The main role of a sourcing agent is to give import guides to a business that is looking for sources of products at affordable prices so that the business can save up some money production costs. The agents have numerous connections and know where to get different items at the best prices. They may represent a single employer or could run an entire business that serves multiple companies. The agent negotiates with a prospective supplier and can get you some amazing discounts and deals. Their payment is made on a commission basis usually as a percentage of the order’s value.
Qualities Of A Good Sourcing Agent
Choosing a sourcing agent is not something you do overnight. It needs time, effort, and patience to find a good one. Below is a list of qualities that you need to check before settling on a single sourcing agent.
Trustworthy
This is the most important quality that a sourcing agent should have. If the agents are dishonest, they will secretly rip you off and you won’t even find out. For example, they could pretend to offer free sourcing services while in real sense they’re charging so much and then asking the supplier for commission or kickback.
A sourcing agent that has nothing to hide ensures that all information about the supplier is correct and out in the open. Without this kind of openness, it’s like the buyer is dealing with a different supplier, indirectly.
Quality-Oriented
A good sourcing agent does not tire when it comes to finding high-quality products. He/she searches tirelessly and does not stop too early until they find a good supplier offering great products at amazing prices.
The agent needs to carefully research the supplier’s company to make sure that the products you need can be manufactured with ideal standards and quality. The agent should visit the supplier to see how they function and how their quality control standards are. This way the agent will be in a better position to provide the buyer with all the relevant information to help in their decision-making process.
Discrete
A good sourcing agent protects the buyer’s business secrets because, in their line of work, they get access to a considerable amount of information about the buyer. The agent should be discrete about any information that the buyer feels should remain between them.
Timely communication
This is another very important factor to consider when choosing a sourcing agent. Time is money and nobody wants to get their time wasted. Find an agent who proactively reaches out and communicates to you about everything you need to know. At every stage, they should keep you up-to-date about the supplier’s performance, costs of shipping, imports, customs, and local taxes.
Experience and Positive Reviews
The sourcing agent that you decide to work with should have some level of experience in the field if you want the process to be as smooth as possible. Agents who have been in business for several years should be able to find exactly what you’re looking for and deliver it on time.
Ask for testimonials and reviews from buyers that worked with them previously. If the agent doesn’t have any testimonials in writing, you can try to find some online.
Conclusion
Finding a good supplier is usually a very tough affair when you’re sourcing a product. It’s, therefore, wise to find a sourcing agent that will give you the best possible leads to a supplier that’s easy to work with. There are so many important boxes such as profile statistics, quality of the products, and price that need to be checked before you start working with a certain supplier. If you’re overseas, this can be hard to do by yourself. That’s where a sourcing agent comes in to help you find the best supplier.
