Three Things to Consider in Hiring a Sourcing Agent Shenzhen

The southern Chinese city of Shenzhen is arguably the most prominent manufacturing city in the world, also called as “the heart of electronics in the world”. Many foreign businesses invest in Shenzhen because of the numerous manufacturing plants in the area. It has the third largest port in the world, and this serves as an ideal shipping point for entrepreneurs. Its status as a Special Economic Zone also provides businesses with plenty of incentives. It is also very near to progressive Hong Kong. Entrepreneurs who want to source products or materials from Shenzhen should keep in mind certain things when finding a sourcing agent Shenzhen.

1. Track record

A good sourcing agent in Shenzhen has the track record to impress potential clients. Track record may pertain to the number of customers served by the sourcing agent, as well as the overall performance of the agent in matching businesses with the right suppliers.

Organizations that want to make sure about the sourcing representative they hire in Shenzhen start out by ordering a sample product or item. They then judge the sourcing specialist according to the quality of the product delivered as well as the speed by which the delivery was made.

2. Honesty

Sometimes, it pays to have an honest sourcing agent than a capable agent who is not that trustworthy.  It is an open secret that some sourcing agents get commission from suppliers. This relationship increases the chances that an agent will neglect quality in recommending a supplier to a client, as the agent will endorse a supplier who can give him the highest commission.  

Sourcing agent Shenzhen must be honest enough to present a truthful sourcing report to their clients.  Businesses should run a through background check on a sourcing agent that they are considering to hire. Investigating the track record of the agent would go a long way towards ensuring that a company nabs the services of an honest Shenzhen representative.  Likewise, firms should specify in the contract signed with the sourcing agent that hidden commissions are not allowed.

3. Can Communicate Well

Perhaps the biggest hurdle to doing business in China is the language barrier. Not everyone in China is proficient in English, or can communicate well using the global language. It is thus a common occurrence for sourcing representatives in Shenzhen to deliver wrong items or poor quality products to their clients because of miscommunication. This only underscores the need for companies to hire a sourcing agent Shenzhen who can speak and write fluent English.