This Episode, #18,  is kind of a confessional: My Product Sourcing Mistakes & Their Solutions. To be fair to my past self, when I first got into creating an Amazon Private Label business with ASM 3, Amazing Selling Machine was a little light on detail of how to source from China. I did lots of research and have made many mistakes. If experience is the best teacher, it’s still cheaper, quicker and less painful to learn from others’ mistakes! So I hope I can help you avoid mine!

** REVIEWS CONTEST!**

The first 25 people to review the show on iTunes will be entered into a draw. The winner will receive a £50 Amazon Voucher from Amazing FBA!  

Head over to iTunes now and leave your review! If you haven’t  already, you can also subscribe through iTunes to get all the info you need to start your own successful Amazon business!

CONTEST EXTENDED to the end of November or 1st 25 reviews, whichever comes first !

SHOW NOTES FOR EPISODE #18

* risking money without diligence

* excessive fear of fraud

* being too perfectionist/scared

* FNSKU

* not re-ordering soon enough

* setting up a shipping plan and activating it without being ready to ship boxes within 24 hours!

* not using clear paperwork trail

My Two Personal Checklists for Doing Supplier Due Diligence all the way to ordering product follow here:

Evernote Version of Supplier Due Diligence

CHECKLIST ONE: Chinese Suppliers- Due Diligence

 

COMPANY DUE DILIGENCE

Pre-contact checks:

IF Alibaba Supplier:

Gold Supplier

Verified Supplier?

Assessed Supplier?

Onsite Check?

Escrow

If HKTDC Supplier:

Dun & Bradstreet Check?

Invertek verified?

Detailed Check:

“Do you have an export license?”

“Do you have a business license?”

“What is the business owner’s name?”

 

Email check:

is [email protected] or free email address?

Address check:

find address on website or ask for it

request they mail copy of catalogue

check whether factory address is printed on this (if no address, probably not manufacturer)

Tel check:

find or ask for tel no

check if tel.  area code corresponds to address location http://www.china.org.cn/english/MATERIAL/120745.htm

Trade shows

Please could you confirm which Trade Shows your company has attended?

 visit the Trade Show’s official website and verify that the supplier has in fact attended.

Pass ** owner’s name, co address, co tel no for checks

Co. Passed **’s checks?

Please can you let me know your Skype contact details if you use Skype?

 if not, please can you give me a direct contact telephone number for you personally?

PRODUCT DUE DILIGENCE

Is it the right one?

Can you do Private Labelling (OEM)?

IP (Intellectual Property)

Is there a patent or trademark on the product?

If so, do you own it?

If no, are you a licensed reseller?

Safety certificates:

check with Customs Broker what safety certifications are needed for this product type

Do you have these certifications for the product:

CE?

UL?

FCC?

Others needed?

Chinese Suppliers – Product Negotiation & Ordering