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Back to list >Common Mistakes When Buying Sports Bras - and How to Avoid Them
The mistakes that most often cost importers money on sports bras - vague specifications, unapproved samples, hidden costs and weak documentation - and how to avoid each one.
Specifying the product too loosely
A vague description of sports bras guarantees that the factory will make whatever is easiest for it, which is rarely what the buyer imagined.
Write the requirement down with dimensions, materials, tolerances and references, and attach it to the enquiry.
Ignoring the total landed cost
Comparing factory prices alone hides freight, duty, insurance and inland delivery, which together can change the ranking of suppliers.
Calculate the landed cost per sellable unit before deciding, and remember that defects effectively increase it.
Skipping proper sample approval
Approving a sample by message or by memory is the single most common cause of a dispute about bulk quality.
Sign, date and seal the approved sample, and record the material and settings used to produce it.
Underestimating lead times
Lead time includes sampling, approval, production, inspection and freight, and delays in the approval step are the most frequent cause of missed dates.
Build one extra approval round into the schedule and book capacity early for seasonal peaks.
Weak documentation and follow-up
Orders that are not documented cannot be defended, and problems that are not followed up become habits.
Keep the specification, approved sample, inspection report and shipping documents in one file for every order.
Summary
Buyers who verify rather than assume obtain better sports bras at the same price and spend far less time resolving problems after delivery.