[asterisk-biz] Why so many international customers ask for free samples

[Peter Lindquist]

Andy and friends,

Sitting on both sides of this by buying equipment from many Taiwanese 
and Chinese suppliers, and selling to Thai, European, US and other 
customers. We get asked by some to provide samples, especially for 
equipment that do not exist or is easily available on the end market.

There are no problems when customers ask for things like Linksys ATAs 
etc., the customer know the equipment and have access to specifications, 
manuals, etc. However for a lot of "non-brand" equipment customers wants 
a sample and we want samples from our suppliers. The easiest way to do 
this is usually to provide single or a small number of units at a 
slightly higher price than in bulk. I don't really know anyone or have 
met anyone being willing to order hundreds of units of any equipment 
without first have had tested a sample and have access to manuals and 
full specifications.

Saying that you can always return the equipment, that means in the end 
having the risk of having to pay for a lot of shipping costs and bank 
transfer fees. We don't like this at all to be honest.

A recommendation to Chinese suppliers and others is to provide adequate 
data on the equipment they sell and have decent manuals. All too many 
times we receive equipment where manuals and actual interfaces are very 
unsync'd, or the equipment is different in specifications than 
previously provided. This is a reason to why we want to be able to buy 
or be provided with sample units.

It is much appreciated to be given discounts for the sample units once a 
larger order is placed.

Don't despair we all have a tougher time now and need to look for 
markets, be they international or local.

All the best!


Peter

Andy Spring wrote:
> Hello everyone friends,
>  
> As a chinese supplier, we often meet this kind of status, so many 
> foreign cusotmers ask for free samples from us,
> but the sample is also high value not only several dollars, even if it 
> worth several dollars, if so many customers ask
> for free samples, we also can not afford them.
>  
> By this status, should we send the free samples to our customers? if 
> you, how will you do? if not send them free samples
> maybe we will lose customers. In fact, the cost of sample is hihger 
> then unit goods for bulk order.
> We have also some policy about the sample, like charger higher price 
> for sample(s) and when our customers (especially new customers)
> place bulk order, we will return the sample cost to them, but even by 
> this way, they still do not want to pay for the sample price,
> what could we do, do you have any better advice.
>  
> Thank you very much, my friends here everyone!
>  
> Best regards
>
> -- 
> andy
> andyspr at gmail.com <mailto:andyspr at gmail.com>
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