, iPhone Products From China

2012-04-17T00:22:00.000-07:00

China – Games Consoles And The Scam

More than a few people have discussed XBOX and Games Consoles, and I've often been asked about sourcing them.

I'd like to make specific mention of this issue briefly here.

The Parallel or Grey Importing of Goods.

I'll talk about parallel or grey importing using computers as an example first, and then follow on to briefly discuss games consoles and Xboxes.

Brand name electrical goods and computers CAN be found here in China.

However, when you start trying to take them from China (or anywhere else) into other countries, then you fall into an area known as parallel or grey importing. Many companies are now really cracking down on this, particularly SONY(TM) for instance, in co-operation with the EU, there has a been a dramatic increase in seizures of goods at ports.

The parallel or grey market is the trade of something legal through unofficial, unauthorized, and usually unintended distribution channels.

For example: To export anything made by Dell(TM) in China, to the US, would be considered by Dell(TM) US to be poaching on their territory.

Sometimes the practice of parallel or grey importing is illegal, but not always so.

Many of the parties concerned with the parallel or grey importing of a good are usually the authorized agents or importers, or other retailers of an item in the target market. More often than not this is the national subsidiary of the manufacturer, or one of its related companies. In response to the ensuing damage to both their profits and their reputation, many manufacturers, and their official distribution chains will very often seek to restrict the parallel or grey market.

Such responses can breach competition law, particularly within the European Union.

Competition law, in the United States is known as antitrust law.

Refusal to Honour Warranties

Manufacturers have the right to refuse to honour the warranty of an item purchased from parallel or grey market sources, on the grounds that the higher price you should have paid on the non-grey market reflects a higher level of expected service.

Additionally, companies may provide the warranty service only from the manufacturer's subsidiary only from within the intended country of import, and not in the diverted third country to where the parallel or grey goods are ultimately sold by the unauthorised distributor or retailer.

Are you prepared to make money at any cost?

Are you the kind of person who'd sell grey or parallel goods to someone, irrespective of the effective lack of any genuine warranty on those goods?

Do you not care about the end user, your client, and your own reputation?

Because, if your answer is 'yes' to the first two questions, and 'no' to the third one, then I really don't see much difference between you and the scammers.

In my opinion, if you're buying grey or parallel, then you're obviously a bit shady yourself.

The response by scammers to the grey market is particularly evident in the electronic goods market, where I hear people crying loudly at having been ripped and burned regularly!

Yes, it seems to be the people endeavouring to buy games and game consoles, along with iPhones etc., who are the one's who get burned most frequently by the scammers.

Just by virtue of wanting these goods grey or parallel, you put yourself at the scammers table, and if you're unlucky (which you most probably will be) you'll find yourself on a scammers dinner plate too.

If that's you, or you're thinking about entering this line of business, then I suggest you find another product line to trade in, one that you can get direct from a good OEM/ODM in China.

Remember, the scammers love those who love to buy grey!

Trade Safely!

Ever Wanted To Have Your Own Brand?

2012-04-17T00:12:00.000-07:00

Why Not Have Your Own Brand?

It May Be Easier and Much Cheaper Than You Think.

Dell(TM), along with a number of other brand names, buy bare-bones systems, which have been manufactured in China; then they simply tart them up a little, slap their brand label on them, and now you have a Dell computer.

In fact, some statistics say that 80% of all the world's laptops and notebooks are manufactured here in China by a handful of OEM or ODM companies, who simply brand the cases for those large known foreign buyers who sell those brands to us on our high streets. One OEM, Quanta(TM), for example, has made portables for Dell(TM), Gateway(TM) and Apple(TM), amongst others, as far as I understand it. Another example would be Inventec(TM), probably being the biggest server ODMs, and one of the top 4 Notebook makers worldwide.

Inventec 08' revenue reached 10 billion dollars.

But most of you probably haven't ever heard of either Quanta(TM) or Inventec(TM), have you?

So, why not have your own brand made, using the same suppliers, and at the same quality?

There are many smaller OEMs or ODMs you've never heard of and who produce excellent quality goods, as Quanta(TM) and Inventec(TM) will only take large orders, and much of their capacity is taken up in the production of machines for the big brands. We have a very nice contact with a company here in China, and who have produced for Elonex(TM) in the UK; you know, those guys who claim to make the cheapest laptops or notepads on the UK market.

TsingHua TongFang (THTF) computers, for which I am the African, European, and North American agent, produce a range which has specifications and applications which even exceed those of companies such as Dell(TM), and all you need do is buy enough to have your name branded onto them. The MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) to have your own brand will depend on the OEM/ODM; it can be as little as 500 machines, and so may cost you far less to do so than you could imagine.

We can help you find one of these OEM or ODM companies to produce the goods you require, at the quality and specifications you require, at less than the cost of many of the big brand names.

If that's your bag. All of the above is true for laptops, netbooks, notebooks, UMPC, USB memory sticks, and mobile telephones; not to mention every other product you can think of from can openers to clothes.

So, think about it. If you wanted you could have any quality product, not just computers, with YOUR OWN BRAND on it.

Trade Safely!

A Comprehensive Source of China Links

2012-04-17T00:02:00.000-07:00

Possibly The Most Comprehensive Listing Of China Governmental And Non-Governmental Info-Sources.

When embarking on trading with China, both you and your company need as much top-level information as possible, and it should be equally wide in scope and readily available at the click of a mouse at any time, day or night.

And that's where a small family-run product sourcing and due diligence company in Beijing, are seemingly outstripping their larger competitors, by presenting quite possibly one of the most comprehensive sources of information and links to Chinese governmental and non-governmental information sites of interest and information, with particular emphasis on due diligence and trading safely with China; all readily available in one place, and at the click of the mouse, for foreign businesses, traders, and entrepreneurs on the internet.

This small company is saving a lot of people a lot of hard footslogging, or better said - key tapping - by opening to the public their own carefully garnered resources to the public domain.

Indeed, we even outstrip companies such as Alibaba with the comprehensive and 'all-in-one-place' format of their links - literally at your fingertips. Indeed, there are many pages offering information on the internet regarding product sourcing, due diligence, background checking, and lodging formal complaints with governmental or voluntary agencies.

However, few sites offer such a broad and comprehensive range of informational links to relevant and pertinent Chinese authorities and government sanctioned trade and commerce sites, where you can find connections to genuine Chinese businesses who have registered themselves with governmental authorities. This in and of itself doesn't necessarily make these businesses one-hundred percent genuine or risk-free.

Nevertheless, it certainly does minimise the risk of being scammed. Sectional headings on the links page at www.yourchinatradingpartner.com include - China Business Resources: the links in this section cover a variety of journals and blogs appertaining to trading with China and are replete with useful information, inside tips, news, data, and current trends. In the China Government Business resources section there are a string of excellent links to The Ministry of Commerce to the Peoples Republic of China (national) and its' associated forums and complaints sections. In the Invest in China - Government Website section you can confirm the validity, or determine whether a company is legally registered in China. However, it currently only deals with those companies who have joined voluntarily and/or are foreign/Sino joint ventures.

In The Local Administration for Industry and Commerce Section you can check local branches of The Ministry of Commerce to the Peoples Republic of China to determine the validity of a business and whether or not it is a legally registered entity. Other sections include links to the Bureau of Fair Trade for Imports and Exports, Department of Foreign Investment Administration, and the World Importers Net (Ministry of Commerce PRC), which is a trade promotion website under MOFCOM Public Information Service (MPIS), aiming at promoting international trade by providing both Chinese and overseas companies with trade information. It is an important part of the China national public information service system for international trade and economic cooperation, and is funded by the Chinese government; all services provided are free of charge.

Further very useful sites linked to by YCTP are the Department of Foreign Trade, China Customs & Excise, and The Mediation Centre of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade; where if something goes wrong with your transaction, and you have already tried to contact your Chinese business partner to resolve the issue without success, then you can refer your case to arbitration.

Another interesting and useful link is to the Trademark Office - State Administration for Industry and Commerce (CTMO); which department performs the registration and administration of trademarks nationwide.

Another immensely useful site is The China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) which is the most important and permanent arbitration institution in China. Formerly known as the Foreign Trade Arbitration Commission, the CIETAC was set up in April 1956 under the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) to meet the needs of the continuing development of China's economic and trade relations with foreign countries after the adoption of the "reform and opening-up" policy, the Foreign Trade Arbitration Commission was renamed as the Foreign Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission in 1980, and then finally settled down as the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission in 1988. Since 2000, the CIETAC is also known as the Arbitration Court of the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC). The CIETAC independently and impartially resolves economic and trade disputes by means of arbitration and conciliation (mediation). The CIETAC's headquarters is located in Beijing with two sub-commissions in Shanghai and Shenzhen, respectively known as the CIETAC Shanghai Sub-Commission and the CIETAC South China Sub-Commission. In order to meet the needs of the development of the arbitration practices, the CIETAC also successively established 19 liaison offices in different regions and specific business sectors to provide parties with handy arbitration advice. After nearly 50 years of continuous endeavour, the CIETAC is now one of the busiest arbitration centres in the world. With its arbitration practices and academic activities, the CIETAC has also made great contributions to the legislation of the Chinese arbitration law and the development of the arbitration practice in China. Not only does CIETAC maintain positive relations and cooperation with all the major arbitration institutions throughout the world, it also upholds a respectable reputation at home and abroad for its independence, impartiality and efficiency.

YCTP also include an introduction to CHINA - THE LAW; which although not exhaustive does direct readers to General Principals of the Civil Law of the People's Republic of China, Model Arbitration Clause for Contracts with Chinese Companies, and The Ministry of Public Security of the P. R. China Information Network & Security, which deals more specifically with cyber-fraud, or cyber-crime.

Additional links included are those for government run or sanctioned trade links and resources, such as: China Commodity Net (CCN), which is funded by the Chinese government. China Commodity Net (CCN) is one of MOFCOM's Public Information Service (MPIS) projects.

As an important part of China national public information service system for international trade and economic co-operation, CCN aims to enhance cooperation and trade between the Chinese and overseas enterprises. Other trade links include BizMatching - A government run and approved (Ministry of Commerce) trade portal, and China Market; this is a business portal recommended by the Chinese government.

In all, Your China Trading Partner provide a fascinating, deeply informative, and educational collection of links, which will prove to be an extremely valuable resource for any company, large or small, or any individual wishing to trade securely and successfully with China.

Reiteration - China - A Popular Misconception

2012-04-16T23:50:00.000-07:00

China – A Popular Misconception.

Further, and more recent email requests for Wiis and Amazon Kindle E-Book Readers, and similar products, have forced me to reiterate a point I have made on many forums before. There seems to be a common misconception that one can simply buy any branded product directly from China; I have to tell you that in most cases this simply isn’t true. If you wish to buy the product you want, you will have to go through an authorised dealer or distributor in your own country.

Although a large majority of hi-tech toys, gadgets, and games are produced here in China; they are produced here to be legally exported to traders and dealers who have sole right of distribution in your country, or their other respective countries – not to be sold freely from China to anyone who wants them. Consequently, the only thing you will find here are knock-offs - or FAKES.

So, all I can say to you is, that unless you can find those legal distributors in your own country, through a request to the parent company, or producer, then I’m afraid you will only ever be cheated.

That will occur in one of two ways:

1. They'll just take your money.

2. They'll send you fakes of either very good to crap quality (and don't expect to get a real warranty).

Is this sinking in yet?

Now, that doesn't mean you can't buy from China.

It just means that you will have to forgo the famous brands, and choose some of the excellent, high-quality, OTHER brands (or no-name brands to you), and which are available for legal export to your country, and for which you can get very good deals and make a very decent mark-up when you sell them.

Customers don't want them?

Then buy some anyway, and TEACH your customers to want them.

That's how brand names became brand names - and that's how a true salesperson works.

It seems to me that the art of SELLING has been forgotten and replaced by the lesser art of TRYING TO MEET DEMAND or just jumping into the current trend or wave.

Don’t try to meet demands – try and educate clients and GENERATE NEW DEMANDS.

In the old days it was called – BREAKING A NEW MARKET.

Responding to demand is easy, everybody and anybody can, and are doing this. However, breaking a new market, and REALLY selling, is a very profitable skill, and is seldom seen today.

In other words – Don't follow fashions - SET THEM!

More Anti-Scam Tips

2012-04-16T22:59:00.004-07:00

Further Tips On Dealing With China

Here are a few extra notes on safely sourcing products in China, from the Your China Trading Partner blog.

Learn what you can from your prospective supplier's website, or lack thereof.

Web Presence

Firstly, if they don't have their own website, drop them like a hot rock. That includes those "companies" in possession of the rubbish little "pages" on Alibaba, etc.

No Domain - No Hope!

Although, personally I do know of companies in China who are real, but their marketing sucks so badly they haven't managed to organise a web presence.

However, I'm a graduate of the 'better-safe-than-sorry' school, when it comes to this particular aspect of doing business in China. If your prospective "supplier" owns a website, then check that the area code, given in the contact section, matches the postcode, or town or city name, given in the address.

You can check postcodes here.

If they don't match, drop them like a hot rock.

The following mobile telephone prefixes will allow you to determine which mobile telephone network is being used by your "supplier", in case you need to connect with the service provider, to check if the number is still working, when calls fail to be answered by the person you've gone sent your money to, whilst failing to perform any of the checks given here.

The service provider name follows the prefix number:

130/1/2 . - China Unicom, 133 . – China Telecom , 1340 -1348 – China Mobile, 1349. – ChinaSat, 135/6/7/8/9. - China Mobile, 150. – China Mobile, 151. – China Mobile, 152. - China Mobile, 153. -China Telecom, 155. – China Unicom, 156. – China Unicom, 157. – China Mobile, 158. -China Mobile, 159. – China Mobile, 185. - China Unicom, 186. – China Unicom, 188. – China Mobile, 189. – China Telecom.

You can visit this very nice page on WikiPedia for a more complete listing of area codes by major municipality and province.

If they don't have an address on their contact page, forget them.

After all, if they aren't willing to disclose their address, then you must ask yourself a one word question – "Why?".

On The Subject Of Addresses

My business is registered in a residential property, as we are a Small Office Home Office (SOHO), as we neither manufacture, store, stock, and we very rarely have business visitors; due to the fact we supply nothing more than 'information', we go out to visit Chinese companies, and our foreign clients are just that – foreign, and live abroad, and so we needn't waste money on having an actual office.

My computer is my office.

However, someone claiming to manufacture, stock, or supply must have an office, for the same reasons I don’t need one. An office will normally be in a building with a name, for example: Room 602, Floor 5, Great Dragon Bldg., Haidian District, Beijing.

Whilst a SOHO, like us, will run as above, but minus the building name, and is indicative of a residential area.

About Us

If they haven't included and about us page in their website, or it is very sparse, then drop them. Obviously, if they have little to say about themselves, there's a reason.

Google Them

The next thing to do is Google their company name + scam, and also their company URL + scam.

That alone should give enough of a heads-up on who you're dealing with.

Mono-Lingual Websites

Finally, as mentioned in my previous article Quick Checklist For How To Spot A Chinese Scam Site, if the website is devoid of Chinese, and only has an English language page, the chances are they're scammers.

Well, that's it for today.

Trade Safely!

Quick Checklist - How To Spot A Scam

2012-04-16T22:50:00.001-07:00

Quick Checklist For How To Spot A Chinese Scam Site.

The following six red rags are simply a list of indicators, which in isolated terms, may or may not mean anything; however, when found all together, should ring some alarm bells. As with anything in business or life, the whole is greater than the sum of its' parts.

1. The Site

The website has an absence of any Chinese version for its' own pages.

This means they're targeting only one group of prospects - foreigners.

That is to say, people who will not stand a hope in hell's chance of chasing them up after the bolt is shot.

In my experience, companies in China that have Chinese and English versions of their pages are usually genuine, as they're making themselves accessible to the home market too; particularly for companies dealing in electronics, phones, and computers.

An absence of such, may, but not always, indicate a potential scam site.

O.K. our website only has English, but we deal with requests from foreigners, and we seek-out suppliers. Suppliers seldom seek us out; although, we occasionally have a Chinese company approach us with an offer and an introduction.

2. Contact Information

All the email addresses are ‘Hotmail‘ or ‘Yahoo‘; there is a distinct absence of a company email address.

This in and of itself doesn't carry too much weight, as many genuine Chinese companies operate with private email addresses.

However, it is a common enough marker amongst the scammers.

You can also try running a quick check on the company's name and address, via the online English language page of the Yellow Pages for China, found at: www.yp.net.cn.

If they have no listing, then there's a good chance they aren't a genuine company; either that, or they're a SOHO (Small Office Home Office), and use their home as an office, as they usually never come face-to-face with clients, and have no need of an office as such.

However, this wouldn't usually be the case for a technology company, as they'd normally have to have an official office, and storage facilities out of mere necessity.

3. Company Registration Number

Of course, as a legally registered business entity, they'd need to have a business registration number.

When once you have that number, you can go to the following Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) page, for contact details of the Local Administrations office, and try to get the data for the government business registration office in the city, and the province where they claim to be registered. You can then email, fax, or phone requesting to know if this number matches a genuine business.

MOFCOM Local Administration Contact Page: english.mofcom.gov.cn

Sadly however, the Ministry's own website is very poorly put together, as you yourself will note upon visiting it, and a search for the contact data for the appropriate office may not actually work; neither does the page display correctly. I have informed the Ministry of this fault, as have others, but to no avail.

This is something I'm in the process of changing by putting together my own listing, and which I shall make available to registered users of Safely Sourcing China, and collated on a provincial, and city level.

The inaction of the Ministry to properly display this data, and its' accompanying suspicion which is cast upon the Ministry itself, seems to have escaped them.

4. Unbeatable Offer

This one is a complete no-brainer; if the price seems to good to be true - then it's a scam.

5. Payment

Ask if the company will accept an L/C (Letter of Credit); if they only take Western Union, PayPal, and the likes, then they're more than likely a scammer.

6. IP Check

Run an IP address check on the company and see how many other web addresses they have registered to them.

Personally I've come across guys with upwards of 2 or 3 hundred websites connected to them as the registrant.

Go here and type the web address, MINUS the WWW bit, into the box: whois.domaintools.com.

This last one is a definite NO-NO. If you see they're registered to a cartload of websites, just turn your back, shake the dust from your sandals, and leave.

And that's about it for your basic checks; more to come in the future.

Trade Safely!

About Your China Trading Partner

2012-04-16T22:43:00.000-07:00

Something You Need To Know About Your China Trading Partner

The increased influx of emails we’ve received, from people who’ve been burnt in their China dealings, has prompted me to write the following. Here are some things you need to know about us before you contact us.

Who are we?

We are product sourcing agents, and are focused in sourcing whatever products you need, and covering a very wide scope. We have close associations with a number of Chinese companies whom we trust, and are constantly developing new relationships with new suppliers. Whatever it is that you want, we can find it, as long as it's being produced in China. Although, we are somewhat different to other sourcing agents, because we also assist in debt recovery, and also take an active role in warning the purchasing public, of the potential dangers of self-sourcing products from such a distance; whilst at the same time, providing the purchasing public with guidelines aimed at helping them avoid the potential pitfalls of dealing with China - such as being scammed, and losing their money.

Why Should You Deal With Us?

Because, we are principled business people who believe in putting people before profit.
Because, we are the good guys who think of others before ourselves.
Because, we demonstrate this by having a starting commission rate of only 5%, and falling according to size of order.
Because, we don't charge any commission from the Chinese side, as other agents do, and so increase YOUR costs; our aim is to try to get you the best price we can.
Because, of the two previous points, you have already saved a minimum of 50%, and a maximum of 150% on agency commission costs, when compared to what other agents would charge you. We prefer turnover, and customer satisfaction, by making you and the Chinese supplier happy on cost.
Because, we believe in business fairness, balance, and harmony in all our transactions.
Because business doesn't always have to be shady and knife-in-the-back.
Because, we, having a far better handle on the language, can source a wider range than simply logging into Alibaba, or some such website.
Because, we understand business culture here, and can spot a scammer before we even go face-to-face.
Because, if you don't use us, you'll more than likely get burnt.
Because, if you do get yourself burnt, it better be for a large amount, because if you come to us after the event, and you've only lost a couple of hundred, or a couple of thousand, we just won't be able to help you.
Because, we get a mountain of mail from people having lost less than $10,000 USD, on a daily basis, and we know, what you DON'T know, and that is this - you're never going to see your money again.
Because, if you got burnt for an iPhone and a couple of Dell computers, we aren't able to help you; our sympathy you have, our help, you do not.
Because, if your case is for more than $10,000 USD, the chances are you probably did some research and due diligence, and the company stands a chance of being 'real', and they're simply chancing it with you; and that means we stand a chance of getting your money back.
Because, our recovery service fee, is the same as our sourcing fee - 5% of the Gross Order order value.

What Are The Benefits Of Sourcing From China?

Well, generally speaking you should find that you can reduce your average costs of manufacturing by up to 30%, and even as high as 60% on European and North American manufacturers.

For example: Scares aside, due to failure to quality check goods at port before leaving customs, pharmaceuticals can be produced, and synthesised in China at greatly reduced costs. In certain cases costing only 1 tenth of what the same product would cost to produce in Europe or the US.

Now that's a saving!

These types of savings are par for the course for a wide range of , but not all, products in China.

Well, with so many companies making money from this - Why Aren't You?

What Quantity Are We Talking?

Well, most genuine suppliers have a Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ), which can vary, depending on product, from 3 to 3,000 pieces.

So, How Can You Avail Yourself Of Our Unique Situation?

Your problem is one of trust. You have nobody here on whom you can rely. Quite simply, you need to have a third party here in China you can trust, and to ensure that you get the goods you want, shipped to your market of choice, when you want, and at a the price you want. But China is so far away, and you don't know the culture, the people, or the language. But you do know, that all of the aforementioned can cause you problems.

How can you resolve these issues without going to China?

Easy, develop a relationship with somebody you can trust, and allow them to handle things for you.

Connect With The Right People - Not With The Wrong People.

Allow us to be your prime contact in China. I'm a British expatriate, married to a Chinese citizen, and have been living and working here for 11 years. Quite simply, my China qualifications are way superior to yours.

Take advantage of me - before someone takes advantage of YOU!

Give us the stress you just don't need – and don’t feed their greed!

Safe Trading!

China Sourcing Concerns

2012-04-16T22:29:00.002-07:00

Some Concerns About Sourcing From China.

The following are a list of some of the more common questions people seem to have regarding trading with China. I have sought to answer them as directly and frankly as I can.

Why am I worried about sourcing from or manufacturing in China?

Firstly, if you aren't concerned, you might as well open your window, set fire to your money, and start shoveling it out of the window into the street. There is risk in anything we do in the world of business, and to think otherwise is to fool oneself into a false sense of security. Moreover, to believe that one can safely self-source from China is equally as absurd and dangerous. Your concerns are valid, as they would be even if you were sourcing from Israel, Portugal, or any other country; and trading or dealing with China is no different. China has its' own set of cultural and business subtleties and values, to which you as a foreigner or someone unaccustomed to dealing with China, may be totally oblivious to; but to someone such as myself, having lived here for 11 years, are not lost to me. And it is precisely for these reasons that you need someone here you can trust, who is culturally familiar with those nuances of business and social culture, and who can operate in and on your behalf.

What about quality? Isn't China famous for producing poor quality goods?

That may well have been true at one time. However, you need to ask your self whether you're happy with the quality of your iPhone? Because Apple have been producing in China for a number of years, along with a plethora of other famous High Street brands. Of course, that isn't to say that quality doesn't or can't suffer. It does, as with anywhere else in the world. However, if you ensure that random quality checking is employed before the goods leave port, then one can drastically mitigate this risk. Furthermore, when once you develop a successful long-term relationship with a manufacturer, they will understand the benefits of not cutting their own throats. To my mind, one of the reasons China has gained its' reputation for poor quality, is also in part due to a failure of buyers to perform the necessary due diligence and oversight that they should. However, allow me to reiterate a point I've just made: Sound partners, and a representative presence in Mainland China, able to perform your due diligence, and maintain an oversight of quality, plus developing your long-term relationship with the producer, will go a long way towards drastically mitigating the issue of poor quality to a level acceptable in the West.

So, how many people will have their fingers in my, production and purchasing, pie in China?

Well, the people, or groups involved could be as few as one, if your goods are coming from one of the larger companies, such as TsingHua TongFang, whom I represent as Agent to Africa, Europe, and North America; or they could be several, for one of the smaller companies. Of course, the amount of fingers in the pie will play a very definite role in the cost of your goods, and sometimes even the quality. However, the role of 'GuanXi', or what we would term 'relationships', plays a significant role in Chinese society at all levels, and particularly in business; as it has done for several thousand years, and the power of which shouldn't be ignored or underestimated, and which is an unavoidable necessity and phenomena. This is a deeply ingrained and necessary interpersonal skill, and which is tightly bound and woven into the fabric of the Chinese psyche. I'm sure that should you check your own embassy websites in China you will come across the term 'GuanXi' several times. No 'GuanXi', no help! It is precisely for this reason, that should you intend doing business in, or with, China, you need a mediator to act as a conduit to facilitate smooth and safe trading. Your conduit can form relationships on your behalf, that you are unable to form due to geographical distance, language, and cultural distance. You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours; is precisely how it works in China.

What if my goods aren't delivered on time or the quality isn't what I requested?

Well, in that case we incorporate into the contract CIETAC's model arbitration clause.

NOTE: CIETAC (China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (A government department and Part of MOFCOM - The Chinese Ministry of Commerce).

Here's the clause:

Model Arbitration Clause

For an arbitration to take place, the disputing parties must reach an agreement in writing to submit their dispute to arbitration. This agreement may be made by incorporating an arbitration clause into the commercial contract or may be concluded after a dispute arises.

The CIETAC recommends the following model arbitration clause to both Chinese and foreign clients:

"Model Arbitration Clause(1)

Any dispute arising from or in connection with this Contract shall be submitted to the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration which shall be conducted in accordance with the Commission’s arbitration rules in effect at the time of applying for arbitration. The arbitral award is final and binding upon both parties.

Model Arbitration Clause(2)

Any dispute arising from or in connection with this Contract shall be submitted to China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC)___________Sub-Commission (Arbitration Center) for arbitration which shall be conducted in accordance with the CIETAC's arbitration rules in effect at the time of applying for arbitration. The arbitral award is final and binding upon both parties."

The parties may also stipulate the following matters in the arbitration clause:

• the place of arbitration and/or hearing;

• the language of arbitration;

• the number of arbitrators;

• the nationality of arbitrators;

• the method of selection of arbitrators;

• the applicable law of the contract; and/or

• the application of general procedure or summary procedure.

SOURCE: www.cietac.org

The same clause can be used for the safety of your financial transaction, in addition to opening a Letter of Credit (L/C) rather than a Telegraphic Transfer (TT) of funds.

Of course your letter of credit can dictate additional terms before funds are released; these terms can be specifically directed at shipping windows and parameters, levels of acceptable quality, processing of any and all necessary certificates and forms, proper and correct carton and packaging markings, and any necessary Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Standards compliance. Consequent to which, should the terms not be met as defined in the terms of the contract and in the letter of credit, then it will be up to you to decide or determine whether the funds be made available to the seller.

That's it for today.

Safe Trading!

What Can Happen If You Lose On A Deal In China?

2012-04-16T22:13:00.001-07:00

What Can You Expect To Pay For The China International Economic And Trade Arbitration Committee (CIETAC) To Arbitrate For You, Should You Lose On A Deal In China?

So, you lost out, and were skinned and scammed by a company in China, and now you want to go to arbitration to get back what you’ve lost, as well as getting some justice from the “evil doers“, as Mr. Bush might say. So, what's it going to cost you? Well, the following is the CIETAC fee schedule for their arbitration services, which I've converted, as near as possible, to the corresponding USD values.

Now, remember, when you choose to go into arbitration you agree to abide by the arbitral outcome. That is to say, that should the judgement go against you then all of the following monies tabulated below, will be lost to you on-top of your actual current losses. And don't go confusing Western Jurisprudence with that of China; it may very well go against you. Remember, this is another risk. As clearly stated beyond the main table, there may be further "...arbitration fee(s) according to this Arbitration Fee Schedule, the CIETAC or its Sub-commission may collect other extra, reasonable and actual expenses pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Arbitration Rules." Meaning, that whatever you're charged in the initial schedule may also include further fees levied to your account to the value of 1,500 USD per additional charge, per additional "...reasonable and actual expenses pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Arbitration Rules."

Of course, even should you win, the defendant may still hold you up by delaying payment for a variety of reasons, and causing you to resort to CIETAC again, at further expense, which you will then have to get CIETAC to levy back against the defendant. Or, of course, they may just shut up shop and disappear. This kind of tactic wouldn't necessarily be unusual. Now, let's just take a look at a bare-bones example, without the extra fees, and see what we're talking about here. We'll take the lowest level in the schedule as an example, and this is just waving the stick a little, to get an idea of how things could go.

So, you lost $150,000 to a company somewhere in some province, in China. You go to CIETAC, and before anything happens (and at this point I think it only fitting to mention that there is about a 9 month backlog with CIETAC) you are charged a fee of $5,250, plus the $1,500 registration fee, which is charged at all levels. Therefore, you're current total is now $6,750, and you've just finished the registration process alone. Then there will be charges for phone calls, letters, and transport costs for an examiner to visit the defendant or their place of business, hotel costs, living cost etc.

Now, let's just consider transport, living, interview, and visitation costs. Let's just call that another $3,000, and remain in the conservative area of things. That would bring you up to around the $9,750 mark. Then there'll be the weeks and months of back and forth, hither and thither, as nothing in this vein happens either quickly or directly in China. In the meantime, you may see your charges rise by another $3,000, before you even get close to an arbitral decision; and by which time you will have shelled out, on top of your $150,000 loss, another $12,750, and you'll be sweating and hoping it all goes your way, or else you've lost your initial loss of $150,000 plus another $12,750. So, are you shaking in your boots? Quivering with anger and frustration? You should be!

Before I present you with the CIETAC arbitration fee schedule, allow me to tell you that there's another way around this, and that is - PREVENTION.

Very simply, you can contact us at Your China Trading Partner, and we'll make a factory visit, do your Due Diligence, and arrange for your goods to be checked before leaving port. For us to go visit the factory, and to have your goods checked at port before shipping, will cost you approximately another $850 to $1,000 on top of your costs; whilst of course, on our factory visit we'll get your supplier to agree to the insertion of the CIETAC Arbitration Clause in your joint contract, and which states:

"Any dispute arising from or in connection with this Contract shall be submitted to China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration which shall be conducted in accordance with the Commission's arbitration rules in effect at the time of applying for arbitration. The arbitral award is final and binding upon both parties."

And thereby, offer you a little extra protection; additionally, of course, you can include in the terms of your L/C, that monies will not be released until goods have passed random quality checking, at their exit port prior to shipping.

Now, here's a final question for you, before I introduce you to that fee schedule.

Doesn't it make a lot more sense to spend another $850 to $1,000 on top of your costs, as insurance against the nightmare of losing your investment, and then having to go to arbitration with CIETAC?

I'm a little tired of hearing about all these losses, when I know that even if they can't be completely dissolved, they can, at the very least, be seriously mitigated. But, we live in a cost-cutting global mentality, and have done since the Thatcher and Reagan years; and people are silly enough to even cut costs on their insurance and investment security. This is precisely the kind of mentality that makes dollars for the scammers, and no cents to me? Does it make cents to you? Get the pun?

Now Here's That Fee Schedule for you.

China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission

Arbitration Fee Schedule

((This fee schedule applies to the arbitration cases accepted under Item (a) and (b), paragraph 2 of 3 of the Arbitration Rules, and effective on May 1, 2012.)

Each case, when being accepted, shall be charged an additional amount of RMB 10,000 Yuan as a Registration Fee which includes the expenses for examining the application for arbitration, initiating the arbitration proceedings, computerizing management and filing the documents.

Where the amount of the claim is not ascertained at the time when application for arbitration is handed in, or there exists special circumstances, the amount of arbitration fee shall be determined by the secretariat of the CIETAC or its Sub-Commission.

If the arbitration fee is charged in foreign currency, an amount of foreign currency equivalent to the corresponding RMB value specified in this schedule shall be paid.

Apart from charging arbitration fee according to this Arbitration Fee Schedule, the CIETAC or its Sub-Commission may collect other extra, reasonable and actual expenses pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Arbitration Rules.

Arbitration Fee Schedule

((This fee schedule applies to the arbitration cases accepted under Item (c), paragraph 2 of Article 3 of the Arbitration Rules,effective on May 1, 2012.)

In accordance with the Notice of the Measures for the Charging of Arbitration Fees by the Arbitration Commissions with the reference number of Guo Ban Fa No. 44/1995 issued by the General Office of the State Council, the arbitration fee for cases taken by the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission under Item (c), paragraph 2 of Article 3 of the Arbitration Rules are charged in the following way:

I. Registration Fee

II. Handling Fee

The amount of Claim referred to in this schedule shall be based on the sum of money claimed by the Claimant. If the amount claimed is different from the actual amount in dispute, the actual amount in dispute shall be the basis for calculation.

Where the amount of claim is not ascertained at the time when application for arbitration is handed in, or there exists special circumstances, the amount of arbitration fee deposit shall be determined by the CIETAC in consideration of the specific rights and interests involved in the disputes.

Apart from charging arbitration fee according to this Arbitration Fee Schedule, the CIETAC may collect other extra, reasonable and actual expenses pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Arbitration Rules.

SOURCE: www.cietac.org

Safe Trading!

China's Money Mules - And Why You've Lost Your Cash Forever

2012-04-16T08:45:00.002-07:00

China - Money Mules - And Why You Will Never See Your Money Again.

I'd like to point out to you, in very clear and marked terms, just why it is you will never see your money again, should you happen to lose to a scam in China; particularly those of you who lose money to companies whilst trying to buy iPhones, Nintendo, etc. Many of us have heard of the "mule scam"; that is, getting other people to transfer funds through their personal bank accounts, as a means of laundering it to a final destination. However only this week, I discover, through certain of my contacts here in China, the reason you won't ever see your money again is based on similar grounds. Here is how it works: There are approximately 300 million agricultural workers in China, and approximately 40 million migrant workers traveling from city to city in attempts to find some kind of living. So, no shortage of potential mules! A quick review of salaries in China may provide you with a glimpse at the motivation behind the actions I'm about to describe.

In 2007 the average farmer in China earned around 4,140 RMB (Yuan) or approximately $605 USD per annum; the average salary for a construction worker in China is approximately 1, 064 RMB (Yuan) or $122 USD per month; whilst the average factory worker is earning around 1,100 RMB (Yuan) or $ 160 USD per month. As can be seen, by the above figures, the 300 million farmers in the agricultural sector earn less than 30% of what construction and factory workers can earn in a year. This fact is widely known in China, and it is to this sector of the community that the scammers go with their offer.

So, what is their offer?

It's very simple, actually. They say to the peasant farmer, something along the lines of, “Look we have all these foreign clients, but we don't want to pay tax and stuff, and so we need an alternative account for the funds to be transferred to, as a means of avoiding the tax. You open a bank account for us using your ID, our foreign clients transfer funds to it, and then move the funds on to another account, the details of which we'll give you (usually Taiwan); and we'll pay you a nice fat commission, and you and your family will be much better off. Your child will be able to go to a better school, and then on to university, and the whole future of your family will be changed for the better – forever.” Of course, from Taiwan, the money is then transferred to other destinations.

So, the peasant, knowing a good thing when he or she sees or hears one; and who is always willing to make extra money for the family, says, "HaoDe!" or "HaoLe!" (Good! or Fine with me!). I mean, why wouldn't they? People in the West do exactly this when they get involved in fake cheque scams, and act as money mules for a variety of mafias. In actuality, the Chinese peasant farmer, quite probably has a better excuse than the greedy money-grabbing buggers in the West, who regularly sign up for this kind of business, as their lifestyles are a millennia apart, and is clearly documented and attested by many more than myself. So, personally speaking, I can't really blame them; you make your own decision on that. Anyway, of course, eventually the whole thing gets tumbled, and the account closes, and the scammers recruit another peasant farmer, and start the whole operation again, with barely a blip in their action. The previous peasant farmer account holder is questioned by the police, and the police learn nothing, as the peasant farmer was him or herself duped anyway, and has absolutely no idea of the true identities of the people they've been dealing with. And, naturally, a physical description isn't going to help much.

I understand that to many foreigners, everyone may look the same here, but, that isn't true, of course. People here do have very distinct personal physical attributes. However, without wishing to sound racist, and by sticking to reality, whether it pleases us to do so or not, the general physical characteristics are certainly much of a muchness; in as much as hair, skin, and eye colour, or whether he or she looked like an East European, had a certain Latino appearance, or shocking red hair and green eyes.

I mean, can you imagine the interrogation of the peasant?

Policeman 1: So, what did this man look like?

Peasant: Well, he was maybe 30 years old, about 5 feet 6 inches, had short black hair, yellow skin, slanted dark brown eyes, and a wide or flat nose.

Policeman 1: O.K., So we can rule out all the women and men under 30 years of age in the country. That just leaves the rest of the population. Hold on! What Kind of accent did he have?

Peasant: He sounded like he came from Henan Province to me.

Policeman 1: Ah ha! From Henan you say. Well, that's a lucky break for us, as there are only 100 million people in Henan. So, if we discount all the women, that brings us to about 70 million males. O.K. that's god, that's good... Then we discount those under 30 years of age. and those above 40 years of age… Let me see... Yes..., that leaves us with only... Great Scott! Only 21,000,000 men to search through; By George! We're on to them now. You can tell Mr. Stupid **** in England, that we'll soon have his $300 dollars back for him.

Policeman 2: But, Sir. What if the perpetrator doesn't live in Henan anymore, and is living… well… …somewhere else in China?

Policeman 1: Damn it, Caruthers, you're right! Stop that telegram to Mr. Stupid **** in England. Now, (He paces the room thoughtfully, clenched fist, arms folded and thumb to top teeth, looking into nothingness on the floor before him) Mmmm... yes... Yes, this really puts the cat amongst the pigeons. I think this may take a little longer than I at first thought. And that's it basically.

That's why, if you lose your money here, the chances of you ever seeing it again, are about the same as you taking a bath, and a nuclear submarine surfacing in it, raking you with machine-gun fire, stealing your rubber duck, submerging, and then going back to base for debriefing, a plate of hot and crispy cod and chips (fries) with brown sauce, washed down with a warm cup of hot cocoa, and all before bed-time.

Now, if you're sensible, then you'll go back to the OLD FASHIONED WAY of doing things, and hire an agent, like me, to protect your interests, and to ensure that you don't find yourself taking a bath with a submarine.

The choice is yours. You've been warned. Again!

Safe Trading!

China - Electronic Goods Workshop Of The World

2012-04-16T08:17:00.001-07:00

China has rapidly become known as the world’s largest manufacturer of consumer electronics. Currently China produces more MP3 and 4 players, digital video cameras, digital photographic cameras, DVD and other video players, a vast array of electronic gadgets, and an extremely wide array of other high tech products, than can be found being produced in any other country in the world today.

Indeed, it wouldn't be going too far to call China the "New Workshop of the World", a role once filled by the UK during the industrial revolution, and now being successfully filled by China in it's modernisation and technological revolution.

To that end there should be a question on the lips of every business person operating in any field which necessitates the need to purchase and sell any of the above listed product types.

What is that question?

It is this: How can I successfully and safely source these products from China to benefit my business by lower costs, and simultaneously increasing my profits?

If you haven't asked yourself this question, then you are seriously missing out on a great opportunity.

Never The Leader, Always The Follower

China currently produces products of which you are seriously unaware, and which others will lead into Western markets in the future, due in large part to their foresight, and your failure to participate in the search for new products for your market.

You, along with the vast majority of SMEs, will have the unenviable task of jumping on another bandwagon, and playing catch-up.

Get ahead of the competition, and stop riding on other peoples' coat tails.

What has happened to the world of sales in the past 30 years?

Honestly, it's like everybody simply waits for a new occurrence in the market, and then jumps on it, rides it till they've ridden it to death, and then sit on their hands and wait for the next trend to come along.

Wimps!

There seem to be very few gutsy people in sales today. However, those there are, those who start the trends, are the ones who profit most, whilst the rest of you come and pick and fight over the scraps.

Get a grip people!

Use your brain, and a sourcing agent, and find yourself the next hottest thing to hit the market, before it hits the market!

Product sourcing agents in China speak English, and very often are native English speakers who've been living and working in China for a number of years, such as myself, and we can help you find what you need. Having us look for you costs nothing. When you choose to order you'll find the same standard of service you're used to at home in Europe or the US.

But What About Shipping?

And? What about it? UPS and DHL can handle all the logistics of bringing your goods to your door. Open a company account with them, give the account number to your agent, your agent passes it on to the supplier, the supplier contacts the courier, the courier arrives and picks up the goods, and you pay the shipping costs.

Of course, if you're ordering in volume, then we can assist you in finding a suitable shipping company (air or sea) to handle your goods for you.

That's it. Done and dusted!

What about MOQs?

What about them? Yes, there is often a minimum order quantity, but many companies have brought down their MOQs to levels that are very acceptable for SMEs; particularly in the fields of electronic goods – many as low as 20 pieces or even less.

What About Payment?

Well, I certainly don't advocate the use of PayPal or Western Union, as these are the tools of the devil (scammers).

No, you can use a Letter of Credit (L/C), or a TT; the former will be agreed to by any good business of sound standing, whilst the latter may be used only after having the company visited, and having due diligence performed on them, to ensure that they're actually who they say they are.

Of course, the obvious point is never to pay money into a personal account when dealing with a manufacturing business. That's just silly.

As your relationship with your agent and suppliers develops, you can rest easy and know that you are in the hands of people whose business relies heavily on your goodwill and peace of mind.

Now, stop sitting on your hands like a baby, and get out there and source the market for something new and innovative, and which will allow you to start a trend, set a fashion, break a market, and lead the way to wider profits and renown for yourself and your company.

Trade Safely!

A German Company Discovers The True Meaning Of "Ripped-Off"

2012-04-16T00:53:00.000-07:00

A Shockingly Interesting And Extremely Cautionary Tale From China

Jamil Anderlini, in the Financial Times, published on July 27 2009, presented an article entitled “A cautionary tale from China“.

Well, as you know I live and breathe in China, and so felt more than a little compelled to read the article. What I first noticed, after having read it, was how quiet the Chinese media had kept it – no surprises there I guess. My next thought was, how dumb the victim, one Mr. Klaus Hilligardt, had been by entrusting his personal life, money, and home, and more particularly his business into the hands of his chosen Chinese managers; not a particularly wise move, as you will discover as the story unfolds. The victim had his whole company stolen from under his very nose. I mean the guy didn't even have absence from China as an excuse, as he was resident here for virtually all of the time preceding the eventual disappearance of his company.

Victims aren't made - they're born!

And this is a point I keep trying to make to those of you who read me here, and to those of you who email me in the hope that I can get your money back, and which you just kind-of gave away to someone on the other side of the planet. OOPS! Basically, the Chinese management team of this company, which runs all the major advertising hoardings in China, predominantly on the underground, and national rail lines, set up there own ghost company, which included a logo not unlike the actual company they worked for; the senior Chinese manager, then sold the rights to the new company to take all their clients, and establish themselves as the new market leaders, using money from the victim's own company to do so, whilst still being paid a salary from the victim's company - I MEAN, SHAME JUST HAS NOWHERE TO HIDE IT'S FACE IN SHAME!

This is assault, battery, rape, and then being peed and shat on for extra measure, before being poked in the eye with a pointy stick, just when you thought it was all over.

In the end, the German managers from the parent company flew over to China, and ran a raid with the police, on the offices, into which the Chinese management had barricaded themselves, before arresting them and hauling them of for intense questioning.

Now, why am I telling you about this? Just because it happened in China?

No! I'm telling you because the victim had several years of experience in Asian countries, but failed to learn the language, or the culture, and allowed himself to be walked up the garden path and given a damned good seeing to under the shady apple tree behind the garden shed.

My point? Very simple. You need me.

China has been my home for the past 11 years, and has been a better home to me than my native England, in many ways, and I am very grateful to her for that.

But still, this is the Wild-East folks, and you greenhorns gotta watch out for Los Banditos Chino, because they can be pretty mean Hombres to deal with.

Safe Trading!

Here's a link to the original article for which you may have to sign up to a free membership to read: www.ft.com

Fantastic Steel-Framed Pre-Fabricated Modular Homes

2012-04-16T00:20:00.002-07:00

Kiss Your Home’s Negative Equity Goodbye, And Make Way For Profits In The Sustainable Housing Development Industry.

The average price of a house in England and Wales stood at £178,364 as of July 2009, demonstrating a monthly drop of 0.6 per cent on June's figures, and a comparative drop of 2 per cent on June 2007 figures. The region of the UK with the most significant annual price decrease was that of the East Midlands, and which experienced a drop of 5.1 per cent; while Wales suffered the overall largest monthly drop at 2.5 per cent. The West Midlands significantly fell too, down 1.2 per cent on the previous month's figures. Presently, a detached house in England and Wales now costs on average £269,117, while a semi-detached home costs around £167,747, and the average price of terraced homes now stands at £139,964.

You ask, "So, what has this got to do with international trade, and more specifically trade with China, and product sourcing?"

Well, a lot actually. What are homeowners suffering under? Their property has lost value, and their mortgages have remained the same or risen, and now they're faced with so much negative equity on their homes that their money paid on mortgages is just disappearing into a big black hole.

You ask again, "So, what has this got to do with international trade, and more specifically trade with China, and product sourcing?"

Well, it just so happens that I have a nice line on a company who produces modular prefabricated, steel-framed, earthquake-safe, eco-friendly homes in the form of large houses, villas, and bungalow villas, which have a built-time of approximately one month.

They are superbly designed, look great, will blend in with your local older or modern housing, and cost very little. For construction companies, local and national governments, they're a massive boon too, as it means that you can erect whole new estates of steel-framed, earthquake-safe, eco-friendly homes in the shortest possible time, and with low costs, but with high return on investment (ROI). Of course the other advantages for private individuals and entrepreneurs are that if you buy your own modular prefabricated, steel-framed, earthquake-safe, eco-friendly home, then immediately sell it on you should easily double or treble your investment at the minimum; and should you choose to hold on to it, and wait for the markets to recover somewhat, you stand a more than a excellent chance of making even more money out of your initial investment. These homes are really very good looking, and will easily attract buyers. Please take a look at the following photographs, before going on to pricing and other details.

The above shown mini-gallery represents a mere fraction of the exasperatingly wide diversity of the range available from this company. Indeed, there are even prefabricated multi-storey apartment blocks with built-in car parking facilities available.

The same company also produces Porta-Cabin structures, and for which the pricing has also been included below.

Pricing and Other Details:

1. The average cost of a Villa/Bungalow Villa is $170 up to $337 per SQM without AC or Furnishings.

2. The average cost of a porta-cabin is $80 – $120 per SQM without AC and or furnishings.

3. The average cost of a two floor porta-cabin $85 – $125 per SQM without Air Conditioning or furnishings.

4. The discount percentage price for multiple orders to be discussed on an individual basis.

5. The average construction time for a Villa is about one (1) month.

6. For an 80 SQM porta-cabin, erection time is about one week.

7. You'll need 1-2 engineers to teach your workers how to build the house, the cost of which is paid by the buyer at a rate of $20 per man, per day.

8. Sinks, toilets, baths, and showers are included.

9. Average lead time for a 300 -400 SQM villa is about 20 days.

10. Average lead time for a 1000 SQM cabin is about 2 weeks.

11. We can arrange shipping of the modules.

12. Example freight costs for a 300 SQM villa is about $7,050 from China to Southampton UK.

13. Example freight costs for a 1000 SQM porta-cabin is $11,750 from China to Southampton UK.

14. The cost of Central Air Conditioning is approximately $10,000, whilst Individual Air Conditioning Units around $500 to $1000 depending upon size. The above information is for reference purposes only, as these modular homes can be detailed, expanded, and contracted to meet your own design purposes, as well as your personal utility needs. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

All prices listed here are USD. are for illustrative purposes only, and may be subject to changes.

Safe Trading!

Looking To Source USB Memory Sticks From China?

2012-04-16T00:08:00.002-07:00

Not All USB Memory Sticks Are The Same.

There are more than one kind of USB on the market, as perhaps you’ve noticed, they come in all shapes, colours, and sizes, and some of them even have extra functions.

Your China Trading Partner can bring you into contact with a wide range of suppliers of USB Memory Sticks, able to meet all your price and quality criteria, whilst ensuring you're trading with a safe company. Irrespective of which capacity or style you're looking for, we can find you what you need amongst our list of suppliers here in China. Additionally, if you want a corporate logo on your USB sticks we can help you with that too. You can have single colour, as in the image to the right, or multi-colour, the choice is yours. You may discover that having your own logo on your USBs is a lot cheaper than you at first thought.

How about aluminium or steel cased USBs for that extra look of class and style? What about biometric fingerprinting technology in your USB sticks? Would your clients such as lawyers, accountants, hospitals, insurance companies, and government departments find the extra security of fingerprint scanning technology built into their USB memory stick of value? Biometric fingerprint USB systems are extremely quick and accurate, and can hold several thumb prints, so that in the event of an emergency, another person with predefined permission may access the data on the stick.

In this day and age, security is of vital importance. Have we not often heard of times when sensitive data has been lost, and suddenly turns up in the press, after an ordinary USB stick has been found on the train where it was first lost. Your company and your clients could be saved from a lot of embarrassment if they utilised such excellent technology.

Again Your China Trading Partner can provide you with all you want in that area too. If you're interested in knowing more then just drop us an email to discuss your needs.

Trade Safely!

Did You Do it To Yourself? And Are You Still Doing It?

2012-04-16T00:00:00.003-07:00

Scammed or Self-Inflicted Wound?

It's my personal opinion that many people who get themselves scammed in China, or elsewhere for that matter, do so almost willingly.

When I say “willingly“, I don't actually mean that they say, "Hey! Mr. Scammer, please take my money from me, and leave me with that raped and abused feeling!"

Although, when one looks at it from a certain direction, my direction, it may appear to be almost a silent agreement to such.

But, what I really mean, is that it’s reminiscent of the behaviour of a drug addict; because one knows one shouldn't, but one nevertheless goes and does it anyway.

People usually KNOW a few things before a scammer closes on them.

1. They know that the deal is too good to be true.

Which quite frankly, in and of itself, should be ringing every alarm bell in their nervous systems.

2. They know that they are ignoring the warnings that their whole life's experiences are sending them.

Yes, they just feel the truth of it in the seat of their pants - that something isn't quite right. But, like the risk takers we humans are, like the eternal optimists that we are - we persist with it and even ignore our own selves.

3. They know they should not send that money.

By this point, these people are really like junkies trying to withdraw from drugs. "I know I shouldn't, but I just can't help myself. I just need to do it. Just once more. I'm sure I'll get lucky this time!"

We use most of our senses, to avoid being set on fire, to smell the foods we eat, and perhaps the dog poop behind the sofa; we use our ears and eyes to stop us being run over by a car or truck, as we cross the road.

But, then we go and send $ 5,000 to some girl called "Minky" on the other side of the planet!

I mean - HEY! That isn't even a real name,; and I don't mean a fake or false identity. I mean not real as in the same way that I don't have “kizu-maliki-shopytoof” in my kitchen; primarily because no such thing exists, not unless by sheer fluke I've named a real kitchen utensil in some obscure language.

Surely the fact they can't even get a regular name together must tell you something about the SERIOUSNESS of the people you're dealing with.

I'm reminded of those people who call those telephone sex lines (whatever they are), and some grotesque woman is sitting there pushing Twinkies, or another brand of sweet and sticky thing, down her throat like a factory production line, weighing in at 437 lbs (at 5 feet 3), and has to walk with the aid of sticks due to her medically gross obesity, is telling you her name is "Yvette", and that she's tall, slim, has diplomas in dance and theatre, is wearing a black negligee, likes you much more than anybody else who calls, because you're almost like a real friend, and that we really should meet one day, but now she's feeling really wet for you, and would you like to....

Ahem! Well, I'm sure you get the picture.

These "victims" have a sense that it's going to happen, but still they press on, gritting their teeth in the hopes of a win.

Now, that's what I call optimism!

Yes, these people know it's going to happen. If not actually GOING TO, then certainly VERY LIKELY TO.

That’s what makes the scam almost a self-inflicted wound!

Honestly, the inside of these peoples' heads must look and sound exactly the same as that of a gambler with his last dollar - there he is standing in front of a fruit machine, and trying to decide whether to buy some food to eat, or slip it into the slot.

Of course, the decision was already made before he'd even thought of the question. Because our human sense of risk, or addiction, tends to walk about three paces in front of all other thought processes we're experiencing.

Our sense of risk rides along like a surf board on the wave of every other thought we have. And it is because of this that our addiction will always finish ahead of everything else we think, do, taste, or feel.

It lives on the top of that wave, and everything else rests in its' shadow.

We tell alcoholics that the first thing they need to do is understand that they HAVE A PROBLEM, before they can address it.

The same is true here.

In the same way as those guys calling on those sex lines, often the people who lose out here and elsewhere, are simply deluding themselves. They actually make the job of being a scammer easier.

Just remember this. A scam can only occur when one party wants something for nothing; all the other party is doing is giving you nothing for something.

Try to cut corners and you'll cut your own throat.

There is no secret way; no special way; no something to which you aren't privy.

There is simply a right way and wrong way. The first will bring you benefits, and the second will bring you misery.

You'll simply lose the dollars, whilst trying to save the cents.

The China CEO Gift-Giving Scam

2012-04-15T23:46:00.000-07:00

I was recently contacted by Eric Vermaas, the CEO of PT Team Wood (www.teamwood.org), a Dutch-Indonesian timber and furniture partnership based in Jakarta, to run a background check on an Import Export company based in Tianjin, China, and which had just placed an order for $915,000 USD in speciality wood furnishings.

Fortunately, for Eric I just happened to be in Tianjin at the time, as I was visiting family for the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the two main traditional festivals along with Chinese New Year, and therefore checking them out was a fairly simple process for me. The Chinese company details are as follows:

Tianjin Tanbo Import & Export Trade Co., Ltd.,

Address: 43 Nanjing Road, Heping District, 300350, Tianjin, China

Web: www.sjzdingsheng.com.cn

Tel: + 86 228 143 92 09 Fax: + 86 400 67 61 100 ext 1010

Email: heiyexingguang8@126.com, tanbo_2003@yeah.net

Trade Manager: Chen Jinliang

I quickly discovered that telephone number is not a land line, and is actually a mobile number known as a xiao ling tong, and which looks like a land-line number, can’t be easily traced, and is very cheap to buy.

The fax number isn’t in Tianjin and seems to be out of town, and is perhaps a fax service somewhere, hence the extension number; quite probably a big room in a cheap building with a number of fax machines in it – linked to a PBX if the extension number is anything to go by. I visited the address provided on the website and discovered that it doesn’t actually exist. Basically the numbers on that street jump from number 35 to number 57 Nanjing Road, with nothing but an abandoned construction site between these two numbers, and therefore no sign of number 43.

Of course, all of this seemed somewhat suspicious at best, particularly more so since I further determined that they allegedly scammed a businessperson from Europe out of 8,000 Euros on or about the 22nd or 23rd of September 2009 (you can find the details here), and have also placed large orders with several other companies, in one case up to $600,000 USD in value, and all since the 31st August 2009.

I further discovered that Tianjin Tanbo Import & Export Trade Co., Ltd., also operate under the name of Hebei Dingsheng Import & Export Company, and have the same non-existent address. In consequence to all of the above I strongly advised PT Team Wood to have nothing whatsoever to do with this “company“.

Tianjin Tanbo also failed to respond to my repeated phone calls or emails. Particularly when once they realised they had Chinese speakers, currently resident in China, on their tails. The only call we had, and which I instigated, was brief, and led to their prevarication and a lot of stuttering, particularly when I asked for their address, and they said it was the same as the website – to which I responded that I'd been to visit the location, and it didn't exist. Whereupon they responded that they'd just recently moved. How convenient and how odd they'd forgotten to mention this when first asked, or even to update their website. Finally, I asked them to have a senior executive call me back, and have had no response in the three days since that call - and neither do I expect one.

The CEO Gift Scam Works in the Following Manner:

1. The scammer places a large order with you.

2. They then invite you to China to finalize the contract.

3. When you arrive, they will tell you that in traditional Chinese business culture you should buy the CEO a gift commensurate with his position. This in the case of the last person I found scammed by them was for gold bars worth 8,000 Euros.

4. After you have signed the contract and returned home, they then contact you again and tell you the contracts must be translated and stamped and sealed by a notary, and that the fee for this is 1,350 Euros or something of the type.

5. If you pay that then the next step would be for them to cease contact with you, as they are in no way interested in a purchase.

Gift-Giving In China

Gift-giving in China is common in business, but a bottle of wine or a treat from your own country is usually more than acceptable, and I know of no CEO who would expect me to buy them anything expensive.

Moreover, since you are a foreigner you're usually expected to be ignorant of gift-giving in China, and so are exempt from this. Most gifts between Chinese businessmen are cigarettes, Chinese white spirits (baijiu - a strong clear alcohol), or a good tea; certainly never in the form of gold bars, unless you have plans on bribing your way into a contract.

In conclusion, and as a rule of thumb, you should never feel obliged to buy anybody any kind of gift in China during the pursuance of your business interactions.

However, out of politeness, a small gift of not-too-great an expense from your own country or culture will be gratefully received and appreciated.

Safe Trading!

Tetra-Ethyl-Lead (C8H20Pb) (CAS Number: 78-00-2)

2012-04-15T23:11:00.002-07:00

Your China Trading Partner has an exclusive relationship with a genuine supplier of Tetra-Ethyl-Lead (CAS Number: 78-00-2) on the Chinese mainland. We are now their Sole Foreign Agent (SFA).

Beware the many fraudulent and fake sites which purport to sell Tetra-Ethyl-Lead (CAS Number: 78-00-2) in China.

Tetra-Ethyl-Lead (CH3CH2)4Pb

Other Names: Lead TetraEthyl;

Tetraethyl Lead; Tetra-Ethyl Lead;

Tetra-Ethyl-Plumbane

T+ N

CAS Number: 78-00-2

EC Number: 201-075-4

UN Number: 1649

PubChem: 6511

RTECS Number: TP4550000

Bellstein Reference Number: 3903146

ChEBI: 30182

Gmelin Reference: 68951

As A Valve Wear Preventive

Tetraethyl lead works a buffer against microwelds forming between the hot exhaust valves and their seats. Once the valves would reopen, the microwelds would pull apart and leave the valves with a rough surface that would abrade the seats, leading to valve recession. When lead began to be phased out of motor fuel, the automotive industry began specifying hardened valve seats and upgraded exhaust valve materials to prevent valve recession without lead.

As Antiknock Agent

An engine requires fuel of sufficient octane rating to prevent uncontrolled combustion known as engine knocking ("knock" or "ping"). Antiknock agents allow the use of higher compression ratios for greater efficiency and peak power. Adding varying amounts of TEL to gasoline allowed easy, inexpensive control of octane ratings; aviation spirits used in WWII reached 150 octane to enable supercharged engines such as the Rolls-Royce Merlin and Griffon to produce 1500 HP at altitude. In military aviation, TEL manipulation allowed a range of different fuels to be tailored for particular flight conditions, and ease and safety of handling.

The use of TEL in gasoline started in the US, while in Europe, alcohol was initially used. The advantages of leaded gasoline — its higher energy content and storage quality — eventually led to a universal switch to leaded fuel. One of the greatest advantages of TEL over other antiknock agents or the use of high-octane blend stocks is the very low concentrations needed. Typical formulations called for 1 part of prepared TEL to 1260 parts untreated gasoline. Competing antiknock agents must be used in greater amounts, often reducing the energy content of the gasoline.

When used as an antiknock agent, alcohol will cause fuel to absorb moisture from the air. Over time fuel humidity can rise, leading to corrosion in fuel lines. Whereas TEL is highly soluble in gasoline, ethanol is poorly soluble and that solubility decreases as fuel humidity increases. Over time, droplets and pools of water can form in the fuel system creating a risk of fuel line icing. High fuel humidity can also enable biological contamination, as certain bacteria can grow on the surface of the water/gasoline interface, forming bacterial mats in the fuel system. TEL's biocidal properties helped prevent fuel contamination and degradation from bacterial growth.

SOURCE: Wikipedia

If you're looking for Tetra-Ethyl-Lead (CAS Number: 78-00-2), please, feel free to contact us for your free quotation now.

Why I Don't Source Brands For Parallel Or Grey Export From China

2012-04-15T23:04:00.001-07:00

Just why won’t I source iPhones, XBoxes, and the like, from China?

Well, I'm going to keep this brief, and to the point, and use Microsoft(TM) and Apple(TM) as examples, since they’re really very commonly sought after brands.

The Russian and other Caucasian mafias are very organised, and have a lot of funding behind them. Consequently, having a technician take a piece of equipment, such as an Xbox or iPhone, apart, and making technical drawings of the product, isn't really a matter which presents them with any great difficulty.

Having business cards made claiming they represent Microsoft(TM) or Apple(TM), presents them with equally as little difficulty. Printing headed paper for letters, and bonded paper for business production and distribution RIGHTS licences, for the purpose of confirming that a company is being granted the RIGHTS, to manufacture and distribute, the Xboxes and iPhones they manufacture, under that licence, is no problem either. Sending some men, and a beautiful female interpreter, to China to convince Chinese factory owners that they are genuinely being granted licences to manufacture and distribute "genuine Microsoft(TM) or Apple(TM)" products, presents just as little difficulty. Of course, when once they arrive in China, and some small, medium to large electronics company, in central China, in the middle of nowhere, is paid a visit by the mighty Microsoft(TM) or Apple(TM) corporations' representatives – then they are, of course, deeply humbled and just can't believe their luck; whilst afterwards, it takes them at least a fortnight to stop smiling at themselves, and they will never tire of boasting of their new connection with the mighty Microsoft(TM) or Apple(TM) corporations.

After wining and dining their esteemed and honoured guests, they then find themselves being presented with the license to manufacture and distribute on behalf of these great names. It’s like being granted a license to print money!

Within months their goods are being bought and sold in China, and then sent abroad to small buyers, purchasing through the internet, looking to make a buck by buying cheaply from China. Of course, the reality is that a genuine REGIONAL MANUFACTURER or DISTRIBUTOR, would never dare risk losing their license by selling outside of their geographically acknowledge sales region. Meanwhile, the Chinese manager producing the goods, hasn't the slightest idea that he's producing fakes. He thinks it's all real. After all, the people who came, where all foreign, white, big, wore expensive clothes, shoes, and watches, and stayed in the most expensive suites in the most expensive hotel in town. They even had business cards, letterheads, secret plans and technical drawings, and bonded licence paper, and a company seal. What is there to doubt? How could the factory owner possibly doubt them? And I bet this goes on in other countries such as India, Pakistan, and elsewhere.

I suppose you can now see why I won't touch named brands in China for the purposes of export. It simply isn't worth the risk to me, my reputation, to you, or your clients.

If you want the genuine goods, then speak to the OFFICIAL Microsoft(TM) or Apple(TM) DISTRIBUTOR (or whatever brand) for your particular geographic region. A quick visit to their websites should provide you with that information.

Do yourself and your clients a favour.

Why do you think you're going to get them cheaper here?

Safe Trading!

Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO) In China

2012-04-15T23:00:00.002-07:00

Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO) refers specifically to the current trend of law firms or corporations in obtaining their legal advice and support services from an external law firm or company. When this occurs in conjunction with an outsourced entity based in a country other than that of the company seeking to outsource, the practice is known as 'offshoring'.

Legal Outsourcing, or Offshoring, has gained remarkable credence during the past several years, both in the United States and the UK. The majority of Legal Outsourcing companies are presently located in India and the Philippines, and which have achieved high levels of success in providing such services as document review, legal background research and writing, drafting of pleas and briefs, and also in patent services outsourcing through Intellectual Property Offices (IPO) submissions. In recent years, China too has made great strides in developing its' legal training and development infrastructure, and continues to do so. For example, there now exists the China-EU School of Law (www.cesl.edu.cn) in Beijing, and which is a joint project between the Chinese Government and the EU. Presently the CESL, as it is known, offers both Masters and Ph. D programmes. Presently, India has about 37% of the World's outsourced services, whilst China is now on the rise with around 10%. Advantages.

1. Access to a much larger labour pool at lower costs.

2. A reduction in legal costs of anywhere between 30% and 70%, and thereby allowing firms to reap large cost savings.

3. LPO also means that one can have round-the-clock services, due to time differences, and projects can be completed over night, so to speak.

4. Greater flexibility, as companies utilise a combination of off-shore and on-shore legal talent to enhance cost savings and also relieving the stress of demands on the business.

Disadvantages.

1. Offshoring work to foreign markets introduces certain cultural and language barriers that may encumber communications between both onshore and offshore teams.

2. Outsourcing sensitive legal information across the globe inevitably gives the vendors with whom you're working access to confidential information. There are those who contend that in sending legal work overseas, this constitutes a waiver of the attorney-client privilege because the U.S. government monitors cross-border communications, and foreign countries lack the privacy rights afforded by the U.S. Constitution.

3. It has been noted that a number of outsourcing ventures fail due to indistinct expectations, poor vendor responsiveness, and a general lack of understanding and ineffective governance over the process. Those companies with multi-shore operations must dedicate both time and resources in the management of their offshore relationships, and thus diverting attention from core business functions.

4. In some instances, hidden costs might undermine the cost benefits of outsourcing work overseas. Hidden costs include vendor management, quality control, contract management, employee turnover, vendor profit margins and increased operational costs.

5. Relinquishing control of complex legal processes to a party across the globe can result in a loss of managerial control over people and processes. The practice of employing remote workers also can increase certain costs such as travel and training.

However, having a representative you can trust in the country where your Off-shore vendor is, and who can work the relationship for you, and keep ahead of the game, can mitigate all such issues described above. We at Your China Trading Partner know the East and we know the West; we know your expectations, and we can clarify them and put them across eloquently and succinctly to your Chinese LPO vendor. It is, therefore, our pleasure to assist you in your search for legal service vendors in Beijing, that Your China Trading Partner provide you with our LPO- Beijing, China directory of companies, and individuals, in the legal services sector guide. The materials in the Your China Trading Partner, LPO - Beijing, China directory of companies, and individuals, in the legal services sector guide, are provided without express or implied warranty of any kind.

We have no relationships, and receive no monies or other form of remuneration for including those companies and individuals you will find in the PDF document on our website.

If you run your own search in Google you'll find more or less the same information. We have simply collected and collated it for you as a customer service.

With YCTP you can have the best of both worlds.

Remember, we're here when you can't be!

Welcome To Your China Trading Partner China-Based Product Sourcing and Procurement Services

2012-04-15T22:53:00.000-07:00

Whether you're searching for that particular "off-the-shelf" product or simply looking to improve on one of your existing products, YourChinaTradingPartner.com can potentially save you and your company thousands of dollars, as well as innumerable working hours, by doing your product sourcing for you.

Within a matter of days, YCTP through our inline network search will be able to locate exactly what you are looking for. We will also ensure that we find you the best prices and quality to fit your specific needs.

Should an item not exist, YCTP will be able to have it made for you to your exact specifications.

OEM & ODM

Would you like to have your own brand of laptop, notebook, desktop computer, mobile telephone, MP4 Player, USB memory stick, clothing, or shoes?

We can bring you into contact with a broad array of OEMs and ODMs who will be only too willing to assist you in making your dreams come true.

On this page we post a general listing of many product groups to which we have easy and ready access.

This listing should not be considered as being in any way comprehensive. Therefore, if you don’t see what you’re looking for here, then please, do feel free to email us with your specific request.