The customer is God, but you have to argue with God! Here are 12 lessons from a foreign trade manager that every newcomer should know: Lesson One: When you first enter the foreign trade industry, especially if you're eager to close your own deals quickly, it's easy to make mistakes and get scammed. This often happens because you're not fully familiar with the product or the trade process. Many things in foreign trade are unknown, and that’s when you become vulnerable to being cheated. I had a friend who got into this situation early on. His first product was cement, and the customer was from the Philippines. The customer seemed very interested, and the price was acceptable. At the time, cement wasn’t a hot product, so this deal felt like a rare opportunity. However, the customer didn’t understand the characteristics of cement and insisted on using a letter of credit for spot payment. My friend agreed. But after the goods arrived at the port, the customer intentionally delayed taking the bill of lading. Meanwhile, the quality labels were tampered with. Later, the customer asked for a price reduction and demanded acceptance. That’s how he lost the deal. Always think twice before jumping into any agreement. Lesson Two: Never cross your bottom line. I had a colleague who had been in trade for almost 10 years. He had built a good relationship with a client and had a solid understanding of their creditworthiness. But things changed. He signed a contract for exporting tools, with a payment method of TT 30% upfront and the remaining balance paid within 10 days after the bill of lading. Since the customer was from Southeast Asia, the goods would arrive in Hong Kong soon. Then the customer said they were in the U.S. and couldn’t pay, asking our colleague to send the original bill of lading directly. Because he had done this before, he took the risk. Unfortunately, the customer was in financial trouble and had no money in the bank. The result? A big loss. Sticking to your bottom line is the best way to prevent risks. Lesson Three: Peers are family, but not always friends. In foreign trade, you meet many people, and some may become friends. However, it's important to keep work and personal relationships separate—especially when dealing with customers who aren't stable yet. Don’t show off or share too much information; others might take advantage of you. I once made this mistake. At the Canton Fair, I met a peer from another company. As a new person, I wasn’t careful and shared some of my client’s business secrets. Not long after, the customer ordered from both me and my friend. I realized too late that I had betrayed my trust. It was a hard lesson—never let your secrets fall into the wrong hands. Lesson Four: The customer is God, but you have to argue with God. While it's important to be polite and respectful, don’t allow yourself to be taken for granted. You need to negotiate, set boundaries, and protect your interests. Being too accommodating can lead to losses and bad business practices. Men's Shirts,Single Breasted Men's Shirts,Men Pure Color Shirt,Letter Embroidery Mens Shirt SHAOXING UNLESS CLOTHING CO.,LTD , https://www.welconchina.com