FAQ - Common China Business Questions

Below are answers to the most commonly asked questions we hear from importers at China Blueprint.

1. Why should I use China Blueprint, when I can find a Chinese supplier on the Internet and deal direct?
We’re experienced at what we do – not only are our staff familiar with the Chinese culture and the Chinese business environment, we also help importers and exporters every day with their China projects. We combine these two vital elements to take away the unknown from your business dealings with China.

2. Does China Blueprint import the products for me?
No, we are not an importer. Instead, we help you to import the goods yourself.

3. What services do China Blueprint offer?
Our services are designed to help you to work with China, and are available to a wide audience: essentially anyone who is looking to do business with China, including importers, exporters and investors. All services are tailored to your specific needs.

4. I can find a Chinese agent that will source a product for a 5% commission. What does this mean? Why shouldn’t I just use them?
Using the internet, you can easily find you an agent who will source your products for a commission. However, these agents will also receive a commission from the manufacturer or trading company who supplies your products, and to cover this cost the manufacturer or trading company build in their commission into the offer price for the goods. The result is that the commission paid by you to the agent can be anywhere from at least 12% to 100% and not 5%, you can never be 100% sure.

Not uncommon, most agents are profit driven, meaning that they may refer your business to the supplier with the cheapest price (often meaning the product is substandard) or to the supplier which offers them the highest commission (which isn’t necessarily the one with the most suitable product for you!).

Does China Blueprint receive commissions from the suppliers they use or recommend?
No. Our company’s charter prohibits extracting commission from our suppliers, as it reduces the ability to enforce changes, refunds or lead time reductions. We work for you, not the supplier.

5. Why should I choose China Blueprint over other similar companies?
We welcome competition! But a word of caution: many so-called China experts have limited or questionable credentials. Perhaps because a lot of people have a limited understanding of China, there’s a trend to think that anyone who has had any interaction with China or the Chinese is qualified to be classified as an expert.

China Blueprint believes that the ability to be successful in China has a direct relationship with your ability to successfully adapt to the very different environment. If your expert can’t speak Chinese, has never studied the culture, or been outside a major Chinese city, nor has expertise in the relevant field, how much do they really know? Also, some experts may have a specialist area in which they are highly proficient in Australia, such as management or manufacturing, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that they have the right skills to advise you about the equivalent in China – a production line in China is very different from one in Australia, just as management in China is very different from typical Western management practices.

Don’t forget - a lack of cultural understanding can easily cause offence.

6. Where do I start to begin working with China Blueprint?
Call or email us directly. We are approachable and friendly and will endeavor to make a free initial assessment of your project. We are happy to listen to your requirements and devise an individually tailored plan to assist you achieve import/export success.

7. Why do you work in the way that you do?
Our platform involves lengthy and exhaustive front end work to ensure success. We don’t settle for the first supplier we find for you, and to find one satisfactory company requires us to have much communication with at least multiple others. Additionally, order management of China-based sourcing projects requires continual (and sometimes intrusive) supervision of each and every order to ensure the quality and quantity. Please also be aware that projects can be undertaken under non-disclosure and service agreements to ensure the integrity of your company and product. Whilst the internet appears to offer promising opportunities, you simply cannot expect to achieve the same results our experience and specialised staff do. At the same time we still give you final say in all your project choices and supplier decisions.

8. So how do you control the quality in China?
Our quality control ability relies on a variety of factors. We hold the China supplier to a higher level of accountability through our standard practices, such the signing of trading contracts, and our on-the-ground staff presence. Additionally, products manufactured are subject to inspections performed by trained inspectors to AQL and ISO standards at a nominated point in production or at completion.

9. All the suppliers I’ve worked with have always said “We don’t do/have contracts in China” is this true?

No. Whilst China Blueprint are not legal practicioners either in Australia or China, ALL our projects are the subject of internationally (and more importantly China recognised) sales and manufacturing agreements as recommended by our legal advisor. These agreements are a very strong tool in the implementation of our assessment and accountability processes.

To have your questions answered , speak with one of our China Blueprint Consultants.

CONTACT
INFORMATION

China Blueprint Consultants
Australian Office.
30/104 Bathurst St
Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: +61 (2) 9267 2933

Fax: +61 (2) 9267 6268