Why use a sourcing agent or buying agent in china?

A lot of businesses need a helping hand when importing from a country like China because it is becoming the major manufacturer of industrial products due to its low price and improved quality. But the diversity of products, language, culture and business practice pose a problem for most foreign buyers and thus, having a good rapport with the suppliers is very important. This is where a China purchasing agent comes in.

What is sourcing agent or buying agent?

A purchasing agent is an individual, employed by a company or working as a freelancer, helping companies overseas to import from China. While a purchasing agent is not a requirement in order to import from China, a good agent can be an extremely valuable asset in your overall Product procurement strategy. Below I list a few examples of what a purchasing agent can help out with:

1.) Finding new products and suppliers.
2.) Audit existing suppliers.
3.) Manage negotiations and draft agreements.
4.) Perform factory inspections and quality control.
5.) Manage shipping and logistics.

What can go wrong without a sourcing agent?

Many businesses are in need of a helping hand when importing from China. This is when the purchasing agent (or sourcing agent, procurement agent etc.) becomes relevant. He, she, or the company, that acts as a purchasing agent shall be your right hand and an incorruptible ally on the front line in China.
However, It’s not a protected professional title and anyone can call him or herself a purchasing agent. If you don’t make an informed decision when selecting a purchasing agent you might end up losing a lot more than the commission or service fee.

Importance of finding a Good Purchasing Agent.

The responsibility of a purchasing agent is to look for quality products and reputable suppliers and handle everything you need in China on your behalf while looking after your every interest in it. Below are some of the duties of a reliable purchasing agent.

It is his role to keep an organization’s inventory of either finished goods, raw materials, or important services at a satisfactory level in order to keep business tasks at minimum possible price or cost.

He should verify purchase requisitions and compare items requested to master list, clarify unclear items and recommend alternatives. It is the duty of the Purchasing Agent to forward available inventory items by verifying stock and scheduling delivery and also verify price and specifications in order to prepare purchase orders and obtain recommendations from suppliers for substitute items.

His duty also includes obtaining purchased items by forwarding orders to suppliers, monitoring as well as expediting orders. He should be able to verify complete receipt of items by comparing items ordered to items received and resolving shipments in error with suppliers. It is their duty to accomplish purchasing and organization mission by completing related results as needed.

A good agent company from China will act as your eyes, ears and nose.They would visit the factory, run background checks and insure that what you receive what you expect.Furthermore even the best factory can have delay or make mistakes. Then your sourcing agent in china should keep effective contact with vendors frequently to ensure your goals will be met.

The right sourcing agent in china can release your load up to 80%. You only need to follow the process by communicating with one or 2 people who can communicate with you via the languages you are familiar with, instead of talking to numberous of factories with some changlish you dont understand.

It is impossilbe to implant your design ideas into the workers’mind. You need to have someone with technical knowledge then inform you the process and result after every communication with the vendors.

Read more about how to choose the best China sourcing agent.

EC4U Ltd – Your Reliable Agent in China

EC4U is here in Asia for finding the best products for your brand. Over the last decade we’ve built a vast data base of qualified vendors. To EC4U, qualify does not only mean quality and price but also mean the sincerity of solving problems together. We have offices in Hong Kong and Jiangmen City. They are in the middle of the most developed Industry area in China: The Pearl River Delta. The comprehensive infrastructure of the Pearl River Delta brings convenience in quality control and communication.