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Q: How do you think that I just take the order for myself?
After I got fired, a customer I sent samples to messaged me on whatsapp saying he's going to place me an order.
I want to take this order and purchase products from other factories then ship to this customer. But the problem is I don't know where my previous boss brought those products from. So if I sell those products to the customers, they won't be the sample material tested by the customer.
This customer is a contractor and might turn into big potentially. If I make it happen successfully. It might a chance for me to get rich in a year. Should I risk doing it? The customer asks me to send him the invoice for him to send money over.
If you do decide to do it, be completely upfront and honest about what is happening with the customer.
If you don't and you get a reputation in the industry for being shady you might find it follows you into your next job which you don't want.
If you do decide to do it, be completely upfront and honest about what is happening with the customer.
If you don't and you get a reputation in the industry for being shady you might find it follows you into your next job which you don't want.
The fact that you even ask this question implies that you don't know what the ethical thing to do is.
The honest, and best thing to do is as Stiggs suggests - be upfront about your situation with the client, that you are no longer working for the company.
If you think you can fill the order, how are you going to do it?
If you are dishonest in business, this reputation will follow you around for the rest of your life and no amount of 'hurt feelings' or 'getting offended' can change what you have done.
Viki87:
My previous boss lied that that he's producing them but in fact he's just trading them.
Blondie_:
so it is ok for you to lie too?
'it is ok for me to be dishonest because someone else is being dishonest'
it sounds like you have made up your mind to lie to this customer and are just looking for validation.
I suggest you look up 'business ethics'
I suspect you will be posting soon 'my customer found out i lied, what should i do?'
unethical business behavior has a tendency to come back and bite you in the ass.
cub:
blondie, im not from china never been there but someday wil go to china. The way i been reading or hearing on this site is that in china Viki87 situation happens all the time its normal practice and making money/profit is king no matter how unethical or dishonest it is.
Blondie_:
@cub
I am well aware that this is normal business practice in China.
here is an opportunity for someone to do the right thing, and it is a clear case.
the fact that Viki is posting this question shows how deeply ingrained this sort of dishonesty is in China.
At home in a similar situation, if Viki went ahead and lied to the customer, as 'to get rich is glorious', the customer could sue her for misrepresentation amongst other things, and and her former boss could sue her for breach of so many contract clauses.
Business practice in China is what gives the whole country a poor reputation internationally as being unreliable (to put it mildly). Yet when confronted with unethical practices, Chinese people are the first to cry, 'get offended' say '5000 years of history' etc. while not actually addressing of issue of being trustworthy or the source of their poor reputation.
So there is no question as to what the right thing to do in this situation is, and for someone to stick to ethical principles.
but we all know 'this is China'
cub:
@blondie, viki did right by asking whomever on this site for advice before attempting to do something shady unethical or illlegal that will have consequences so now its up to viki to decide what to do. Coming here to ECC was a good start
viki87 first tellt his 'customer'' u dont work for the company any more. Tell this client your situation and be honest tell them your ex boss is not honest and lying by claiming he is producing this product when he is trading and NOT making the product. Just be honest with this customer tell them your situation How much detail u tell them what happened is your call and dont try to sell or order it to make money thats stealing/theft being its not yours
Wow... so many people who know what's 'right', and who think that the 'right' thing to do is always the 'best' thing to do.....
I won't suggest what YOU should do, but I'll tell you how I'd try to play this (and business is a game).
i'd firstly email the client and tell them that I no longer work for that company. I'd also tell them that they weren't a manufacturer but a middleman.
Then, if I was confident I could find out, I'd offer to take on the middleman position by finding out who the manufactory is. Give a specific (short) timeframe.
If not possible, I'd email my old boss, and tell them that a client has contacted me to buy a stack of product, but has since been told of the deception that was being carried out. Tell him I am now faced with 2 options - either, the boss and I come to an agreement, and I inter-pose myself as another middleman, OR I contact a different supplier, and recommend the client go to them instead (obviously, for a commission).
Why???
It's business! I have zero responsibility towards anyone but myself in this situation. I do not owe anything to the client (except the fact that you no longer work there) - nor to the old boss.
Seems the boss had good reason not to tell you where he got the product made.
The fact that your ex-boss does not make the product does not make him a dispicable middle man. Who knows what effort he went to in sourcing the product, maybe he helped their quality system, brought the manufacturer orders etc. I have seen the work traders put into getting customers, making sure the product is right etc, and then deal with complaints when things go wrong.
And what you are suggesting is why things do go wrong. Western buyers do not like this messing about.
If they have gone to the expense of testing and evaluating a product, why would they change to another supplier and another product as they place the order. They would have to start the testing all over again. And for what? What would they gain from it?
Right, assuming you are still doing vaccuum pumps, I suggest what you do is this:
Set yourself up with suppliers and a range of products.
Produce your technical literature etc, get your sales contract forms etc.
Set a target of offering something better than your old boss did. For example, you speak good English. That can be a great advantage to foreign buyers. Could be the difference between going direct to a manufacturer or using an agent (you).
Then, once you are set up, and you have invested your time effort and money, go steal your old bosses clients 
I buy stuff in my job Vicky. And while I have never seen any client stealing as blatant as you suggest, I am well familiar with the clone companies. One guy designs a product, sells it, and within a few years all his/her staff has done a runner and is making the exact same stuff. So easy to spot. Just ask for a small change to the product and they have no idea. All they can do is copy, not innovate. Not an issue if you are spending small money, but if big money is involved the original innovator of the product is sought.
Buyers are not just interested in the product. They want technical knowledge, support, quick resolution of problems etc.
Good luck with your business Vicky, but try to set it up before you steal customers
I agree with the others about being honest. China already has a very poor reputation in dealing with business matters and you would only contribute to this if you don't provide the samples in question.
You could however, send him new samples and try to point out the benefits and grab the business that way. Find him better samples and he will trust you to do business with long-term as it shows you are looking out for their better interest and reputation.
If you try to cheat them and they find out... you could put yourself in a huge amount of trouble.
wouldnt yr ex-boss hve notified all associates tht u r no longer in the company ?
i agree wth most othrs here. honesty is the key. bare it all honestly to client n move accordingly. this ordr may work or not, possibly the door will open in future. good luck.
