Adrian hosts and Renaud joins to offer some cautionary advice about working with ‘the cheapest Chinese supplier’ with a focus on relatively ordinary consumer and electronic products. What might sound like a good deal could actually land you in hot water. Here’s why…
Listen to the episode here 👇
Listen: to the podcast episode
Watch: on Youtube
Episode sections
- 00:00 – Greetings and introduction: Should we be wary of choosing the cheapest supplier?
- 05:35 – Warning signs from cheap suppliers.
- 09:54 – Do lowest prices = a stable relationship for the mid to long-term?
- 15:18 – Does a manufacturing contract protect you from the supplier making changes due to not being able to afford to honor low prices?
- 17:55 – What type of factory are you even dealing with?
- 24:36 – An example quote for very low-cost plastic injection mold tooling and the problems you might face in future if you accept.
- 27:23 – Avoiding the cheapest options and doing due diligence is a must for certain product types.
- 29:21 – What can go wrong when you work with a cheap/bad supplier?
- 33:47 – Is it really impossible to get a small factory to do a good job?
- 39:18 – Wrapping up.
Related content…
- The four levels of Chinese factories
- Learn how to source from China: DIY Sourcing from China Podcast Series
- Free eBook: How To Find A Manufacturer In China: 10 Verification Steps
- Hands-on buyers: qualifying factories and nurturing them
- Hands-off buyers: accepting the risks of importing
- Get help from Sofeast to do your due diligence on potential suppliers: Background Checks on Suppliers
Listen, rate, & subscribe to the ‘China Manufacturing Decoded’ podcast on your favorite provider
More episodes are coming, so remember to rate us and subscribe! You can find us on:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Google Podcasts
- TuneIn
- Amazon Podcasts
- Deezer
- iHeartRADIO
- PlayerFM
- Listen Notes
- Podcast Addict
- Podchaser
- The podcast’s website at China Manufacturing Decoded
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to give us a 5* rating and share it with your network if you enjoy listening!