Stop! Before You Start Importing … Be careful

One of the #1 concerns business have about importing is payment.

Making an order and providing a payment to a company halfway around the world does not come without it risks. There are many scammers online. How can you protect yourself from a scammer running off with your money? Here is a list of payment methods that can help protect your business from scammers.

First, Start With a Small Order

Before you buy from any supplier for the first time, you should first make a small sample order to see if you like their products; this will allow you to see if they can follow through with their promises and will help you see if the quality of their merchandise are acceptable to your standards. Many businesses recommend never importing from a business that won’t provide you with a sample. If your new supplier refused to cooperate on providing you with a test, there is reason for concern.

Test Your Supplier With Paypal

Veteran importers often determine a supplier’s legitimacy by seeing if they are members of Paypal. Paypal has strict standards for their members and will drop a company from its services if they receive too many customer complaints about a business. Thus, there is reason for caution if the company is not a member. On the other hand, it can be difficult for a company to open a Paypal account in China. If a company is not a member of Paypal but they give you no other reason for concern, there are other ways you can make payments and continue to protect your business.

Services and Protection of Escrow

Escrow is like a third party “storehouse” for the money, standards, and details of the sale arrangements. You pay the money to Escrow, and Escrow releases the payment to the supplier only after all the terms of the contract have been completed. This service protects both parties. It protects the supplier in making sure they get paid; at the same time, it protects the buyer by making sure they have received the products before the money is released. This payment method does not come without it’s fees. However, when making an order for the first time from a supplier, this method can further safeguard you from getting scammed.

Making Payments Through Credit Cards

Some sourcing companies recommend making payments through your credit or debit card. This method of payment offers extra protection through the bank. Most overseas companies will use a Merchant bank account to retrieve the money; with this process, they must go through numerous verifications to get it. Additionally, many credit card companies also offer a points system which can quickly add up over the years.  

Wire Transfers

In a wire transfer, the buyer will transfer the money from his bank account to the supplier’s bank account. The transfer fees will vary from bank to bank and the time to transfer the money usually takes around 3 to 5 days. This method offers the least protection from scammers … nothing can stop a scammer from running off with your money. Businesses who utilize this method usually have an established long-time relationship with the supplier. Finally, when transferring the funds, we recommend you send the money to your supplier’s business account. (Never transfer the money to a personal account.)

Payment Terms

Some importers will set up a payment plan with the supplier. Some smaller businesses can’t afford to make payments until after some of the merchandise has been sold. If you have been doing business with a supplier for an extended period of time, you may be able to work out a payment plan such as 40% of the total upon receiving the merchandise, 30% 30 days after the shipment, and the last 30% 30 more days after shipment. However, this type of payment plan may be difficult for your supplier to agree to if you are both new to working with each other. (If a buyer defaults on a payment, the supplier suffers a loss.)

No buyer and supplier are alike; what is good for one company may not be good for another. You should work with your supplier to choose a method that protects both of you. After trust has been established, different and more simplified payment methods can be agreed upon.