Articles
Escrow Payments to Chinese Suppliers A Complete Guide
Escrow payment solutions require the supplier to meet certain conditions (e.g., ship products) before the funds are released. In theory, Escrow payments ensure that the buyer is not scammed and that products are actually shipped. In practice, how....
US-China Tariffs: How They Hit Importers & Amazon Sellers
Like many others, I assumed the US-China trade war would be a short affair. I envisioned some deal involving mutual trade concessions taking place in a matter of weeks. How wrong I was. Now we are facing the prospect of a decade-long tr....
How to Start a US Company to Import & Sell on Amazon.com
It’s increasingly common that ecommerce companies in Europe and the Asia Pacific not only want to sell cross border to the US – but also sell within the country. By incorporating in the United States, you can import and locally distribute prod....
GMP Compliance of Foreign Suppliers The Importer's Guide (eBook)
Good manufacturing practice (GMP) compliance is changing. As more manufacturers shift production abroad, the U.S. FDA is increasing its oversight of foreign facilities. Just because you’re manufacturing abroad doesn’t mean you’re not at risk of disrupti....
Hidden problems in cross-cultural supplier communication
Cultures intersect in China sourcing and buying. From start to finish of the transaction, you cross languages and ideas. From sampling to shipment there's ups and downs in the sympatico department. Did they get it? Was I clea....
5 new trends sweeping the ecommerce industry
Ecommerce is one of the fastest growing industries today. Modern consumers want the quickest, cheapest options for their purchases, and ecommerce is providing exactly that. Let’s look at five trends revolutionizing the industry right now. ....
Evaluating a battery manufacturer in China for consistent quality
Over the past 3 months, we have heard of more problems with batteries than with any other electrical component. Our team in Shenzhen has been busy evaluating battery manufacturers, recently. And the average level of those manufacturers is....
5 mistakes to avoid when handling defective products
You’ll probably have to deal with defective products at one time or another as an importer. Despite your best efforts, perfection in manufacturing is rarely achievable and almost always expensive. Many experienced importers rely on pre-sh....
China supplier scams, due diligence and walking away
A lawyer friend of mine emailed me a link the other day that had been sent to him by one of his clients. The link was to an article written nearly two years ago, China Supplier Vetting, Part 1: Background Checks, and he wanted my opinion on it. I....