How to Find a Sourcing Agent in China?

How to Find a Sourcing Agent in China?

However,  one must understand that the “best sourcing agent in China” is a very vague name for the profession, and almost anyone can “proclaim” himself the best sourcing agent in China.

I often describe Chinese sourcing agents as “90 percent are crooks or incompetent, and most are a combination of both.But ten percent are worth more than their weight in gold.”So how do you find a “value for money” sourcing agent?Unfortunately, the best method I know of is word of mouth. I say “unfortunately” because that means you already need someone who knows enough about working with international manufacturing to be able to give you a good referral.The good news in this regard is that good sourcing agents will not source products they are not familiar with. 

So if we have a client who needs help sourcing an unusual product and we don’t know a sourcing experience associated with that product, we will go to a good sourcing agent we know and ask them for a recommendation.

Here 7 steps to find sourcing agent in China. You can use this points to identify a suitable and reliable best sourcing agent in China:

1. Collect Potential China Sourcing Agents List

The first step in finding a sourcing agent in China is to compile a list of potential candidates. Then, through further communication, you can eliminate those candidates who are not very capable of providing services.

Below some ways you can use to find the China sourcing agent:

• Google (check their google review)

• Social Media (check their YouTube video)

• Referrals

• Trade Fair

2. Ask them Professional Product Knowledge and Market Trends:

The import process from China can be completely different, depending on the product. Certain types of goods are very complex, like electronics and auto motives, and many other bulky goods.

It is essential to involve a sourcing agent with the necessary knowledge of the product because this can play a decisive role in whether the delivery turns out to be profitable or failed.

3. Test Their Communication Ability

The best sourcing agent in China must have a strong command of English in writing and language and should be able to communicate easily with you by phone and email.

Also, they must be highly efficient and quick to respond to emails or WeChat because of the time difference between China and other countries.

4. Check Transparent and Legal Process

Finding a sourcing agent is easy. But to find a qualified best sourcing agent in China, you need an effective and competently implemented strategy.

A right purchasing agent acts transparently and methodically and puts customer requirements for the product and the availability of the necessary certificates in the first place, rather than established relationships with suppliers and the possibility of getting a kickback.

4.1 A professional China sourcing agent may include these details:

• Professional payment methods: Offer various payment methods including PayPal, Alibaba trade assurance, T/T bank, Hong Kong bank...

  • Superior geographical location: Located in an active trading area: Yiwu, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hongkong

  • Perfect quality control process: Warehouse staff conduct multi-party product quality control.

5. Test Their Import & Export Knowledge and Experience

Any best sourcing agent in China must have a good knowledge of the legality and paperwork related to import and export.

This includes the import and export process, the requirements for certificates and documents, licenses, etc.

5.1 Questions Ask for a Sourcing Agent:

In addition to having a predefined procurement procedure, the best sourcing agent in China should be able to give a clear answer to the following questions:

• Based on what factors do they classify the supplier as qualified/unskilled?

  • Is a purchasing agent expected to pay for the product or directly to the supplier?

  • What is his strategy to prevent and combat fraud? (e.g., payment fraud)

  • Will he control the procurement process entirely on his own or partially outsource it, and if so, in which part?

  • Is the agent ready to deal with potential disputes regarding the quality of the goods during production and upon completion?

  • How long has the agent been operating?

  • Does he plan to request a product from an “already verified” supplier or to look for new ones?

  • Does the agent have customer reviews from your country? 

  • Willing to sign NNN Agreement?

6. Test with a Trail Order

Most China sourcing agents require your first order to be at least one thousand dollars or even more. Suppose you give them a small order of $50-100, this will be enough for you to judge their completeness, patience, compliance, and ability to control the entire process from procurement to delivery. This is a good advice for you to choose a good China sourcing agent.

7. Physical Visit if Possible

Scheduling a physical visit to the sourcing agent’s office in China, when possible, offers valuable insights into their infrastructure, company culture, and fosters stronger relationships.

Alternatives to In-Person Visits:

Video Conference: If travel is not feasible, please schedule a video conference with the agent. Take a virtual tour of their offices and warehouses (if applicable) using screen sharing. This still gives a good overview of their operations.

The Risks of Working with China Sourcing Agent:

Be wary of Cooperating with SoHo Sourcing Agents in China.

I’m not saying that you can’t cooperate with the Soho China sourcing agent because they also have many advantages.

For example, they respond promptly, have an enthusiastic attitude, and help you deal with many other things. But you also have to know that they have a lot of potential risks,

1. They may change jobs or careers at any time. This is so common, we have answered countless calls saying that their sourcing agent in China is not doing this job anymore, and then they need to cooperate with us.

2. They do not have the funds to deal with unexpected situations such as lost goods or quality problems. 

3. After winning your trust, they may collect the last sum of money from you and then disappear.

Common Problems with Using a Sourcing Agent?

Using a commission-only sourcing agent can become very expensive and risky for many purchasers.

• Buyers usually end up paying a higher price – for example, does the buying agent want 10% commission on a $100,000 order or 10% commission on a $90,000 order?

• Sourcing agents will only get paid when your order ships. However, they may often apply pressure to ship the goods out. This can result in low quality products.

• The sourcing agent is not responsible for any problems that may arise.

• Sourcing agents focus on generating sales to earn commissions, not on providing services to protect you and your company.

Who is the Best Sourcing Agent in China?

The “best sourcing agent in China” is a very vague name for the profession, and almost anyone can “proclaim” himself the best sourcing agent in China.

I don’t think we can ever find a perfect best China sourcing agent, we just need to find a capable and trusted sourcing agent.

To me, the owners’ personal characters matter the most.

A good china sourcing agent should strive to gain your trust, rather than thinking about how much money to make from you all at once.

Whether you look for a China sourcing agent or do it yourself, it’s up to you. If you already have your own experience in managing labor-intensive tasks that carry certain risks, then do not hesitate – save money and do it yourself.

At last, if you are looking for a China sourcing agent, just submit a form and we will reply in 24 hours, and EASY TRADE AFRICA we will be there to help you every step of the way.