The launching of Kingston Quest was simply the proactive response to what is definitely a much neglected
vital link between buying customers in the west, and capable vendors in China. Despite the fact that China
supplies the world, there is still a very great divide that separates the consumer from the product, unless you
are a large-scale retailer.
For many who desire to procure from overseas, there is alwayssome risks involved, such as not having a secure entity to source,
verify, inspect, report, and export.
You can always come to China to begin sourcing, but maybe you
cannot come to China every time there is a misunderstanding or
technical problem with your supplier. We know of many cases of
customers who expected one thing, but ended up with something
far below their requirements.
The operational model of Kingston Quest is to simply be honest
and put things on the table that would otherwise be hidden. Many
factories will mark-up prices by 30% or more if the customer does
not know normal average manufacturing costs for the products
being sourced.
General Trading companies tend to ignore inflated prices because they can earn more money on factory
commissions. But this is only part of the problem. Communicating here can be hampered because most
English speakers are trained only for basic English translations, not for technical or mechanical issues. This
means that your agent may be a better tour guide than a vendor qualifier or troubleshooter.
If you cannot imagine how much of a problem thiscan be, then just imagine that your agent cannot
understand what a 2 x 4 is, or drywall, or basement,
or blueprint, or condominium, or frostline...Did I
mention after-sales service?
The Kingston Quest idea is to be part of the solution,
not part of the problem. We focus on meeting your
needs from initial inquiry, lowering prices, managing
production, and following the product door-to-door through the Kingston Logistics exporting services. One
example of our services is as follows:
A customer in the southwest USA was being supplied several containers of marble flooring per month, and
was happy about his orders. During an unrelated conversation he mentioned his prices, but they seemed a
little high to us, so we investigated this and found that we could offer the same “A” grade product, but with a
cost that was $7,800 lower, per 20’ container. This correction alone could save the buyer $187,000 per year
on a 2 container monthly order. The only ingredient to helping this customer was to tell him the truth, and
direct him to a better solution. He agreed and we changed his vendor, and we now handle all of his accounts
in China.
Our company is also involved with OEM outsourcing solutions and project level services which require core
process management...This is what we do.
About China
If New York is the city that never sleeps, then China is surely the nation that never sleeps. With a population of
1.3 billion and 1 million new births per month, there are few words to describe the activity at ground level in
China. China is huge in many aspects that you could never understand unless you were here. There is no time of
the day when thestreets are empty in
the cities.
China is like a runaway
commodity machine
with one input, a
million outputs, no
“power off” switch,
an exponential variable
mode with a brand
new perpetual option
valve that is stuck in
the open position, all
run by a program that
cannot be translated
into English unless you
use the new updated
Wangfujing Street in Beijing
menu that will be available 150 days after you place your order, or 90 days after you receive your shipment;
whichever comes first! If you can get past that part, then China is otherwise a simply amazing place to see
and to do business.
This is the final frontier during our lifetime, unless you are a fish or an astronaut. The nation is abound with
great scenery, sheer beauty, bustling activity, millions of vacation spots, and more opportunity for business
than you will ever find anywhere else. China's commodities are an extreme venture into the abyss of infinite
products.
About China Goods
Products, products, products, products…dizzying…stupefying, astonishing. For every product that you can find
locally, there are 100 more just like it that were passed over, but definitely of better quality…yes, that’s right!
You see, the fact that China is associated with cheap quality goods is actually the result of what has been the
requirement of merchandisers and traders from around the globe who demand those cheap products for retail
sale. Karl Marx, who was a philosopher, social scientist, and political economist, developed a theory, the
"Commodity Fetish", and is well worth reading here.
But the truth is that the core abilities of the China suppliers are much, much higher than you might assume;
but then why wouldn’t they be, when China's role as a global supplier has spanned millennium. Suppliers here
have the ability to produce the highest quality products, if given the proper compensation for doing so.
About China Business
Doing business in China is manageable if you are extremely patient and don’t mind the occasional migraine
headache related to communication issues. With many companies and sometimes hundreds of factories in
the same city offering the same product, you really need an insider to help you achieve your requirements and
pricing. If you are visiting a China tradeshow, you may be getting inflated prices or be dealing with traders
posing as factories.
Financial transactions are pretty safe after you find a legitimate supplier, but quality control is a major issue
related to training, especially if you are buying less expensive items. Many companies have just begun
exporting since China’s inception to the WTO (World Trade Organization) and they tend to be a little fuzzy
when it comes to export packaging, logistics, and services. There are many compliance details to work out
to ensure your goods arrive safely, without damage, and are able to clear customs.
About Me
I was born at the Benedictine Catholic hospital in Kingston, New York in 1963. Kingston was the first capital
of New York, but after the Battle of Saratoga the city of some 500 buildings was burned to the ground by
British troops led by General John Vaughan, on Oct 16, 1777. Thirty days later, the Continental Congress
adopted the Articles of Confederation, which would become the U.S. Constitution in 1789.
After growing up on the east coast I joined the U.S.
Navy (1981-1987), and then the U.S. Merchant
Marines in 1989, until finally coming ashore in
1996 after learning of my father’s cancer.
In the years I spent upon the sea I was a warfare
specialist, master helmsman and a navigator; and
was fortunate to have circled the earth along different
routes, more than 4 times. I worked in the Arctic
Circle, south to Cape Horn, and have toured all of the
major oceans and continents.
I was acquainted with both thrilling joy and terrifying
tragedy upon the sea. The ocean colored my life
vividly, but at great personal sacrifice.
Rondout Lighthouse, Kingston, N.Y.
I worked as a builder and remodeler for several years during my off-time shipping, and for 5 years afterwards
in the competitive New Jersey, New York construction market. As a small contractor in the big apple, it became
clear that a repositioning could better serve my strategy for success. In 2000 I came across some information
relating to the demand for expatriate opportunities in Asia, especially in China. By early 2001, I was convinced
that it was worth looking into further. With a plan to get involved with China ocean shipping, or building materials,
I headed for China to qualify or disqualify my ideas. I was extremely impressed with the potential of China
almost immediately, and began to learn my way around. That was 6 years ago!
I have changed a lot in China, and time is unforgiving. I have good days and bad. I wish I could say that my
experiences here were all good, but they were not, but no place is perfect, right? It is difficult to quantify the
dynamics of China; unlike my feelings of the pyramids when I was in Giza, the Panama Canal, or when I
encountered my first hissing iceberg in the Straits of Belle Isle.
I know I won't live long enough to know China correctly, or many other places for that matter, but I will do my
best to make sure that my pages and galleries contain the pictures and words that will allow me to share this
journey that has become my quest.
Best regards for your
business and family!
Tony Smith,
Kingston Quest President
All Rights Reserved.