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Is traveling to China a must?
 

Is finding a good manufacturer ,who would make your product exactly as you want it to be made, possible without traveling to China?



Anyone here with such experiences?

Re: Is traveling to China a must?
 

....no.

Look up companies, tell them what you're wanting, get a prototype....

Re: Is traveling to China a must?
 

Not required as previously stated by Gladiator find suppliers using alibaba etc chat to them request and pay for sample negotiate price and go from their.

Re: Is traveling to China a must?
 

It's not impossible to find a good supplier online but I've heard it's easier if you travel to China, know the language, and communicate directly with potential suppliers. Not really an option for most though.

Chinese members here have said lots of Ali sellers aren't manufacturing anything, just sourcing from 1688 and reselling worldwide. Going there in person would be a good way to tell trading companies from actual factories.

Re: Is traveling to China a must?
 

maybe not necessary, but it could be fun...

Re: Is traveling to China a must?
 

I will be going later this year or early next not because I have to but because it is the polite thing to do in my exact circumstance.

Re: Is traveling to China a must?
 

Have you started taking the steps necessary to go there as an American? I'm curious what kind of paperwork needs to be taken care of in advance. I think Americans are only allowed into China through certain ports but that's about all I know.

I really want to go but I have a fear of some kind of "Locked Up Abroad" scenario playing out where I would get locked up in a Chinese prison.

Re: Is traveling to China a must?
 

People rarely come to China personally unless it is for an very big order. Usually they just request sample at first and then go from there.

Re: Is traveling to China a must?
 

You need your visa. It takes a few months. Americans travel all over the entire country. We have friends who live there months of the year. We have friends who have gone for vacations(no idea why) They said they loved it but will NEVER go again LOL

It is super loud. Never quiet. People everywhere. Rude people. Gross people. People literally **** and piss in the streets. Restrooms are an open ditch behind a wall in much of the country. Basically too many people.

You cant eat vegetables, you cant have water or ice cubes etc...You must be very careful if not stomach pains and diarrhea are your fate.

My friends who only travel there for business absolutely hate going. They say it is horrible unless you are into nude massages and cheap/free hookers.

My big turnoff now is that we cant eat the street foods or have fish head soup because of the water quality.

No offense to our Chinese members or my Chinese friends. It is just very different from the USA and a culture shock to most of us.

Re: Is traveling to China a must?
 

:heh::heh::heh: It is 20th century now and the document thing should be very easy. I have seen many Americans hanging around in China now. It is extremely foreginer-friendly in big cities like Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Beijing, etc.

Re: Is traveling to China a must?
 

It's actually the 21st century now, lol.

Shenzhen would be my primary interest. I'll have to start looking into it.

Re: Is traveling to China a must?
 

I'll go this year too, probably to Guangzhou... haven't been there yet. If you go to Shenzhen make sure you also visit Hong Kong and Macau. Pretty cool cities, really liked it there.

Re: Is traveling to China a must?
 

1688?????????????

Re: Is traveling to China a must?
 

I just opened an email with a request for my presence in china LOL It sounds like we will be wined and dinned and dazzled. My biggest concern is not liking the people I do business with and consider partners and friends. :)

Re: Is traveling to China a must?
 

It's the China->China version of Ali. It's where Chinese trading companies shop around for suppliers. Everything is in Chinese and it can't be easily translated since it's almost all images of text.

1688.com

:noidea:

Re: Is traveling to China a must?
 

I'll eventually make it to the Canton Fair. Been wanting to go for years...

Re: Is traveling to China a must?
 

1688.com and alibaba.com are both ran by Jack Ma.
1688.com is in Chinese, and alibaba.com is in English

Re: Is traveling to China a must?
 

So do you think one could find real manufacturers on Alibaba?

Re: Is traveling to China a must?
 

How much do you think it would cost to travel to Guangzhou or Shenzehn for a couple weeks?

Re: Is traveling to China a must?
 

Found and conquered a few

Re: Is traveling to China a must?
 

I think I'll limit my travel to the Chinese restaurant up the street... been around the world a bit and kind of like it best here in the States...

Re: Is traveling to China a must?
 

It's not necessary... I wouldn't go.

If possible, it's better to have a Chinese partner. They can do all the leg work to find suppliers. They speak the language. Etc.

You don't need to be there.. :)