Posted by admin | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on 03-07-2011
Tags: design, free, news, opensource, programming, source four, source four denver, source four fresnel, source four par, sourceforge
Supplier verification: How to minimize online sourcing risk
Experts stress the importance of due diligence following Alibaba’s disclosure of supplier fraud.
Sourcing experts are strongly emphasizing the need for even the most experienced buyers to ensure effective evaluation measures when selecting suppliers in China—particularly when sourcing online.
This follows the abrupt departure of Alibaba’s top two executives after their disclosure that the company’s sales staff “intentionally or negligently” allowed fraudsters to set up more than 2,300 verified storefronts.
“With the information coming out about the resignation of the CEO and COO of Alibaba, the online sourcing world should have just become a little better informed,” said David Dayton of Silk Road International, a China-based international procurement agency that specializes in helping buyers find the right suppliers and coordinate production.
“Let’s face it, we are all still going to be looking online for new suppliers. So what can you do to protect yourself if you cannot fly to China to investigate every potential supplier that you come in contact with?”
According to Dayton, the bare-bones online sourcing experience should look something like this:
- Search only for suppliers that have been verified by a third party outside of the website that hosts their information.
- Pay for background information and document confirmation for any potential supplier before you make any commitments or pay a deposit.
- Include in contracts with your supplier mandatory 3PQC visits during production and before the balance of payment is made at the completion of the project.
- Have a third-party testing company test your products to confirm quality and components.
- Confirm and verify container loading information to see that what you have ordered, tested and checked is indeed what you are being shipped.
He points out that while all of this might sound like a lot of time and money to be spending on relatively seamless online ordering, it is less than the cost of losing a 30 percent deposit, and takes less time than finding a completely new supplier and starting all over again.
So how do you know if you should really be paying for these additional services? Here is Dayton’s list of clues to help gauge a supplier’s level of risk:
The supplier:
- Will not provide copies of licenses or documentation on request.
- Does not want you to visit its factory.
- Asks for cash and provides no guarantee, e.g. cash transfer via Western Union
- Is not easily or consistently available to talk with or meet outside of the online forum.
- Will not or cannot provide you with references or past client referrals.
- Provides an oddly large range of either products or services.
- Will not allow third-party QC.
“If your chosen supplier is not satisfactorily providing this information, search for alternatives or at least get reputable third parties involved in the process to help protect your investment,” Dayton said.
“You can also pay for a background check for a supplier or individual, verifying tax history, legal history, corporate registration, ownership and board members.”
Read the full report at Global Sources, a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with China manufacturers and India suppliers, providing essential sourcing information to volume buyers through our e-magazines, trade shows and industry research.
About the Author
Global Sources is a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with China manufacturers, providing essential sourcing information to volume buyers through our e-magazines, trade shows and industry research.
PNTA: Bench Focusing a Source Four (00:03:45)
|
|
Fred Cool Shooters Shot Glass Mold $5.45 What’s cooler than a shot glass made of ice? Fill Cool Shooters water or your favorite juice, freeze, and then pop out four fully-formed with frozen shot glasses. A great way to add a little nip to your favorite sip! Pure food-grade silicone rubber, clear display boxes…. |
|
|
Wusthof Classic Hollow-Ground Santoku $120.00 Similar to a butcher knife, the Japanese-style santoku knife is a multipurpose gem for slicing, cubing, or dicing. Available in 5″ or 7″, the distinctive hollow-ground edge that alternates scallops on both sides of the blade, and yields a smooth, clean cut.About Wusthof Classic:• Precision-forged blades of Wusthof’s own high-carbon, stain-resistant steel alloy, for a lasting edge that is easy… |
|
|
Stainless Steel Ice Scoop, 4 Ounce $1.09 Add some speed to your drink mixing with this half-cup capacity stainless steel ice scooper. Features a tapered tip to help guide the ice into the glass for an evening of spill-free pouring…. |
|
|
Dirt $4.21 Alice in Chains were initially tagged with the “grunge” moniker, when in fact their haunting, ponderous sound was far closer to the progressive rock of Queensryche. Their second album, Dirt, is a moody, portentous affair, filled with occasionally inspired riffing from guitarist Jerry Cantrell and hair-tossed wailing from singer Layne Staley. Perhaps the band got lumped in with Generation X because… |
|
|
Indigo Ocean Dreams: 4 Children’s Stories Designed to Decrease Stress, Anger and Anxiety while Increasing Self-Esteem and Self-Awareness $7.95 Indigo Ocean Dreams is a 60 minute audio/CD designed to entertain your child in an ocean setting while introducing them to four research-based, stress management techniques. Each story integrates either progressive muscular relaxation, visualizations, breathing, and affirmations (positive statements). Children follow their sea friends along as they use progressive muscular relaxation and breathing… |
|
|
Ray of Light $3.78 CD > POPULAR MUSIC > ROCK… |
|
|
Countdown – Truth $1.99 … |
|
|
Little Blue Planet … |
|
|
Countdown – Truth [HD] $2.99 … |
|
|
Sylvania 12709 100-Watt 130-Volt A19 Household Bulb, 24 Pack 100A CVP 24PK $14.20 … |