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We started sourcing from Vietnam mainly to reduce costs. But what surprised me wasn’t just the savings—it was the quality, flexibility, and how smooth the

A few years ago, I thought switching production from China to Vietnam would help us dodge U.S. tariffs completely. But I quickly learned: the rules

I used to think sourcing outside China would automatically reduce my import costs. But in 2025, things changed. A 71% tariff on Vietnamese steel parts

How to Manage Returns or Claims for Quality Issues in Imported Custom Steel Parts? I once had to return an entire batch of machined steel

If your supplier uses the wrong steel grade or uncertified raw materials, you could be held accountable by your customer. I’ve been there—it caused delays,

I once trusted a supplier’s word on quality—big mistake. The parts looked fine but didn’t meet mechanical specs. Now, I follow a QA process that

When I first imported custom steel brackets, I didn’t ask for test certificates. It cost me an entire batch when the parts failed testing here.

I once received a shipment of steel housings with misaligned holes. The factory blamed the toolmaker, but that didn’t help me. That’s when I learned

Once, I skipped hiring a third‑party inspector because I trusted the supplier. That shipment cost me a customer. Since then, I always hire certified inspectors

Getting burned once by receiving parts that didn’t meet specs taught me a lesson: PSI isn’t optional. It’s insurance. And now, I never skip it.

Years ago, I skipped pre-production inspection on a batch of custom machined flanges. They arrived out of spec—wrong steel grade, poor surface prep, and no

On my first import project, I assumed the supplier “understood” what I meant by “powder-coated steel brackets.” They didn’t. The result was a shipment of