Verify the object first, then discuss the billing period
Use public phone numbers, official websites and company registration offices to confirm the existence of the other party, see Verify Overseas Companies. The payment collection habits for small orders in retail stores and container goods at importers are different. Do not use the same "L/C is required after ten years of foreign trade".
After finding the object in Chuhai Qiao, the first phone call only confirms the category and sample; payment will be written into the PI after the quotation.
How to choose common methods (summary)
- New customer small order: Prepayment or platform collection acceptable to both parties are more common.
- Repeat orders: Let’s talk about T/T ratio and billing period.
- Letter of credit is suitable for situations where the amount is large and the bank channels of both parties are clear. There is no need to force it for the first SOHO order.
Please consult your bank or payment institution for specific account opening, payment and compliance. This page is not payment advice.
Related guides
- How to write a foreign trade quotation：Specifications, MOQ, delivery date and trade terms are clearly written.
- What to pay attention to when making your first foreign trade order：Go through the object, sample, quotation, payment, and delivery in order.
- Solo exporter workflow：One person: find shops, call, then use the website form.
- How does the factory find overseas customers?：When there is a shortage list, find importers and wholesalers by city.
- Cold start with no clients：One product, one city, then a list you can actually call.
- How to write outreach：Short copy you paste into the shop’s Contact form.
- WhatsApp develops overseas customers：I will add it after there is a public phone number and do not send it in bulk.
- How to find overseas buyers：Public phone numbers and websites of local retail shops.