For more information, please visit concrete protective liner supplier china.
4. Common Problems and Challenging importing Building Materials from China
4.1 Quality and Quantity Issue
4.2 Communication issue and the Language Barrier
4.3 Long Lead time and Delayed Shipment
4.4 IP violation
4.5 How to pay for Chinese building materials suppliers
4.6 How to install building materials products
4.7 How to solve the quality problems of building materials products
4.8 How to ensure after-sales service
4.1 Quantity and quantity issue
When ordering in high volume there may be certain circumstances, situations, or conditions that may affect the state of your products when you receive them.
Some issues your products may have may include
These issues could be avoided by choosing the right manufacturer to do business with, a good building materials supplier who has a proven track record in having an established manufacturing process, performs product testing and inspection and adheres to strict quality control protocols.Therefore,choosing the superior suppliers can be the 1st defensive line to protect the quality.The 2nd defensive line should be quality control by importer.We will explain how to solve the quality problems of building materials products on 4.7.Click here to reach.
4.2 Communication issue and the language barrier
The language barrier is always an issue when you are doing business in a foreign land, especially in China. Dealing with building materials manufacturers can be a challenge because most of them speak very little or no English at all.
The language barrier can lead to miscommunication issues pertaining to product specifications and other details of the manufacturing process and the contract. Customer service can also be a problem when speaking with someone that cannot seem to understand what the customer is trying to say.
The language barrier issue can be solved by looking for a building materials supplier who has staff or representatives that can communicate well in English. You can also opt to deal with a sourcing agent in China who, almost definitely, speaks good English and know the building materials very well.
4.3 Long lead time and delayed shipment
Before you can finally receive the cheap building materials you purchased from China, there are processes that could take a lot of time.
To play around long lead times and possible delays in shipment, you will need to monitor the schedule of the building materials manufacturer and do a lot of follow-ups to make sure your shipment departs China on schedule.
It is also important to plan ahead when placing orders for building materials. Chinese people are very hard-working.But for some special holidays,they still religiously follow their holidays and businesses can be closed in some days to observe these holidays as part of their culture and tradition.The celebration of Spring Festival, for example.is a big event in China.Building materials suppliers may have about one month holiday.So make sure the important steps in the importation process do not fall on any of the Chinese holidays.
4.4 Intellectual property violation
Intellectual Property (IP) will always be present when you are ordering products where Original Equipment (OEM) is predominant. This is prevalent when you are dealing with manufacturers from all over the world, especially in China.
When you and your manufacturer enter into an OEM agreement, it is understood that the supplier recognizes that the customer has the right to the product. You can use the product as your own when you have all the proper documentation.
The problem begins when you cannot sell the product because of IP restrictions. It may also be that you have not complied with certain country regulations.
You can prevent IP violation issues with proper documentation and the right labeling from China and your country. You should also make sure to have trademarks and patents in place in areas where you are going to sell the building materials.
You can also prevent manufacturing and IP theft by having the proper documentation, making sure you have an OEM agreement with your manufacturer, have a Product Development Agreement, and a Product Ownership Agreement.
Moreover,normally the building materials suppliers would ask you to offer the “brand” or “logo”certificate of authorization when you ask them to put logo on products.It is no problem if you are the brand owner.But if you just want to copy others’ brands,this is not acceptable in China.
4.5 How to pay for Chinese building materials suppliers?
There are 5 ways you can pay your building materials supplier in China. The method you choose depends on what can be the easier or cheaper option.
Wire Transfer:T/T Payment
Bank transfers are typically the most common modes of payment for businesses with foreign suppliers. 90% factories in China prefer this payment method,
It is a straightforward and easy payment method. All you need to do is go to the bank or use the bank’s e-banking portal and transfer the funds to the supplier’s account.
The downside of paying your supplier in China through wire transfer is the paperwork. You will need to supply the bank with details such as the supplier’s invoice, shipping company. You also need to explain the reason you are making a wire transfer.
This option is ideal for large companies who can afford to pay expensive SWIFT/ international transfer fees.
Wire transfer is suitable for all payments no matter how much the amount you want to pay.The payment takes 2 to 7days coming to supplier’s account.
Local Transfer
If you will be regularly doing business with your supplier from China, the most practical way is to open a business account in Hongkong. You can then pay your suppliers through a local transfer.
Most suppliers from China maintain business accounts in Hongkong because it is easier to transfer money in and out of Hongkong. It is also easier to do business with USD through Hongkong banks. It is also easier to move money in and out of China with a business account in a Hongkong bank.
Since it is a local transfer, you avoid the complications and high fees of an international transfer. It can, however, be tough for small SMEs to open a bank account in Hongkong because they require you to physically be present in the branch when you open the account.
Local transfer is suitable for importers who do business regularly.Less bank charge and payment can be received very fast.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of concrete protective lining supplier. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
PayPal
You can also opt to transfer payment from your PayPal account to the PayPal account of your supplier in China. PayPal is not so popular in China as it is with Western entrepreneurs. Transferring payment through PayPal allows instant transfer if your supplier in China also has a PayPal account.
PayPal, though, has high conversion and transfer fees. Your supplier in China also has to use a remittance company so they can transfer the funds from PayPal to their bank account. The entire process can take about 2 days.
This is an ideal and safe method especially when you are paying for a down payment.
Paypal payment is suitable for small amount like less than USD1000 per transfer.High handling charge but instant transfer.Normally the receiver has to pay around 5% charge.
Remittance Centers
Western Union is a popular global remittance center. You can opt to use WU or other third-party remittance centers. They do not use a SWIFT network so there are not much hidden fees.
Transferring payments to your supplier in China is easy and quick. Your supplier can claim your remittance within 24 hours.
Most suppliers in China are not familiar with Western remittance companies such as Western Union, thus small manufacturers may not accept this form of payment. There also are not too many remittance companies that specialize in remitting funds to the Chinese market.
Paying through remittance centers is ideal if you are making a one-time payment and do not like to pay huge transfer fees of an international transfer.
Use Alibaba Trade Assurance
Ideal to use if you are paying for your very first transaction with a Chinese supplier and you want to make your products be of top quality.
Alibaba Trade Assurance is an extremely safe option because while you send your payment to Alibaba, the funds will be held in escrow. Funds will only be released to your supplier once you approve of the final product in terms of specifications and quality.
The Alibaba Trade Assurance is Chinese service tailor-made for the Chinese market. Some Chinese suppliers, though, do not accept Alibaba Trade Assurance because Alibaba demands a cut from the payment due to the supplier.
Alibaba payment is not easy to operate by many suppliers.Especially alibaba asks suppliers should to be its members.This payment is not common used in China until now.
4.6 How to install building materials products
The wide array of building materials available in China are for exporting to the rest of the world. Many of the largest building materials for global construction are imported from China.
Building materials from China can be installed easily. Most of them such as some kitchen cabinets are modular and easy to install.No matter which kind of building materials you order from China,you need to ask your suppliers to offer the English instruction or videos showing how to install.All packages should have right marks showing what it is.
How to install a kitchen cabinet (Basic cabinet assembling)
More installation about kitchen cabinet and wardrobe please check our youtube channel.
4.7 How to solve the quality problems of building materials products
One of the main issues faced by customers of suppliers from China is product quality. It is also one of the reasons prospective customers get turned off from importing China-made products.
Not all China-made products are of poor quality. Many manufacturers in China, as a matter of fact, have strict quality control systems in their factories. There are some ways on how to solve the quality problems of building materials from China.
There are many reasons some manufacturers in China produce substandard building materials.
All these reasons, however, are not always true. Most manufacturers in China produce quality products. The real problem lies in the fact that when a few Chinese suppliers produce low quality products, China-made products, in general, are tagged as low quality.
There are many ways, though to solve the quality problems of building materials products from China.
Choose a Good and Reliable Supplier
A good supplier will use quality advanced technology, top-notched equipment, superior raw materials, and will have set quality assurance standards to ensure they produce only high-quality building materials.From raw materials,production control,to package quality,standard label,a good building material supplier has the strict standard operation procedure from the beginning to the end.
Have a Contract
Always make sure your order is covered with a contract. A contract details all the specifications of the product, as well as the materials to be used. A contract will protect you and will always make sure your suppliers will produce good quality products.
A contract also makes sure the supplier will replace substandard products. More importantly, a contract keeps the manufacturer on its toes and encourages them not to cut corners during the manufacturing process.
Quality Inspection
Always make quality inspection an essential part of the manufacturing process. Each supplier has their own standard for producing building materials.Therefore,to make sure products are what you need before loading is quite important.
Quality inspection and testing prior to shipment acts as an incentive to manufacturers to take seriously quality control standards.These are important steps to take to ensure you are getting top-quality products. There are a lot of QA companies in China you can tap to conduct quality inspections.
4.8 How to ensure after-sales service?
After-sales services include product support and any service pertinent to the products after they have been received by the customer. After-sales services are increasingly becoming important to Chinese suppliers.
Manufacturers and suppliers now make it a point to have customer care staff render after-sales services.
To ensure after-sales services, customers should always ask for a warranty from China suppliers. After-sales services include, helping buyers with documentation, helping buyers track shipments, and the replacement of damaged and low-quality products.
Founded in 1904 and headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA, the American Concrete Institute is a leading authority and resource worldwide for the development, dissemination, and adoption of its consensus-based standards, technical resources, educational programs, and proven expertise for individuals and organizations involved in concrete design, construction, and materials, who share a commitment to pursuing the best use of concrete.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website concrete protective liners services.