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We work mostly either on retainer basis or on "performance-only” basis. When on "performance-only” basis our consulting fees are usually derived from a fixed percentage of the deals. It so happens that most
"agents" also work on this basis. That is the only point where we have something in common with the “agents” but it ends there. From that point onwards we are very different from them .
As a global procurement consulting group, we provide specialized consulting services to our international buyers who are looking for RELIABLE suppliers. It certainly takes a lot more work to search for RELIABLE
suppliers. Part of our workflow involves processes such as conducting supplier reference checks, performance audits, customer satisfaction surveys, database integration, etc . They are part of our Standard Operating
Procedure (SOP). From these feedbacks we rate our suppliers accordingly. All these “checks and balances” also ensure our suppliers are up to the mark.
Here’s a simple test. Next time when you’re approached by
an “agent”, ask him/her about the workflow processes above and whether he/she has adopted them directly in the business. Also ask him/her whether these are part of their Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). We dare
say 99% of the time most of these “agents” simply couldn’t be bothered with these workflow processes . Many of them think that they can make easy money from this field. They simply accept whoever is willing to give
them a quick commisssion without doing a thorough checking on their suppliers. Many ended up with unscrupulous,"fly-by-night" suppliers who closed their businesses as fast as they opened them .
The
same also with the buyers that they are trying to match to a seller. They do not qualify/ verify their buyers and in many cases their "buyers" later turned out to be other "agents" just like
them. Of course this will really annoy the real sellers who thought they were dealing with a real buyer.
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