How to choose a Sourcing Agent

There are many ways in which you can ensure that the sourcing agent you choose is honest, trustworthy and reliable. When choosing an agent, you should ask a few questions from them. Of course, you will find many agents and companies on the web which offer sourcing services in China. Make a list or each service provider and ask the following questions. These questions will help you scrutinize the best and the most reliable China sourcing agent.

License or registration

Make sure that when you choose an agent, he is working under the Chinese rules of law. The company should have a license to operate in China and should be authorized to perform sourcing activities. Without a license, there is no guarantee if you will get the products or not. So, be careful and always ask for registration or license of the agent/company.

The agent should also have an export license. Without the export license, he will have to rely on third-party services. It will take longer, and there can be complications in such a process. So, make sure that you ask for the export and import license.

References

Ask them for references. Ask the agent to give you at least three or four references from your country of origin. This way you will know if the agent has provided services to someone in your country. You can ask those individuals or companies and their services. Check the agents before you hire them.

Location of the agent or company

Another important thing that you should know or ask the agent is the location. The agent you choose should be near the manufacturing base for your products. This way the agent will perform actions quickly and will keep an eye on the product’s manufacturing process. If the agent is far from the manufacturers of your products, it will take a long time to interact. To conduct smooth business and source products quickly, you should choose the agent who is near the manufacturers or the suppliers.

Communication

Ask the agent how often he will communicate with you and update you on the ongoing business. Communication is very important for this kind of businesses. Without proper communication, you cannot get the products which you want. You should always schedule meetings or calls on daily basis. If the agent refuses, make sure to choose the other.

These are a few questions which you should ask the sourcing agent before hiring.