Tried it, loved it: The Global Sources sample order experience

Imagine walking blindly into a jungle. Can you rely solely on your instincts to make it through even for just a night? Now imagine importing a product without even seeing a sample. Do you think you'll make it through without a hitch?

Okay, so the jungle part's a little exaggerated but the part about product samples bit is not. The advantages of buying samples far outweigh the risks of skipping this stage entirely, and if you've been following our Q&A series with sourcing and e-commerce experts, you know that buying samples need not be tedious and difficult thanks to Global Sources' instant samples service.

John Niggl of InTouch Services Ltd said the service is a time-saver, a view shared by 80/20 Sourcing's Gary Huang in his video.

Hear, hear the buyers

It's the importers' turn now to share their product samples experience.

Phillip Diamataris, general manager of sales and marketing at Victoria-based Interhampers Australia Pty Ltd, uses the Global Sources samples page to scout for new products. He said the service is always helpful, and his experience buying product samples from Global Sources is "always productive and always positive."

"[The product samples page] gives us a quick overview of items that would be of interest and therefore saves us time," he said.

Global Sources' product samples page contains thousands of products across several industries.

Phillip's company specializes in gift hampers. He has been using GlobalSources.com for more than 20 years and has attended more than 20 Global Sources trade shows.

Neil Tregenza, director at Leading Digital Pty Ltd in South Australia, has yet to use the service but thinks "the concept is excellent as it makes the sample very accessible without the need for potentially long, and protracted discussions and negotiations with the seller."

He emphasized the importance of testing a product first, along with knowing the main export markets and minimum order required, before committing to a supplier. Neil's company sources personal electronics, educational equipment, VR/AR devices, headphones, iPad accessories and robotics, and he has been in six Global Sources trade shows.

Just how easy is easy?

Using the Global Sources product samples page is not rocket science. The layout and interface are so simple that even a sourcing novice can do it with ease.

This straightforwardness is also what got experts hooked on the sourcing tool.

In the video below, Terran.com president and CEO/EcomCrew cofounder Mike Jackness demonstrates how easy it is to use the service. He also shares practical tips to maximize the page.

For InTouch's Niggl, time is the most valuable resource buyers save when they use the product samples page. "Being able to buy product samples instantly can help buyers save time they might otherwise spend liaising with supplier contacts to request samples"

"Since buyers can easily browse products by category and see product specs and sample pricing at a glance, they can order more samples in less time. This can shorten their supplier evaluation process and get them working with the right suppliers faster," he added.

Harris Bricken law firm founder China sourcing expert Dan Harris believes this service "is a good way for buyers to make sure they are getting what they want."

StartupBros' Will Mitchell "absolutely loves" the how quick he can purchase samples using the page. He said other platforms offer virtually no assistance in getting samples and buyers end up having to "speak with every supplier, talk them into samples and arrange the payment [themselves]."