样品随客户供应商大货走时，请警惕

对于外贸销售来说，都清楚送样给客户测试这一环节对促进合作来说无疑是很重要的。而这一过程，或许有个别客户由于公司规定需要我们承担运费或者为了省下运费，让我们样品跟其合作供应商的柜子走。而阿连最近遇到的则是后者，但是最后因其供应商的不负责及阿连的疏忽，样品最终没能成功跟货柜一起送出。希望能借此次事件给大家提个醒。 
As for a salesperson, it is known that the sample testing is a significant part to promote cooperation. During this period, some customers have to save the freight according to company rules, therefore, they would like the sample be sent in other supplier's container. Recently, I just met this situation but it failed because of the supplier’s irresponsibility and my negligence. I hope this case can help you avoid the same mistake. 
        
A客户是孟加拉小有名气的品牌客户，长达一年的跟踪后得到了回复，确认好价格款式后便让我们安排样品，然而当样品完成后客户不愿给运费并用其他供应商都“包邮”为由，让我们承担样板运费，在多次协商无果后，阿连便提议样品跟客户合作供应商的柜子走，客户也很快接受此提议。 
Customer A is a famous brand in Bangladesh. We received response after a year’s following up and asked for sample when the price and item were checked. But they didn't want to cover the freight and neither did us. After useless discussion, I proposed that the sample can go with his cooperated supplier and he agreed quickly. 
      
一星期后客户便提供了准备装柜的供应商信息-C君，让我尽快把样品寄过去一并安排。阿连当然不敢怠慢，当天便联系了C君，得知在周六就装柜，阿连即日寄出。同时也确认了我们的样品在装柜前一天早上便能让C君收到。然而事与愿违，装柜当天联系C君的时候，却告诉阿连并没收到我寄出的样品，所以最后无法及时装柜。这时阿连懵了，明明阿连查过快递单，显示装柜前一天早上已被C君的同事签收，同时我们用的快递公司也是国内最好的，怎么会出错。原因只能从C君身上找了。 
We received the supplier’s information from the customer one week later and asked us to send sample quickly. I dared not hesitate but contacted C at once and agreed to send the sample at once before the delivery date, Saturday. However, things didn’t go well. When I contacted C on the delivery date, I was told the sample was not sent because they didn’t receive it. I was totally confused because I had checked the logistics and the sample was signed by colleague of C. What’s more, we’ve chose the best express company and there should be no errors. All the reasons have to be found on C. 
    
然而当客户问样品情况时，没想到C君居然还“先发制人”，告知客户可能由于阿连在快递单上没写清楚收件人导致出错，同时也问了同事，并且找了样品寄放处好几遍都没找到,企图把责任推到我们这边。这个理由也成立，阿连实在服了。但是基于C君让我们样品跟其货柜走仅仅是处于帮忙，所以阿连也没和C君争吵，赶紧跟客户解释同时因为我们样品涉及到我们的专利问题，也叮嘱C君尽快把样品寄回来给我们，但C君还是以周末休息为由告诉我们上班才能找。 
When the customer asked about the sample, I couldn’t believe C told that I didn’t write the accurate information on expressage and the sample couldn’t be found even she had asked staff to look for it. I was totally speechless that C dropped the responsibility on me with those reasons. However, it is only duty for C to deliver our sample in hiscontainer, I didn’t argue with C. I contacted the customer at once and explained. Meanwhile, as the sample was our patent product, I also contacted C to send the sample back as soon as possible. However, C replied that they could look for it only during work days. 
      
终于在周一C君告知已找到我所寄出的样品，原因是她当天出差了，前台收件后没及时通知而导致她安排不了装柜。这个解释和之前她跟客户说的简直大相径庭。但既然一切已发生，再追究谁的责任也于事无补。 
Finally, I was informed that the sample was found by C and the reason was that she was on business trip that day and the assistant forgot to inform in time. The explanation was totally different from the way she told the customer. Anyway, everything has happened. 


只怪阿连“老猫烧须”，当初一时的疏忽，没有跟紧，如果装货前一天能多次给电话确认C君能收到样品，也许能把样品顺利装上柜子。也希望各位小伙伴遇到样品跟客户其他供应商大货走的时候能吸取我的教训。要清楚客户供应商只是出去帮助我们而已，并不为我们样品是否能顺利寄出负责。最后是否能确认样品顺利寄出，还是要靠我们打醒十二分的精神，务必确认样品已到供应商手上才可罢休，不然不但影响到客户，也影响到自己，最后拖延或阻碍与客户的合作。 
It is my fault to be so careless. If I have contacted C the night before delivery, the sample might be successfully sent with the container. I hope you can also learn a lesson from this failed sample sending. It should be known that suppliers don’t have to send the sample for us and there is nobody in charge to confirm. We need to pay much attention till the end when the sample is sent. Otherwise, it will have bad impact on both customers and ourselves and postpone the cooperation with them.