Liubian foreign traders, please pay attention to customer inquiries in the end is for you?

As we are involved in exporting Liubian crafts, we regularly receive numerous inquiries every day. Unfortunately, many of these are not genuine leads but fake requests that waste our time and resources. This is not only frustrating for foreign traders but also impacts our profitability significantly. I once had a colleague who lost nearly one million yuan due to a seemingly sincere inquiry. That’s why it’s crucial to identify the following five types of inquiries—it can save you a lot of time and money. 1. **Generic Inquiries Without Specific Details** Some buyers don’t even bother to specify what they want. They just ask for the price of a general product category. For example, someone might ask: “What is the price of your wicker baskets?” or “What is the price of your gift baskets?” (There are so many styles and variations within each category—how can you quote without more details?) A real buyer would know exactly what they need and wouldn’t ask such vague questions. If you get this kind of inquiry, it’s best to ignore it. 2. **Exaggerated Order Quantities** Another red flag is when the buyer claims they want an extremely large order. For instance, they might say: “I want over 100,000 units.” But in reality, this is often just a tactic to negotiate a lower price. A high-end product with a minimum order of 2,000 units is considered a big customer. So, if someone asks for 100,000, they may be trying to get a better deal by pretending to be a big buyer. These inquiries are usually from retailers or middlemen testing the market. It’s better to ask for more details before proceeding. 3. **Inquiries from Unreliable Middlemen** Sometimes, the inquiries come from middlemen who don’t even know the actual needs of their clients. For example, someone might say: “My client wants a batch of willow fruit baskets. Can you send me a quote?” When you ask for more specifics, they respond: “Just send three grades of baskets, and my client will decide.” A serious buyer would have clear requirements. This type of inquiry often comes from people who don’t have real purchasing power and just want to collect information. It’s a waste of time to engage with them. 4. **Formatted and Mass-Email Style Inquiries** Some inquiries follow a very standard format, like: “Dear supplier, our company purchases Liubian products all year round. Please send us pictures and quotes of all willow products to our email address.” These are often sent to multiple suppliers to gather information. The person behind this could be a new trading company or someone preparing to enter the industry. It’s not a real lead, just a way to collect data. Be cautious and don’t fall into this trap. 5. **Small Orders with Price Comparison Intentions** Some buyers place small orders just to compare prices across different suppliers. For example, they might say: “I want three boxes of model XXX storage baskets. Company XX is offering a lower price. Can you match that?” This is a common tactic used by unprofessional buyers who don’t have real intentions to purchase. Even if you offer a low price, they may use it to negotiate with other suppliers. These customers lack loyalty and are unlikely to bring long-term value. It’s better to focus on building relationships with serious and professional clients. From my experience in the Liubian crafts export industry, these are just a few of the common types of fake inquiries. By learning to recognize them, you can avoid wasting time and protect your business. I hope this guide helps more foreign traders stay alert and make better decisions when handling customer inquiries. After all, not every message is a real opportunity—some are just noise. Stay smart, stay focused, and keep your business moving forward.