International Purchasing: Saving Money Is &Nbsp; Making Money Is Not Easy.

Every weekend, Premium outlet (factory outlet), located in the western suburbs of Chicago, is always active in such a group: they get in and out in COACH, DKNY, Giorgio Armani, etc. famous brand Shop, see classic style or discount goods, without hesitation to sweep into the shopping bag, until filled with large and small shopping bags. They are not a group of ordinary consumers, their exact identity is "international purchasing", that is, relying on overseas shopping sites or physical shops, through the C2C platform for Chinese online shopping users to provide purchasing services. Among them, the hottest products are cosmetics, brand handbags and watches. Of course, some designer clothes are also the favorite of super shoppers.

This year's 30 KEN is a private international purchasing agency. However, compared to the situation that international purchasing has just started in the past few years, the current international purchasing industry presents the phenomenon of "two poles". On the one hand, influenced by RMB appreciation and domestic CPI, more and more consumers like to buy cheap and famous products on the Internet through international purchasing, but as more and more professional companies join in the international purchasing agency, for example, the famous Messi department store and GAP clothing in the United States. brand All of them have launched international business on the official website, squeezing the profit margin of the international purchasing agency. From the beginning of 2010, ah KEN lamented that business was hard to do.

Exchange rate and promotion can be saved by 5.

Yesterday, we opened the Taobao website and entered the international purchasing agency. Then we jumped out of a string of shops to choose from. Large to all kinds of luggage, baby to use the skin oil, many domestic products not yet sold, can be found. commodity There are many kinds. More importantly, the attractive price of international purchasing attracts many consumers.

It is understood that at present, with the appreciation of the renminbi, the weakening of the US dollar, the rise of domestic consumption level and the high development of the logistics industry, the use of international purchasing brand names has become a way to save money for many consumers. Coco, who works for a network company in Shenzhen, is a loyal fan of international purchasing. She told reporters that the choice of international purchasing, in fact, pay attention to, for example, the purchase of cosmetics, are generally the price difference between Japan and South Korea and other places are relatively large, and Europe and the United States and other places mainly to buy handbags and clothing and so on. Not long ago, Coco saw a new handbag at the COACH store in China, priced at about 4500 yuan, but she did not immediately start buying. Instead, she bought the same handbag at the local shopping center in the United States through the familiar international purchase on the Internet. "The price of the American store is 25% off of that of the domestic market. Sometimes the buyer can also offer a discount, calculating the purchase cost and postage, which is about 20 percent off less than that of the domestic market, and it is still very favorable."

How does exchange rate and promotion help consumers save money? international Purchasing KEN for more than 4 years has its own experience. He said that the yuan continued to appreciate, before the US dollar to 1:8, and now the exchange rate is around 1:6.5. In the euro area, at the beginning of this year, the euro exchange rate was 9.8 to 1, and has fallen to the "8 era". If purchased in Renminbi, the exchange rate spread has reached 20%. On the other hand, the price difference between the two promotions. "The department stores in the United States are not expensive. $100 can buy a nice brand dress, and some domestic two or three line brands in domestic department stores also need 800 yuan, 900 yuan for a skirt. And when it comes to the promotion season, the discount is even lower. For example, after Thanksgiving, the traditional discount season in the US retailing industry, the local store can buy an evening dress with an original price of $more than 100 for even 15 dollars. Even with the fees and postage charges, the maximum savings will be 5. " Ah KEN said that such a "double good timing" attracted many readers who are keen on online shopping.

Fierce competition is not easy to eat.

As of the end of June 2010, the market scale of overseas purchasing in China reached 7 billion 820 million yuan, and it is expected to reach 11 billion 30 million yuan by the end of 2010. However, the expansion of the market does not mean that profits are rolling. It is understood that due to the increase in the number of international purchasing business, competition in the industry is also fierce. In the most concentrated international purchase of Taobao online, the reporter entered the word "international purchasing", immediately jumped out of the "about 20195 treasures", the source of goods from Asian countries, as well as Europe and the United States, Australia and other places.

"Now the network is developed, and the price of goods is very transparent. If you want to spend more than 10000 yuan monthly, you must rely on comprehensive factors such as scale and word of mouth. Miss Wang, who has been engaged in international purchasing business for a short time, is "more than enough" in international purchasing. Prior to that, Miss Wang managed to buy American products on the Internet. But a few months later, I found that there was very little profit. Once, Miss Wang, who holds a US COACH VIP card, bought the brand handbag in the US. Usually, the tender price of international purchasing is "official website price * local consumption tax * exchange rate * 10% purchasing cost + freight". The difference between commodity prices and purchasing fees between the two places is the source of international purchasing profits. The COACH VIP card discount is around 20 percent off. In order to form a price advantage, Miss Wang made a "no charge for purchasing" advertising, earning only about 20% of the difference. "But in this transaction process, it is not only necessary to communicate with buyers on the Internet for many times, but also to determine the style. In case, if there is any problem in the mail, it will not be clear. If you spend time and energy, you will not make much money. "

KEN, who witnessed the development of international purchasing, also laments the fierce competition. He told reporters that there are not only a large number of private purchasing agents, but also many companies involved in this business. These companies are professional purchasing websites, which generally have retail channel resources and international logistics resources. Another type is the "hot e-business website", which is hot at home. For example, the famous brand discount network such as Victoria products and walking show net is mainly for consumers who have comprehensive website consumption habits. "In order to attract popularity, the net traders who have strong financial strength are even cheaper than the American entity stores, and they do not need to pay the freight by the buyers themselves." Faced with the squeeze of big businesses, KEN feels that it is not easy to operate and consider transformation. Now, KEN is eyeing Apple products. "Apple Corp products in the United States are ahead of the domestic market. There are also many" fruit powder "in China eager to get the latest products for the first time. I have made use of the difference of three or four months to earn some difference. A KEN told reporters that last time Ipad2 had just listed in the US store, he went to line up at 5 a.m., "one machine changes to earn 50 dollars or even higher, and there are cattle on the spot."

We need to be cautious when shopping.

However, despite the large price difference of overseas purchasing brands, the hidden risks are gradually emerging. Some consumer experts have warned that shoppers must be careful when purchasing international buyers. Otherwise, not only can not enjoy affordable prices, but will bring unnecessary trouble to themselves.

The first is tariff. It is understood that from September 1, 2010, the General Administration of Customs will adjust the threshold of import tax for imported personal postal articles, cancel the 400 yuan before Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and the exemption amount of 500 yuan in other countries and regions, and the starting point of import duty is 50 yuan. Especially for popular Apple products, customs inspection is more stringent. Once checked out, it is not pressed. Regulations Paying taxes will not only pay taxes, but also face heavy fines.

Secondly, online products are mixed up. Buyers can not see the quality of goods in advance. Many buyers and consumers buy goods by "oral agreement". Once there are quality or money problems, it is easy to produce disputes.

In addition, the legal means of payment should be chosen. Some third party payment companies, such as Alipay's "offshore outsourcing" business, have received special approval from the safe. Users should avoid using payment channels which have not been approved by the regulatory authorities.