What conversation content is generally involved in export agency business?
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Our company intends to find an export agent to help handle the export business and wants to understand in advance what conversation content will be involved in the export agency business. For example, what will be talked about when communicating with the export agent at the beginning, and what aspects of communication will there be during the cooperation? I hope that friends with experience can share, so that I can also prepare in advance and know what to ask and what key points to pay attention to.
Professional consultant answers
William YangYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
International logistics consultantConsult
In the export agency business, during the initial communication, both parties generally talk about the basic situation of the company. The agent will ask the principal about the business scope and product types, while the principal pays attention to the qualifications, experience, and successful cases of the agency company.
Next, the service content will be explored, such as who is responsible for specific businesses like booking shipping space, customs declaration, and commodity inspection. Fees are also crucial, including how to calculate and pay agency fees, transportation fees, etc., and whether there are other potential fees.
During the cooperation process, the progress of goods will be communicated, such as when the goods will be ready and the expected loading time. When problems occur, like abnormal customs inspections, solutions need to be discussed. There is also document handover, such as the details of the preparation and transfer of documents like bills of lading and packing lists.
Elizabeth LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Compliance and risk managerConsult
When starting the negotiation, surely the charging mode of the agent will be asked, whether it is based on the proportion of the order amount or a fixed charge. After-sales service will also be discussed, that is, how the agent will solve problems when they occur.
Amanda YangYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cost control consultantConsult
During the cooperation, requirements for the packaging of goods may be mentioned, whether special packaging is needed. And the choice of freight forwarder, which freight forwarder the agent uses and what the service quality is like.
James LiuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Foreign trade tax refund consultantConsult
The early communication may involve the payment method, whether to pay before shipment or pay upon seeing the copy of the bill of lading. Risk assumption will also be mentioned, how to divide the responsibilities when problems occur during the transportation of goods.
David LiYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior customs declaration consultantConsult
The matter of tax refund will be discussed, how the agent assists in handling the tax refund, and what the tax refund process and time are approximately. There is also data confidentiality, how the agent keeps the company's business information confidential.
Andrew HuangYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0
Supply chain optimization expertConsult
During the cooperation, transportation insurance may be mentioned, whether to buy insurance, what kind of insurance to buy, and how much the premium is. In addition, the delivery place, specifically where to deliver the goods to the agent.
Joseph ZhouYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior foreign trade managerConsult
The communication at the beginning may mention the choice of port, which port is more suitable. And the customs clearance speed, how long it generally takes for the agent to clear customs.
Emily LiuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Settlement and payment expertConsult
During the cooperation process, feedback on the freight forwarder's service will be exchanged, whether the freight forwarder's operation is standard. And it will also be said how both parties respond if they encounter force majeure.
Michelle ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Business coordination consultantConsult
At the beginning, it may be discussed whether the agent provides one-stop service, whether it can handle things like warehousing in addition to the export process. And data statistics will also be mentioned, whether the agent can regularly provide business data.
Sarah ZhangYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Document expertConsult
During the cooperation, requirements for the labels of goods may be mentioned, such as the content and format of the labels. And logistics tracking, how the agent provides real-time logistics information.