Skip to content
ANSIMOFFFYour representative in China

Insights

Blog

Practical notes on sourcing, factories, negotiations, logistics, culture, and working safely with Chinese partners.

33

AllChinese mentality and cultural codes9Negotiating with Chinese partners13Chinese for business5Exhibitions, business trips and on-site support3China2Guidebook1
How to Negotiate with a Chinese Supplier If You Don’t Speak ChineseNegotiating with Chinese partners4 min readHow to Negotiate with a Chinese Supplier If You Don’t Speak ChineseThe most common problem in negotiations with a Chinese supplier is not price, but the fact that both sides may understand the same word differently. You may be sure you agreed on deadlines, packaging, or quality, while the factory heard something else entirely. If you don’t speak Chinese, that is not a reason to walk away from a deal. But it is a reason to set up the negotiations in advance so you don’t lose your terms, control, or time.
Negotiating with Chinese partners4 min readHow to Tell When a Supplier from China Is Too CheapNegotiating with Chinese partners8 min readWhat to Ask a Supplier from China Before PayingExhibitions, business trips and on-site support6 min readHow Much Does Supplier Sourcing in China Cost?
Do You Need to Travel to China to See a Supplier?Exhibitions, business trips and on-site support9 min readDo You Need to Travel to China to See a Supplier?I keep seeing the same situation: the supplier is already found, the emails are flowing, the price seems clear — and then the client asks whether they need to travel to China to see a supplier in person, or whether everything can be handled remotely. And that’s exactly when I always ask them not to look at the trip budget alone. The real question is what you want to verify with a face-to-face meeting: the person, the factory, the sample, the timeline, or your own risk. Sometimes a flight really saves the deal. Sometimes it only eats up time and changes nothing. Do you need to travel to China to see a supplier? That is the question I would not answer on instinct. I would look at the task, the risk, and the result you actually need.
Supplier Search in China Timeline by StepExhibitions, business trips and on-site support11 min readSupplier Search in China Timeline by StepThe most common question I hear before we start is simple: how long does supplier search in China take, and when will the first useful result appear? It’s a fair question, because timing affects not only purchase speed, but also whether you make the season without rush and mistakes. I’m always honest here: you can find something online in one day, but a proper supplier search in China in one day is a poor benchmark. What matters more is understanding the stages where time goes into quality, not just the appearance of work.
Hong Kong: an expensive city I still want to return toGuidebook5 min readHong Kong: an expensive city I still want to return toHong Kong is one of those places that shows its character right away. Everything there feels dense, alive, and expensive. And that’s exactly why it gets under your skin: not just because of the prices, but because of its vibe, its pace, and the way glass towers, waterfronts, markets, and harbor views all sit side by side.
Mistakes When Ordering Goods from China: 5 Causes of DefectsChina7 min readMistakes When Ordering Goods from China: 5 Causes of DefectsMost often I see the same picture: the buyer is sure the problem is a “bad factory,” but in reality defects show up because of mistakes when ordering goods from China on the buyer’s side. Somewhere the sample was not agreed in full, somewhere inspection was saved on, somewhere important details were left to chat messages without proper confirmation. And then the search for someone to blame starts instead of a proper check of the chain: what exactly was ordered, how it was confirmed, and who controlled shipment.
Переговорная комната в китайской компании: как определить, кто принимает решениеNegotiating with Chinese partners11 min readHow to determine who really makes decisions in a Chinese companyIn a Chinese company, the decision-maker often does not match the job title. We break down the three levels of power, the role of the coordinator, and a practical procedure for mapping influence based on observable signals.
Рабочий стол с калькулятором, образцами продукции и заметками — иллюстрация к статье о переговорах о скидке с китайским поставщикомNegotiating with Chinese partners14 min readHow to get a discount from a Chinese supplier without ruining the relationshipWhy a discount in Chinese negotiations is an exchange, not a request; how to prepare, what to offer in return, and where the line runs between persistence and loss of face.
Рабочий стол с ноутбуком и таблицей цен, блокнот с иероглифами, чашка чая — атмосфера деловых переговоров о цене с китайской фабрикойNegotiating with Chinese partners14 min readHow to Discuss Price with a Chinese Factory: Structure, Roles, and the Language of NegotiationA conversation about price with a Chinese factory is not a haggle, but a sequence of different conversations: about the structure of the quotation, about who makes the decision, about what a concession looks like and how it is recorded. The article examines the logic from which negotiation techniques grow, and shows which formulations change the conversation and which close it.
Современная переговорная комната с документами на столе — обложка статьи о первом раунде переговоров с китайской сторонойNegotiating with Chinese partners13 min readFirst round of negotiations with the Chinese: what to expectThe first meeting with the Chinese side is not a haggle but a mutual check. We break down what is actually decided in the first round, how to read indirect signals like 考虑一下 and 有难度, and what you need to secure before it ends so that a second round happens at all.
Рабочий стол с контрактом и банковской картой на фоне размытого промышленного здания — иллюстрация к теме предоплаты китайской фабрикеNegotiating with Chinese partners12 min readHow to safely discuss prepayment with a Chinese factoryPrepayment to a Chinese factory is not a matter of trust, but a manageable procedure. We break down what to check before talking about percentages, how to formulate advance payment terms without conflict, and which tools reduce risk without damaging working relationships.
Рабочий стол с спецификацией и образцом продукта на фоне производственного цеха — переговоры о MOQ с китайской фабрикойNegotiating with Chinese partners12 min readHow to negotiate MOQ with a Chinese factoryMOQ is not a price, but the threshold for starting production. We break down what makes up a minimum order, who at the factory can change it, and what the buyer can offer in return so the conversation doesn't hit a flat refusal.
Переговорный стол с контрактом на китайском языке и финансовыми документами на фоне делового района ШанхаяNegotiating with Chinese partners11 min readHow to discuss payment terms with a Chinese supplier: deposit, balance, and the logic of negotiationPayment terms with a Chinese supplier are not an accounting detail but part of your negotiating position. We break down the logic of deposit and balance, the difference between 定金 and 订金, what to clarify before signing, and which arguments work when discussing payment.
Рабочий стол с коммерческим инвойсом, калькулятором и карандашом на фоне промышленного цеха — метафора переговоров о цене с китайским поставщикомNegotiating with Chinese partners11 min readWhy a Chinese Supplier Won't Lower the PriceWe break down why a Chinese factory refuses a discount: cost structure, the manager's authority, the logic of haggling, and the levers that actually affect the price.
Рабочий стол с распечатанной спецификацией, образцом ткани, блокнотом и чашкой чая — подготовка к переговорам с китайским поставщикомNegotiating with Chinese partners16 min readHow to Prepare for Negotiations with a Chinese SupplierPreparing for negotiations with a Chinese supplier is a management process, not a search for the right phrase. What to decide before first contact: goal and concessions, a dossier on the supplier, the real status of the person you're talking to, specification, language, money and logistics, internal limits and exit scenarios.
Небольшая тестовая партия товара в картонной коробке на столе рядом с планшетом и блокнотом — иллюстрация к статье о переговорах с китайским поставщикомNegotiating with Chinese partners11 min readHow to negotiate a small trial batch with a Chinese supplierA practical breakdown of negotiating a trial order 试单: why the factory resists small volumes, which four levers work, and what to do if a trial batch is impossible.
All 15