Alex explains the summary of guidelines for ordering samples from your product suppliers.


Session #1: Ordering Your Product Samples

 

 

Session #2: Do You Test The Samples Yourself?

 

 

Ordering Samples

  • Order at least 3 samples (different suppliers).
  • Review your product tuning notes (don’t try and customize your first product).
  • Sample should be as close to the final product you want to sell.
  • Samples usually cost between $50 and $100.
  • Asks the supplier for the  sample template to reimburse you for sample cost if you place an order.
  • Consider a ‘sample consolidation  service’ locally (e.g. in China) to reduce international shipping costs.
  • If you don’t get a sample how  do you know what the product quality will be like?

Paying for Samples

  • Easiest option is PayPal (but  not all suppliers accept it).
  • Can also pay directly through  Alibaba.
  • Wire transfers (sometimes called “T/T” or “Telegraphic Transfer”) are often what overseas suppliers want. These can be expensive, cumbersome and may not offer trade assurance.
  • Use our Sample Order Message template when placing the order.
  • Samples typically take about 5 – 10 days to arrive via air.
  • Be sure to follow up with supplier using Sample Follow-up template to make sure samples were sent.

What is the impact of COVID on shipping in 2020/2021 for samples and stock?

In 2020 Novel Coronavirus has had a significant impact on international shipping. With reduced flights available for packages to be transported on, shipping has become recently more expensive  and delayed.

Most packages/stock have two main options for shipping:

  1. Limited specialised courier flights
  2. Ship by sea

Shipping by sea is usually much cheaper. The air shipping prices are more expensive in current environment, as many  packages were historically sent on traveller flights, with a significant majority of these flights now cancelled or reduced. There is now only specialized package flights and the same demand worldwide for packages to be sent.

The business decision trade-off you will need to consider, is shipping by sea often takes more than a month to arrive. It will take longer to launch your product if you choose this option. A positive impact  of Novel Coronavirus has been that online sales/purchases have overall increased on all global platforms.

Some other options to consider:

  1. Samples: Collating a few samples locally in China then getting all samples sent to you in one shipment. This way you can sample test a few different products at once. To do this you would need to get your product sent locally to an agent in China. Leeline Sourcing are one of these agents that do offer this service. You can contact them for a  quote to collate a few samples. Many of our students choose to get a few  samples and send them at once as that is a more economical approach and doesn’t waste additional time if the first sample is not the quality expected.
  2. Consider a smaller lighter  product, for example a pet carrier is likely to be a bit larger than a shoe box and the size/weight would be adding extra costs when shipping
  3. Ask your supplier for a quote from sea and air, then source your own quote. This is not likely going to bring the cost down much unless your existing quote is by air, as there are currently  limited flights to put packages on.
  4. Consider and alternative approach. Look for  locally made products, or products not currently being sold on Amazon and offer to purchase wholesale and get them onto Amazon. China is by no means the only  place to source products from however most countries will be affected by COVID and international shipping impacts. Many of our students are listing products with alternate possibilities and options, as a result of the current increase in international shipping costs.

Final considerations:

  1. Shipping internationally will be a bit more expensive than normal for a while until international travel resumes and parcels can be added to travellers’ flights.
  2. Air shipping is also often  significantly delayed in the current high demand environment, paying for express will not guarantee express delivery with limited planes.
  3. Sample testing is an important  part of your business plan as it is essential to sell a quality product, keeping customers happy, reduce the risk of returns/refunds, maintain your profit margin and to ensure you maintain your seller performance for your Amazon account.
  4. Amazon places high importance on maintaining the  trust of their millions of customers and they will analyse your account health using a range of factors including your ODR Order Defect Rate.