Why is it said thatExport agentIs a company's reputation the cornerstone of cooperation?

According to the latest data from the General Administration of Customs of China in 2025, the nationwide registrationExport agentThe number of enterprises has exceeded 120,000. In the fierce competition, corporate reputation has become the core criterion for selecting partners. High-quality agency firms can reduce hidden costs by 3-5%, while every 1% increase in negative service reviews may lead to an 8.7% rise in customer churn rate.

What industry pain points are hidden behind common word-of-mouth issues?

• customs clearanceDelay Dispute:In 2025, a company in the Yangtze River Delta region had $200,000 worth of goods detained due to declaration errors by its agency, exposing operational compliance issues.
• Hidden Fee Controversy:Some companies split port handling fees into 7-8 sub-items for charging, violating internationalTrade termsGeneral Rules of Interpretation
• Handling Negative Reviews in Emergency Situations:When there are changes in the shipping schedule, 32% of the agency companies lack contingency plans, leading to a doubled risk of customer default.

How to distinguish between genuine and fake word-of-mouth information?

It is recommended to adopt the three-dimensional verification method:

• Online review screening:
  • Please check whether the evaluation includes specific product categories/trade terms.
  • Be wary of batches of five-star reviews appearing within the same time period.
• Industry Data Comparison:
  • Please check the AEO certification status with customs.
  • Compare with the annual rankings published by the China International Freight Forwarders Association.

5 Key Professional Metrics You Must Examine

• Customs declaration accuracy rate:High-quality enterprises can maintain an accuracy rate of over 98%.
• Document processing time:The process from document receipt to release should be completed within 72 hours.
• Cost Transparency:Please provide a cost breakdown table compliant with INCOTERMS 2025.
• Risk control system:It should include at least five hedging instruments such as exchange rate locking and transport insurance.
• Technology Investment:Check whether an electronic customs declaration system and real-time tracking function are available.

Three Practical Verification Methods

An actual case study of a medical device exporter:

• On-site pressure test:Please demonstrate the process for handling returned goods on-site.
• Case Retrospective:Verify the customs records of its export cases for similar products in the past 3 years.
• Probation period setting:First-order value limit with a 2-week service evaluation period.

What other factors should be considered besides word of mouth?

It is recommended to establish a dynamic evaluation system: conduct quarterly assessments of the agency companies.Abnormal event response speedandTimeliness of Policy UpdatesandDegree of service innovation. An auto parts exporter improved cooperation stability by 40% through this system.