Why the evaluation step ?

Each point listed within Step 1. has its own importance :

• quality specification- firstly, a correct quality specification will allow me to compare the prices currently used on the market with your offer - you can find immediately whether it is or not possible to import what you need from Romania; secondly it will save you from trouble if the delivered lumber / timber is different of what you ordered and you go to arbitration.


Example : the company I used to work for imported a truck with edges unparalelism (+/- 10/20 to 50 mm). This defects wasn' t mentioned as excluded on their specification. They refused to pay about 1/2 from the imported quantity. In case of an arbitrage the exporter would undoubtely have won.

• Incoterms 2000 delivery condition - very important because it establishes the cost, liabilities and risk sharing between the two parts of an international contract.

The majority of producers I' ve encountered are weak at this point.Some know nothing about Incoterms some know but not sufficiently.
 
• quantity and quality inspection - also called reception it is of major importance especially in incipient trading relations.


The phenomenon is the following :
 

• The exporter looks for a reception in his own factory (by the importer' s representative or importer itself). The costs for exporter in the case of quality faults would be smaller than in the case when the faults would be discovered in the importer' s warehouse or factory.
• The importer wants the reception at his own warehouse or factory; when the importer works with an agent like me as representative (and the co-operation is at its beginning) the importer doesn' t trust me that I have wood knowledges and I am serious.


How we can solve this matter and make business run ?

For wood knowledges you can read this web site. If you have something to ask additionally I' m waiting for your mail.

For seriousity matter - I don' t like to make declarations in this regard. I prefer facts instead of words.
 

• payment modality and terms - another extremely important issue; using a secure payment modality is a serious advantage when starting a co-operation with producers; the term of payment (when the money will reach the exporter) will diferentiate you from the competition.


Note : I avoid to work without a Letter of Recommendation and an Agency Agreement. What I do without any obligation from the Importer' s part is to evaluate the business opportunity.