SOHO之印度客人Brian

“篮球场上的胜利从成功中来，每一个进球之于一场比赛微不足道，却又不可或缺. ”

很久以前看过的这么一句话还一直记着。篮球的爱好还在，只是比较少去球场了。

SOHO以来，没什么大单。好在小单也是爱，先活下来总是最重要的， 更大的机会再努力争取。

今天查了运单，货物昨天已经送达。 回顾整个订单过程，很多地方做的不足。虽然客人没有催，但是浪费了太多时间。

6.18日收到美国Dennis的询盘，虽然没有具体数量，但是很专业。邮箱也能查到网站。 只是后来才知道，印度Brian是Dennis的客人。

Hi

I would like to inquire price of your car***. Set will be 4 pcs per set. Custom color box based on client's artwork.

Send me price, details at my work email. My work email is sourcing@*****.com

Regards,

Dennis

尽快给了他回复：

Hello Dennis,

Thanks for your inquiry about our car ***.

We supply car **** since 2011 from Shenzhen. Hope this will be a good chance for us to work together soon.

This car**** is one of our best selling model. Got many good feedbacks from customers. Kindly find the following offer:

Foldable Car****.

4pcs set. in opp bag package.

100sets. Unit Price $0.82.

1000sets. Unit Price $0.76.

EXW, shenzhen.

For custom package. MOQ 1000. 4C paper box. Unit Price add $0.24.

Any further questions, please feel free to contact us. Samples can also be sent for evaluation.

Thank you.

很快收到了Dennis的回复，而且要求更具体了：

Hi Allen,

Client has some questions for you.

1. How this model they quoted is better than this model: https://www.amazon.com/***

2. What's the production time for 3000pcs.

3. Can logo be added on the product.

4. Can they provide more images with the product being used in a car would be great.

看到这封邮件知道他是帮他的客户来采购这款产品。还发了一个亚马逊的链接。和询盘那款稍微有一点区别。刚好是已经合作工厂的私模，对于价格就比较有底气了。那两天没在深圳只是先发了个quick reply， 回来才给到他具体回复：

Hello Dennis,

Sorry for the late reply. Just come back from the business trip. Could not check emails for a few days.

1. This 2 model are the same price. Enclosed pictures for your reference.

2. usually 4-7 days for 3000pcs.

3. As this model is cheap. If print logo MOQ need to over 10K.

4. Enclosed some pictures how it works in the car.

Any further questions, just let us know. Thank you.

中间有点小误会。客人说的3000pcs其实是3000套，4pcs pack. 然后还问了包装图片。

Hi Allen,

What is the best price you can offer for the non foldable model. 4pcs per pack - 3,000 packs custom color box packaging. Send me a sample photo of the box and the size. A box that you already use before then client can just change the artwork.

但是这款产品工厂也没有做过包装，一直出的裸机或者PP袋。 虽然告诉客人可以定制包装，但是现在看来自己的回复需要做的更好。好在项目继续下去了。

Hi Dennis,

Good day.

We do not make any box for this car hook yet. Only the Opp bag. Most customers use these for promotion projects.

Kindly find the following offer:

Non foldable Car***. 4pcs pack.

3000packs. Unit Price $0.69.

Opp bag package.

EXW, shenzhen.

The box cost will depends on customer requirement. Usually custom paper box cost about $0.24. Enclosed another box for your reference.

You can consider about it. Thank you.

客人就回复了一句话，开始砍价。

You need to give me better price for 3,000 packs.

总体利润还行，就给他降了一点。

For our further cooperations. We give you special offer at $0.64, EXW, shenzhen. (3000pack. 4pcs pack in Opp bag).

You can check about it. Thank you.

客人很爽快的接受了，让发invoice。但是最初报的EXW价格，客人要FOB。

Send me an invoice with FOB price and the custom color box. Name on invoice: Brian***

Send me an invoice with the payment details so client can send the payment of 30% as downpayment. Kindly also remove ***Inc. on the invoice as this invoice will be directly to the client.

直接发了invoice，告诉他最开始报价是EXW价格。FOB会稍微高一些：

Please noted the previous offer $0.64 is EXW Shenzhen. Now, FOB price is $0.94. including custom box.

Enclosed PI for your reference.

客人没有砍价。但是当时香港公司银行账号还没有下来，国内的对公也还不能收美金。就发了私人美金账户。他那边收到之后就有些疑问了， 然后问能不能付Alibaba. 而且把他客人Brian的邮箱给了过来。

Email from the client.

I'm not sure why the beneficiary name is not a company name, it's quite odd. Can you confirm with Allen as well. Does the bank details below seem trustworthy?

Do you accept payment through Alibaba? If yes, kindly send the link to pay or invoice directly to the client.

His email is ***@gmail.com

回复给了他，并把公司营业执照也发了过去。 没有对公美金账户会比较麻烦。即使可以用PayPal或者阿里信保。但是有些客人第一选择还是直接对公付款。

（因为是个人账户，发生过2次客人把收款人名字写成公司名称，到不了账被退回。还有1次，韩国客人说只能打给公司，然后我们沟通把发票上自己名字改成公司名字，居然这样到的款…）

当然金额都不大，就几千美金。如果一开始就感觉特别正式的客人，建议就不要发个人账户了。

Hi Dennis,

Yes, the bank information is correct. It is boss USD account. Enclosed our china business license for your reference.

We are still applying for HK company bank account recently.

It is ok when everything confirmed, then we make Alibaba Trade Assurance order for client.

Hope for your understanding.

Thank you.

解释之后，Dennis还是让我直接联系Brian：

Hi Allen,

Kindly email the client directly to resolve the payment issue.

第一次给最终的客人Brian写邮件。 再解释了一通，还是建议他付阿里信保。先买些样品测试以及设计包装。其实想让客户拿样品还有一个原因，就是包装设计不确定需要多久。结果最终比最初想象的时间还长了….

Dear Brian,

Good day. Glad to know your contact from Dennis.

Regarding the car hook you interested. We would like to suggest you take some samples for testing first. It will help you make the correct size of packaging. When everything confirm, we will send you Alibaba invoice.

Our HK company bank account is still under applying. You can pay to my boss China bank, but please do not mention any usage of money. Very strick poilcy of international payment recently.

You can consider which way prefer. Any questions, just let us know. Hope we can work on this project soon.

Brian很快就回复过来，他也不需要寄样品。 不能付私人账户，那就走阿里信保了。

Hi Allen, nice to know you as well. For the packaging, is it necessary to get samples first? Based on the size of the 4 pack hooks can you decide on which package would be best?

Regarding the payment, my bank doesn't allow non-trade payments. So I can't make the payment to your current China bank as a personal payment. Will trade payment through Alibaba work with you?

后续确定下来就比较简单。他说2-3个月会返单，虽热不知道是不是客套话，但还是值得期待的。至少当时感觉他的销售渠道应该还是有的。

Thanks Allen, I'll try to make the payment by today. Also please do make sure the ***are of high quality, I'll be ordering more every 2-3 months continuously, I'm looking for a long term cooperation with you. The reason I went with you is because I trust in you to make high quality **** and also you seem to have other automotive ***** products I can buy from you in the future.

虽然只是不多的邮件沟通，客人还是比较信任的。给他保证质量会很好，而且发了些给其他客人定制案列。

Hi Brian,

Yes, these *** are in high quality. We are sure these will help you satisfy buyers.

We do OEM for many customers, we definitely understand that good quality is most importand for a long term business. Enclosed some of our OEM samples for your reference.

Hope we build a win win cooperation. Thank you.

客人很快就付了全款。收到款之后，给他发了另外一款产品的包装。然后告诉他需要把尺寸改了。各种小问题就从这里开始了：

Hi Brian,

How are you?

We received your payment today and arranged the order for you.

Enclosed a package template for your reference. Could the designer make your package according to it? Need to change the printing size as 9*13.5*3.8cm.

You can check if this is work for you. Any further questions, please let us know.

期间有提供了些产品资料和使用说明给客人，大概过了一周客人把包装文档发了过来。

Thanks Allen, I used it for design. I've attached the template in Ai. Can you consult with your designers whether it is in printable format.

There are 2 things I need to tell you though,

1. The product image on the front package design doesn't have logo on it, so can you send me how the logo would look on the product? I can replace it with my logo.

2. A special SKU code will need to be pasted over the barcode I've currently on the package design, which I'll provide after production. Can you label the SKU code after production?

看了客人发过来的包装文档，发现没有转曲：

Hi Brian,

Thank you for the Ai file. To ensure that the text is correct, could you please convert the text to curve ( create outlines )? If not, some words might be missed or unrecognizable here.

Kindly find the following reply of the 2 things:

1. Due to the shape of this ****, it is very hard for logo printing. we did not print logo for customers yet. Could you send us your logo design? I'm afraid even if it is ok to print, but could only do 1 color.

2. Yes, we can help you lable the SKU sticker after production.

客人重新转曲发了文档以及logo过来：

Hi Allen, Thanks I'll get it outlined, will this logo work?

直到收到客人logo，才搜索到客人更多信息：

1. 亚马逊上只有两款产品。200个以上评论，一款4.8分，一款4.4分。

2. 找到一个印度域名的网站，也是到现在才知道他是印度人。

看到他产品比较少，而且评论总体不错。感觉会很有机会一起做更多款产品。

给客人做了个logo在产品上的效果图。 报了印logo价格。

Hi Brian,

Enclosed the mockup picture with you logo.

For your green logo. Unit Price add $0.03. Then the 3000packs (12K pcs) logo cost will be $360.

You can consider if need to add the logo. Thank you.

很快客人发了另外一个logo样式过来，是贴上去的贴纸：

Hi Allen, can label logo be done instead of print like this image?

给客人解释了这种贴纸不合适:

Enclosed a picture for your reference. Do you mean put your logo sticker on the product?

If do this , it might be 2 problem. 1. Product is not flat, worker might not put well just on the position. 2. After use for some times, the sticker might off and leave some glue on ****.

Waiting for your suggestions. Thank you.

客人回复过来了，原来主要原因是单价超过了1美金：

Thanks for the explanation Allen. My concern is the price for logo printing, $0.03 becomes $0.12 for each pack that is almost the cost of custom package itself.

If the logo were to be done in white color only, does it save some cost?

Till now the cost of product is $0.94, I'm trying to get the logo cost for a product to less than $0.06 so that the total cost doesn't exceed $1 per product.

想着总体利润还行，客人也有发展潜力。就爽快些给他稍微降一点点，印白色logo，然后价格报了$0.99.

Thank you for the information. Yes, we could understand your situation.

If print white color the cost will be $0.02 each. To support you and build a win win business. We give you special offer $0.05 for the 4pack white logo. So extra cost $150 for white logo on each product.

Then it will be $0.99 for the product.

Hope this will be a good starting for our further cooperation.

客人很满意，让发PayPal账号给他。然后问了交期：

Thanks Allen I appreciate it, I'll pay the $150 through Paypal since TT wouldn't be feasible for small amounts, can you mail me your boss's Paypal email ID?

Also can you tell me the when the products would be ready to ship.

当时和工厂预计是15天，这封邮件发的时候是7.11日。 最终却是8.18出的货。

Hi Brian,

Good day. You can arrange the $150 logo fee to our paypal:*** .

Could you send us the package Ai and logo Ai today? It will takes about 15 days to complete the order.

Thanks a lot!

7.16 包装样品出来，尺寸完全不对。 虽然最开始自己有告诉客人，发的不是同一个文档，需要他改尺寸再发过来。但是显然客人没有改。 （正确的方式应该是我们把包装文档尺寸改好，再发给客人）。

Hi Brian,

Good day. We sent you the previous box size is not correct. Enclosed the picture for your reference. We will ask package factory redesign and send us new samples.

Hope for your understanding. Thank you.

7.19. 修改后的包装发给了客人。工厂修改排版并不好，自己不会改只好也发给客人看看。 而且又发现logo 文档没有转曲，只是图片文档。

Enclosed the pictures of package. The size is 13*8*4cm. Is this ok for you?

What's more, we have tried to make your logo. As in the previous Ai, it is still a picture of logo. Not work out well. Could you send us Ai logo with outlines?

显然客人对工厂改的不满意，他想重新设计：

Hi Allen, this package doesn't look good, can you send me the new package design, it has a lot of empty space in it. Send me the template, I'll design a new one and send you tomorrow.

I'm attaching the logo as an outline.

期间客人发了个SVG 格式，工厂回复用不了，这样又去了几天。

Hi Allen, this is the new design. It's in SVG format, hope it doesn't cause any problem.

Hi Allen, The Ai file has some issue with layer transparency, The SVG is a standard design format, print factory should be able to use it. Let me know if they need anything.

7.21．客人把AI文档发了过来。阿里上的时间太少了，就和客人沟通加下时间。

Hi Brian,

Thank you for the Ai file. We will send to them and make new package samples.

What's more, the lead time on Alibaba seems only 6 days. I'm afraid the time is not enough. We will push on the order. But may need to add some more days on it. Hope for your understanding.

Next order, we will do more faster. Thank you in advance.

7.25. 包装又发现一个新的问题。工厂打样出来，一部分图片不清晰，应该是客人改过之后，有些图片文档不对了。

Enclosed the sample pictures of hooks and package for your reference.

The design much bettter now. But we found the pictures not clear. And we checked again. The pictures all have such problem in Ai file. Could you fix it and send us the new Ai?

刚好客人又生病了，

Hi Allen, I'll look into it. I'm a bit sick right now.

延迟了两天发新的文档过来：

I'm attaching the corrected package design, let me know how it looks.

其实还是有些不清楚的问题，还好工厂帮忙把文档修改了。 再发给他确认一次。期间把样品也拍了图片确认。

When we open your new package Ai. It still could not open the small icon picture. But we have revised by ourself. Could you check this PDF again, if ok we will print sample now.

7.30新的整套样品终于出来了。工厂有点不想再打样了，最终还是沟通把新的包装盒和产品一起拍照给客人：

Enclosed the pictures of package sample. You can check about it. If ok we will arrange mass production then.

客人确认好之后就开始做货了。之后又出现个小问题，耽误了几天交期。这款产品工厂是常备库存的，就没有马上安排重新生产， 直到丝印才发现有不少产品外观不良，库存不够。又重新安排生产了一批。 好在客人也没有催。

8.10. 重新贴的亚马逊条码，告诉客人扫码没有问题。然后主动找了个理由，告诉时间：

Hi Brian,

Yes, we tried many packages, it is not interfere.

This weekend factory area is power off for energy saving. And barcode need to stick more carefully. We should finish all packing before next Tuseday or wednsday.

Next time, you can consider no barcode printed. Then it will faster to put with new barcode on package.

Any updates I will let you know. Thank you.

8.14. 所有产品包装好了。

All the packing finished. Enclosed the pictures for your reference. You can arrange forwarder tomorrow.

8.17. 送货入仓。还发生了个小插曲。叫的货拉拉，是临时牌，结果到了不让进机场监管区。 只好重新换了个车，才送货进去。

流水账似的记录下这个订单，最大想法是马上把Ai学会些。对于轻定制化产品，会些设计，真的会事半功倍。

Work harder, work smarter💸