Industrial plugs and sockets are a fundamental part of any factory. In China, there is an abundance of manufacturers that can provide these products for you.
However, if you’re not careful about the pitfalls of purchasing this type of product from China, it could cost your company money and time.
I will discuss 8 common pitfalls that buyers should avoid when sourcing industrial plugs and sockets in China!
It isn’t easy to find a reliable supplier in China
There are many factories in China, but there are also many trading companies.
A trading company can provide you with the advantage of purchasing a wide range of products. But the price will be a little higher, while they cannot guarantee the quality.
There are a few advantages to buying from the factory itself.
The first is that a direct connection to the manufacturer can be efficient if any quality issue or defect is found. Another advantage is that you have a lot more of the company’s time and attention if you have a problem with your order.
A downside of purchasing from the factory is fewer product choices. It could be costly and time-consuming if you need something outside this range. You also may have to meet the MOQ before ordering from them, which then limits your options again.
One thing to be wary of is that many trading companies will claim to be a factory to attract customers.
So we have to figure out whether we want to work with a trading company or a factory. This article discusses how to identify a factory or a trading company. 5 Ways To Tell Whether It Is A Factory Or A Trading Company
The quality of the product is not as good as it seems
Continuing, the quality of the product varies greatly. It is essential to ensure that you are not being too adventurous with your choice of plug or socket, or it might come back to haunt you later on.
For example, some plugs are made of solid brass pins, while others are hollow brass pins. The quality of these can vary tremendously. It’s challenging to select the products, especially through pictures.
The more expensive ones were excellent while some cheaper ones weren’t so great.
Be sure to add one step to your purchasing steps: check the samples first. Although it will increase the cost, usually, the factory provides free samples, and the purchaser pays the shipping cost.
There are many infringing and counterfeit products
China is a large manufacturing country but also has a massive number of infringing and counterfeit products.
There are many dangers that importers face when importing infringing products. One of the significant dangers to be aware of is the possibility of infringing intellectual property rights. It is crucial to understand if any other company holds a patent or trademark for what you are trying to import so you can avoid any legal pitfalls.
Another danger is that, in some cases, counterfeit goods can be dangerous to your customers and employees. There may be ingredients in counterfeit goods that could cause allergic reactions or severe health problems.
In most cases, it will cost more money upfront, but you will save a lot later on by avoiding any legal battles with your customers and getting hurt by bad press coverage from unsafe products.
We must make sure that the products to be purchased do not involve infringement and counterfeit.
Ask if other companies hold a patent or trademark for what we are importing to avoid legal pitfalls.
The price might be too low to be true
Many merchants will use very low prices to attract customers to inquire. What they sell are some inferior quality products.
You need to be very careful when purchasing plugs and sockets in China to research and confirm their quality and price beforehand. Then you can think about whether or not they meet your specifications and need.
It’s like the saying goes, “You get what you pay for.” I can’t think of any other way to put it.
The truth is that if someone purchases an item and then finds out when they receive it, this product disappointed them and ended up being something terrible or completely unrelated.
Determine the delivery date before placing an order
Although the delivery time of factories in China is more stable than in Southeast Asia and India, if you don’t screen them properly, you will still encounter many factories that delay delivery.
This reason is often due to poor corporate management, failure to ship as expected. Or just In order to take more orders, factories knew from the very beginning that they would delay.
For delivery time, large companies will be more stable than small companies because the production volume of large companies is enormous and stable. And they care more about the reputation of the company.
Smaller companies likely won’t have as strict output time control, which means you will take more risks with their delivery date.
You may not get what you ordered
As we discussed earlier, you cannot trust the pictures on the website. We have to confirm the quality of the products we want to buy by sending samples.
But sometimes, when you have confirmed the sample, but after receiving your product and finding it to be poorly made or of low quality- things can get awkward.
So when sourcing industrial plugs and sockets in China, it’s essential to use a third-party inspection agency.
Because there are many pitfalls, you need to beware of when making these purchases. Some of these pitfalls include product quality, safety compliance, and factory reliability.
By using a third-party inspection agency, you can ensure that your products meet all of your requirements.
Our company often cooperates with Intertek, SGS, and QCS, which are well-known tri-party inspection companies. But you can find your trustworthy institution to do it. The price may be much lower!
Be aware of the timeline in which you will receive your product
Due to COVID-19, ocean freight rates began to skyrocket in 2020. Many areas could not book shipping or even no container for use, so shipping companies started levying quadruple the prices!
It’s also important you consider these costs when planning your next big order as they might increase exponentially.
During this pandemic, many businesses saw their profits drop by about 50%. These high inflation periods can really hurt those who don’t prepare accordingly–especially during such uncertain times like now with all those unknown factors lurking around every corner.”
Very high shipping costs
I know you already have a partner freight forwarder before you import the product. But the first time you import from China, I would suggest finding more forwarders to compare prices.
Since each freight forwarder specializes in a different country, there is a good chance that you can find a freight forwarder with a lower price but with the same excellent service.
Conclusion
It’s essential to be aware of the pitfalls when purchasing industrial plugs and sockets in China.
The article outlines 8 things that buyers should watch out for, including high shipping costs and poor product quality. When sourcing these products from a factory in China, it is imperative to use a third-party inspection agency—especially if you are a first-time buyer or don’t know much about this area yet!
Want to learn more about it? I can help with this. Email me today! I am ready and waiting at han@sunriseplug.com.
