Are you looking for some advice on buying marine refrigeration equipment from China?
It’s not going to be that way if you don’t know where to start. But don’t worry, this guide will sort things out for you.
Your worry is right on point because you don’t want to end up wasting your time and money on some low-quality junk, as you might have heard a lot about Chinese suppliers. But not all suppliers are the same, just like in the US.
If you have done enough research about them, you might save a good chunk of money without compromising the goods’ quality.
Here are some essential tips for buying marine refrigeration equipment from Chinese suppliers.
Buying Marine Refrigeration Equipment from China Suppliers
You need to keep in mind some important points when purchasing marine refrigeration equipment from China suppliers. As you are going to buy from foreign parties, therefore, you need to find their whereabouts.
It would be better to look for their corporate website. Going through any testimonials and online reviews would be a good way to know how they conduct business. Then, when you have enough knowledge about the reputation of that particular company, it’s time to find the right kind of products that are on offer in their catalog.
You need to look for the correct type of marine refrigeration equipment and how to power it. In addition, the unit you are looking for needs to be easy to install and the right size to fit in.
But wait, there’s more that you need to cover as well. Unfortunately, finding reputable Chinese suppliers is not that easy because there are so many out there. So, read on to find more about everything you need to know when buying marine refrigeration equipment from Chinese suppliers.
Factors to Keep in Mind When Buying Marine Refrigeration Equipment from China Suppliers
You need to consider some important factors when looking for Chinese suppliers for your marine refrigeration equipment and systems.
1. Type of suppliers available in China
There are three types of suppliers available in China when it comes to marine refrigeration equipment. You will find manufacturers, you will find trading companies, you will find some local wholesalers, and you will find some sourcing agents as well.
Apart from that, there will be some small-scale drop shippers and wholesalers available as well. You will also find wholesalers with overstock and with stock that has some minor defects in it.
2. Online directories for suppliers
First of all, you need to go through a long list of online directories of China suppliers. Directories like SaleHoo.com would be a good starting point for you.
It is arguably the safest way to find some reputed China suppliers for marine refrigeration equipment. In addition, your search will become easier because you can search by exact specifications and requirements.
And scanning such directories is pretty fast, and it will save a lot of time. Always check for any review or rating systems in place or working and go for the best-rated suppliers.
3. Googling the suppliers
You can always directly Google the supplier’s marine refrigeration equipment. It’s pretty fast and efficient, and there is a reason why everyone turns to Google when they want to search something out, whether it’s a product or some information.
But the results that appear in the search need to be authentic, and there is no gauge to test the authenticity of all the search results. So, it’s never a guarantee that the supplier appearing right at the top above might be the ideal for you to trade with.
4. Trade shows and fairs
Another good way of finding authentic Chinese suppliers is to attend trade fairs and shows. Such events will help you understand the corporate values of a Chinese supplier, their portfolio of product offerings, and their quality control processes and procedures.
These events are where you can directly interact with the suppliers as well. In addition, there are events like the Canton Fair and the East China Fair that take place annually in China. Finally, if you are looking for one in the US, go to the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
5. Online Marketplaces
You can also explore different online Chinese marketplaces as well. AliExpress and Alibaba are two of the best options for you to begin your search. But you will have to be careful here with Alibaba because most of the listings are made by the manufacturers.
Finding suppliers here can become a difficult job because most entities don’t have their websites. Moreover, their English-speaking skills are pretty low, and you will have to pay for the orders through wire transfer and cannot use your credit cards.
Another alarming thing about searching the marketplaces is that there is no guarantee that you will get the right items that you have ordered or not. AliExpress, on the other hand, is a much better option because the entries that you will find here are mostly stores, and it’s more like a Chinese Amazon. Any small-scale refrigeration equipment may be available here.
The only difference is that all the items here are available at wholesale rate, and their delivery will take around a couple of weeks to fulfill. Made-in-China.com is another option for you to explore, and it’s a viral B2B and e-commerce platform.
6. Outsource to a sourcing firm
Have you given a thought about going for a sourcing firm? Such a firm can find a supplier for you, but it can be a hit or a miss. For example, you might have to work with a highly cooperative sourcing agent or might end up dealing with a shoddy one who wants to go for a higher price.
Plus, you will also have to keep in mind that it’s not a regulated industry. So, any party can claim to have what it takes desired by you and work as your best sourcing company. But you end up getting screwed in the end.
But there are some well-reputed outsourcing firms, and they will deliver the results for you to find the best supplier for marine refrigeration equipment. These include the likes of 80/20 Outsourcing, Importdojo.com, and Easy Imex.
7. Order samples
There is no better way than a testing company’s worth and its promise than trying out the samples. Have them directly shipped to you, and this will allow you to accomplish three things in one go.
You will notice how long the shipping process takes compared to the times mentioned on their website and online marketplaces. Two, you will get the idea of what the packaging quality will be and will be able to assess where this kind of packaging would be suitable for your customers to receive or not.
If not, then you can make your next decisions right from here. Three, you will get to check the quality of the product and how well it will hold up. If you are looking for long-term success, this factor is extremely critical.
8. Chat with their customer support
You can always find different ways to talk to their customer support as well. But, first, you need to assess how easy it is to get in touch with them. A quality company will always make it easier for any prospects to get in touch with them.
You can check whether they have a working option to get in touch with them on their website or any of those marketplaces and online directories. Customer support that is eager to help will always be good to work within the long run.
9. Ask about their previous customer references and testimonials
While you are in touch with their customer support, you can ask them about their previous customer references and testimonials. A good company will have no problem providing you with any of these besides what is mentioned on the rei website and social media pages.
10. Choose the right price
The last but not the least important factor that you need to consider here is to go for the right price. Make sure that you don’t over-negotiate the terms with your Chinese supplier, or you will have to compromise on quality. If you are looking to go for the long-term, you will have to choose quality, and quality comes with a price.
Conclusion:
You must go through each of these tips and spend some time making the right decision in the end. If you are looking to go long-term, you will have to make some important decisions earlier on to avoid any headache later on.
And don’t forget to try out the samples and the customer service of the supplier for the marine refrigeration equipment you are going for. It will allow you to either finalize the supplier to move on to the next.
