EZY TRADE DIRECT
SAMPLE ITENERARY
Step by Step Guide to Buying Products in Yi Wu
Preparation for the trip
Before you come, inform us of what products you are interested in buying - and preferably bring photos of the specific products you are looking for, it will make finding them much faster.
If we have a good idea of which type of products you are interested in before you arrive, our staff can plan your trips to the markets in advance - it will save a lot of time and weary feet!
First Day
Arrive at Pudong airport, Shanghai You will be met by a translator and driver at the airport. They will be holding up a sign with your name on it at arrivals.
If you haven't already done so, at the airport you can change Pounds or US Dollars into Chinese RMB.
You will be taken by car back to Yi Wu, it is about a 3.5 hour trip. Driving straight to Yi Wu will maximize your purchasing time and you can discuss your individual needs with the translator on the way.
When you arrive in Yi Wu, the translator will help you check into your hotel. The translator will also arrange a time for you to meet him / her in the hotel lobby the next morning.
Second Day
After breakfast you will be met in the lobby of the hotel by your personal translator at a pre-arranged time.
Your translator will accompany you to the relevant markets. At the markets the process is as follows ...
- You view the goods in the shops.
- You then select an item for purchase.
- The translator asks the shops for the price and minimum order quantities (MOQ) that apply.
- The translator uses a calculator to calculate a rough price for you. Accurate prices take too long to calculate and will waste valuable time. We will give you an accurate price for each item you are interested in on your last day in Yi Wu.
- A photo taken of the item and the photograph number is recorded on the order sheet.
- Translator records item number, quantity, size, colour, price etc so that this information can be inputted onto your personal order sheet. This order sheet will be used at the end of the week to select your goods.
- If you don't want to buy some of the goods chosen immediately, but would like to order them in a few months, we will get all the same details and give them to you at the end of your trip.
Lunch will be eaten at or near the markets. Your translator will inform you of the various options and translate the menu for you if required, it is polite to pay for the translators meals if you would like to eat western food, as this is quite expensive for a Chinese person. Typically they will spend £0.70 on a meal if it is in Chinese and if you are brave enough to try local food, they will be happy to take you.
The markets close just before 5pm, your translator will accompany you back to your hotel so you can have a rest and freshen up. If desired your translator can accompany you to dinner and help you order as not all restaurants are English speaking nor do they always have English menus! The translator will take you back to your hotel.
Third/Fourth/Fifth/Sixth Day
After breakfast you will be met at 8.30am in the lobby of the hotel by your translator.
Once again you will be taken to the markets to buy your goods
Once finished for the day your translator will accompany you back to your hotel and if required can accompany you again to dinner.
Seventh Day
After breakfast you will be met by your translator in the lobby as usual. Your translator will help you check out of your hotel.
You will be taken to the company office in Yi Wu to select and pay for your order. At the office you will be given a unique excel spreadsheet with details of all the goods you have expressed interest in. This spreadsheet will be emailed to you for future reference - you can use it later on to reorder goods without having to return to China
The spreadsheet will have accurate prices listed for each item - the price will include purchase of goods, freight, taxes, handling etc. The accurate price will be a little different from the rough price you were given in the shop as it takes a long time to calculate the accurate price due to differing freight prices, fluctuating exchange rates etc.
There will be NO hidden charges - the price you are quoted on the spreadsheet is the price you pay. The price will be excluding VAT, but we will include a formula at the bottom of the spreadsheet that will allow you to see at a glance how much VAT you will have to pay.
Using this spreadsheet you can select the quantities of each item you wish to purchase. A formula on the spreadsheet will enable you to know EXACTLY how much you have spent and you can increase / decrease your order as required.
Once the final goods have been selected, an invoice will be drawn up for you
Payment for the balance can be made by credit card, or electronic transfer, using a secure online system. The Head of Finance will do this in your presence. He will also issue you an invoice stating that the full amount has been paid. It is important to note that we do not charge you a premium for using a credit card.
We will start ordering your goods immediately after receiving confirmation of payment. Occasionally shops give inaccurate information regarding MOQs or discontinued items. Should an item turn out to be discontinued, or have a higher MOQ than expected, we will email you and ask you if you want to place an order for an alternative colour/size etc. If you don't want to change the order in any way, we will refund you that portion of your invoice.
After the paperwork has been sorted out, your translator will accompany you to an early lunch after which you will be driven back to Pudong airport, Shanghai in time to catch your flight - Virgin flights for London often leave in the mornings. Should you wish him / her to, your translator will accompany you into the terminal and show you where to check in. The signs in Pudong airport are all in English so you shouldn't have any difficulty.