Expert Sourcing Consultation
My first request to buy a specific item from a manufacturer's website was met with the reply that I'd need to go via their shopping specialist service ('Expert Sourcing Consultation') as the item wasn't on Taobao or whatever, for which I'd need to pay a fee. No problem, so I raised a buying enquiry with their shopping specialist, who replied citing their fees for the service if I purchase. So I agreed again and asked for the buying info - does the manufacturer have stock. Then they came back asking if I wanted to buy the item, but no answer to my original question about availability. And the news that they'd had a week's holiday. So whilst at first I checked for a reply every day, after a while I didn't bother. It's taken two weeks to get to this point, which isn't any further forward. You have to keep logging in to check progress as they don't email any of this to you. As they still need to buy, receive and ship the item, which takes weeks unless you pay for expedited courier shipping, I gave up. This is probably a good service if you have the time for it. Otherwise it's like watching paint dry. Eventually they said they couldn't get it, although the manufacturer is selling it online in China.