The main reason why so many small and medium-sized companies end up losing a good part of their investment when importing from China is that they choose a random supplier on Alibaba, and then simply indicate the product they want and request “good quality”.
The problem, as we often repeat (but perhaps not enough), is that there is no universal definition of “good quality”. And winning a lawsuit in China on the grounds that the supplier did not provide you with a “good quality” product would be impossible since it is too vague a definition.
The correct way to act is to send the supplier a clear and complete list of product specifications. In this article, we will discuss how to create such a list of product specifications and disasters that could occur if you neglect this step, which we believe is crucial
How Chinese suppliers operate
Wouldn’t everything be easier if it were enough to indicate the link of the desired product to the supplier? After all, the supplier will know what kind of quality is required for a given product, right? While it is true that when buying from a European wholesaler or manufacturing company, things go more or less like this, in China the situation is different.
Chinese suppliers are used to making products according to the specifications required by the buyer. Typically, these suppliers do not use a standard manufacturing method that ensures that the products always possess a certain quality. This means that two different stocks of products made by the same supplier could have a completely different quality.
The reason is that materials, components and quality standards were specified by two different buyers who, in fact, requested the same product but with very different characteristics, costs and quality. Chinese manufacturing companies offer the workforce, machinery, and expertise. However, it is up to you to explain to them how to make the product.
Wouldn’t it be easier to buy from a Chinese wholesaler? In theory, the answer is yes. The problem is that wholesalers normally deal with products suitable for the Chinese domestic market, i.e. they have not been made to comply with European certification standards. It is therefore not possible to purchase regulated products such as electronics, toys, textiles or others from a wholesaler for the purpose of importing them into Europe. You have to rely on a manufacturing company that manufactures products in accordance with European certification standards.
What Should Your Product Specification List Include, The Key To Success When Importing From China
Unfortunately, there is no “model” of a list of specifications that fits every type of product. For example, the list of specifications for a solar panel will be completely different from that for a wedding dress. Note, however, that the essence is always the same: the purpose of a specification list is to clearly communicate to the supplier the desired product design, quality, and functionality. A list of specifications should include – but is not an exhaustive list – the following information:
- Design (project or 3D file)
- Colors ( Pantone or RAL scale)
- Dimensions and related tolerances (i.e. 350 mm +/- 5 mm)
- Weight and tolerances (i.e. 400 g +/- 15 g)
- Materials and their specifications (type, weight, treatment, colors)
- Components (e.g. model, brand, performance, functionality)
- Certification standards (e.g. CE, REACH)
- Chemical characteristics (e.g. surface treatments)
- Feature
- International quality standards (e.g. IP65)
- Logo (design, size, position, type of printing, colors)
- Product packaging (design, size, layout, colors, materials)
- Packaging (size, carton quality)
The specifications should be as clear as possible so that the supplier cannot interpret them to their liking, perhaps using sub-standard materials or components without your knowledge.
Product specifications should also not be limited to written text. I therefore recommend that you send files containing the 3D product design, product samples and any other materials you may find useful to the supplier.
What can happen if you don’t send a list of product specifications to your supplier
First of all, you will greatly increase the chance that the supplier will misunderstand your instructions and make a different product than the one you requested. You will therefore obtain a product that will have different characteristics and quality standards from those desired. In extreme cases, the product will not even comply with European certification standards and will therefore be illegal within the European Union.
In addition, if the supplier does not receive detailed instructions, he will have the opportunity to decide the specifications himself. Let’s say you want to import furniture but forget to specify that you want Italian leather sofas. Since you have not specified the type of leather, the supplier will take advantage of it to choose the cheapest one in order to save on materials and maximize their profit margins.
Need help importing products from China?
Our agency can offer you professional 360° import advice and can assist you at every stage of your project!
Rely on the experts at ImportazioneFacile.it, they will support you step by step by putting their many years of experience at your service, to face all the possible pitfalls that lie behind an import.
Fill out the form to get a free consultation now, describe your project and they will contact you to evaluate the best way to make it happen!
