-1

Appreciation post: that $50 Amazon supplier sample that arrived broken

Ordered a test batch of phone cases from a new supplier in Shenzhen last week to compare quality. Shipping cost me $48 and when the box showed up, 3 out of 5 cases had cracks right out of the packaging. Had to take photos, file a claim with the seller, and now I'm stuck waiting another 10 days for replacements. Anyone else deal with sample batches arriving damaged from overseas suppliers?

2 comments

2 Comments

troy_wilson81mo ago

Was reading a sourcing guide last week that said something like 60% of first-time sample shipments from China arrive with some damage, which is wild but makes me feel less alone in this headache. The whole "take photos immediately" advice is real though, my buddy lost a claim last month because he waited a day to file and the seller blamed it on him. Honestly I've started adding a note in the order message asking them to double-pack fragile items, and it's helped cut down the breakage rate by a lot.

troy_wilson81mo ago

Man, that 60% number is brutal but honestly I'd believe it. Here's the thing nobody talks about though - it's not always the supplier's fault. Sometimes the freight forwarder or even the courier service over there is the one tossing stuff around like it's nothing. I've had packages that were packed like tanks and still showed up cracked because someone dropped a pallet. The real trick I've found is asking for a photo of the packed box before they seal it. If they send you a pic of it wrapped in bubble wrap and three layers of tape, you know they actually did it. Most suppliers will do it for free since it covers their butt too if you complain.