Chinese trader says Indian customers are ‘very hard to deal with’: Video sparks debate

A Chinese electronics trader’s account of working with Indian buyers has sparked an online debate over pricing, product samples and trust in international business.

Jay Chen, who works in global sourcing and electronic components, recently shared a video on Instagram in which he discussed what he described as challenges he has faced while dealing with prospective Indian customers. His comments have since prompted users to share their own experiences and views on buyer-seller relationships in cross-border trade.

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Chinese trader highlights pricing and sample requests

According to Chen, one of the main difficulties is the emphasis some Indian buyers place on pricing. He said prospective customers often tell him that his quoted prices are too high and request product samples before committing to an order.


Chen also raised a more contentious issue, saying some sellers are wary of doing business with Indian buyers because of a perception that fraudulent customers exist in the market.

However, he also spoke positively about his own experience with an Indian customer. Chen said his first overseas order came from India and credited that customer with helping him take his first steps into international business.

Users debate why Indian buyers negotiate

Chen’s comments led to a wider discussion online about pricing negotiations and purchasing practices in India.

Some users said India’s large and competitive market makes buyers more price-conscious, with customers often comparing offers from multiple suppliers before placing an order.

Others argued that negotiating prices and requesting samples are standard practices in international sourcing and should not necessarily be viewed as signs that a customer is difficult.

Several users also turned the discussion toward the quality of products supplied by Chinese manufacturers. Some alleged that certain suppliers provide high-quality samples before sending products that do not match the original samples after an order is placed.

One user wrote, “Many Chinese sellers provide good samples themselves, but later send low quality substandard products and take advantage of innocent buyers.”

Another commented, “Indian clients are harder because they are smarter.”

Buyers cite factory visits and product checks

Another user said they personally verify product quality by visiting factories whenever possible and request samples when an in-person inspection is not feasible.

“I always make sure to visit the factory to make check the quality of items which are provided to me are good enough for the price of nah. I also ask for samples if I am not able to visit and use them for like 30 days personally,” the user wrote.

A fourth user attributed some of the concerns surrounding international business to a broader lack of trust.

“We are low trust society one of the Big reasons. Yes, there are trustful people as well but stereotypes holds true most of the time as well,” the user added.

The discussion therefore produced differing views on the relationship between Indian buyers and Chinese suppliers, with some users focusing on price sensitivity and trust, while others highlighted the importance of negotiations, samples and quality checks in international trade.