Questions we are asked
What cautious buyers ask before they send money to another country.
Spotting a bad seller
What are the warning signs of a machinery scam?+
No published prices, stock photographs used by several sites, refusal to take a new picture on request, pressure to decide immediately, and bank details that do not match the company on the invoice.
How do I check if an equipment company is real?+
Look up the company that will receive your payment in its own country's register. It takes minutes and it is the single most useful check you can make before sending money anywhere.
What if the invoice name and the bank name are different?+
Stop and ask why, and do not send anything until you have a satisfactory answer in writing. This mismatch is the most common feature of machinery fraud.
Is pressure to pay quickly a bad sign?+
Usually. Machines do sell quickly and that is genuine, but a seller who will not let you carry out normal checks first is protecting something other than your interests.
Paying safely
What is the safest way to pay for a machine abroad?+
A bank transfer to a registered company whose name matches the invoice, in a country whose registers you can search. Payment to an individual's account gives you almost nothing to fall back on.
Should I ever pay a seller through a personal account?+
No. This is the mistake that accounts for most of the bad stories in this trade, and there is never a good reason for a legitimate exporter to ask for it.
Is it normal to pay before the machine ships?+
Yes, full settlement before loading is standard practice worldwide. What is not normal is being asked to pay everything before you have been allowed to verify anything.
How much should I pay up front?+
Terms vary between sellers. Ours are seventy five percent to secure the machine and twenty five percent before it ships, and every part of that is set out in writing before you transfer anything.
Documents and protection
What documents should I insist on?+
A commercial invoice from a named company, a packing list, and a bill of lading issued in your name. If a seller is vague about who issues these, treat that as an answer in itself.
Why does a bill of lading matter?+
Because it is the document that controls the cargo. It should be in your name or your clearing agent's, and knowing who issues it before you pay is part of protecting yourself.
Does using an inspection company protect me?+
It protects you against the machine being wrong, which is one of the two risks. Checking the company protects you against the seller being wrong, and you want both.
What should I do if a seller refuses my checks?+
Walk away. There are many honest exporters in this trade and none of them mind being verified, so a refusal is simply information you should act on.
