buy stuff from china

In the Internet age, it's easy to find Chinese suppliers for your import business. Business-to-business websites such as Alibaba.com let you search for items you're interested in buying, or you can post a purchase request. If you find a suitable Chinese vendor, you begin negotiating. Finding a supplier is no guarantee of success, though. You have to check for quality, negotiate prices and be careful that everything you import conforms to U.S. law.

Even if the supplier you found online looks like a perfect fit, that doesn't guarantee he's legitimate. Run a background check to confirm his company exists. Look for any charges of labor or environmental violations. A research service such as Globis or China Checkup can investigate the company for you. You can also contact a legal or accounting firm in China to do the research. If the company checks out, ask for customer references and call to interview them. If you can visit the facilities in China yourself or send someone you trust, that gives you eyewitness proof of what the operation is like.

Ask for Samples

Even if the vendor has a first-rate, modern factory, she may turn around and subcontract to someone cheaper and shoddier. Ask her to send you some samples, or place a small order, perhaps $1,000 worth. When the shipment arrives, inspect the quality of the product and also the packaging. If the product comes with instructions, read them to see if they're understandable. If you decide the quality of the sample isn't good enough, look for a different supplier.