Tea Knowledge & Friendship
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Check with Elyse Petersen at Tealet - she is the US agent for the Chen family. www.tealet.com
Any reason that's necessary? Cindy's shipments always come quite fast, and with pretty cheap shipping, certainly no more than the markup you'd pay from a US-based shop.
Last year I paid more than 100$ for shipping. specialized vendors in China that I have ordered from in the past (pu-erh, white, green, etc) charge something like 10$ for shipping (Some more and some less). One way to cut these costs is to find a good “generalist”, and preferably a local one. If, as I have heared, a us generalist that sells good puerh also sources yancha from Cindy, then that will be a good way to save.wildisthewind wrote: ↑Fri Mar 09, 2018 2:10 pmAny reason that's necessary? Cindy's shipments always come quite fast, and with pretty cheap shipping, certainly no more than the markup you'd pay from a US-based shop.
Just playing devil's advocate here, but the usual reasons are:wildisthewind wrote: ↑Fri Mar 09, 2018 2:10 pmAny reason that's necessary? Cindy's shipments always come quite fast, and with pretty cheap shipping, certainly no more than the markup you'd pay from a US-based shop.
Sure, I probably ended up paying 100-150 in international shipping last year, but I'm pretty sure that if I'd had to buy all those teas from a local retailer the markup would add up to way more than that.ShuShu wrote: ↑Fri Mar 09, 2018 2:48 pmLast year I paid more than 100$ for shipping. specialized vendors in China that I have ordered from in the past (pu-erh, white, green, etc) charge something like 10$ for shipping (Some more and some less). One way to cut these costs is to find a good “generalist”, and preferably a local one. If, as I have heared, a us generalist that sells good puerh also sources yancha from Cindy, then that will be a good way to save.wildisthewind wrote: ↑Fri Mar 09, 2018 2:10 pmAny reason that's necessary? Cindy's shipments always come quite fast, and with pretty cheap shipping, certainly no more than the markup you'd pay from a US-based shop.
Right now I know of at least one local vendor from which you can get some of her teas in more or less the same price including shipping (though in bigger quantities). The seller doesn’t offer other kinds of tea that I like so except for the shipping speed there is no real advantage here.
This isn't always true. Our Taiwanese Oolong farmer sells online as well, and we were able to lower our margins enough to match his prices, while providing faster and cheaper shipping. He prefers it this way, because he wants to focus on producing quality teas, not shipping small retail orders globally all the time.wildisthewind wrote: ↑Fri Mar 09, 2018 6:42 pmSure, I probably ended up paying 100-150 in international shipping last year, but I'm pretty sure that if I'd had to buy all those teas from a local retailer the markup would add up to way more than that.ShuShu wrote: ↑Fri Mar 09, 2018 2:48 pmLast year I paid more than 100$ for shipping. specialized vendors in China that I have ordered from in the past (pu-erh, white, green, etc) charge something like 10$ for shipping (Some more and some less). One way to cut these costs is to find a good “generalist”, and preferably a local one. If, as I have heared, a us generalist that sells good puerh also sources yancha from Cindy, then that will be a good way to save.wildisthewind wrote: ↑Fri Mar 09, 2018 2:10 pm
Any reason that's necessary? Cindy's shipments always come quite fast, and with pretty cheap shipping, certainly no more than the markup you'd pay from a US-based shop.
Right now I know of at least one local vendor from which you can get some of her teas in more or less the same price including shipping (though in bigger quantities). The seller doesn’t offer other kinds of tea that I like so except for the shipping speed there is no real advantage here.
Interesting to know. Do you mind divulging who's oolong you're carrying?chofmann wrote: ↑Fri Mar 09, 2018 10:08 pmThis isn't always true. Our Taiwanese Oolong farmer sells online as well, and we were able to lower our margins enough to match his prices, while providing faster and cheaper shipping. He prefers it this way, because he wants to focus on producing quality teas, not shipping small retail orders globally all the time.wildisthewind wrote: ↑Fri Mar 09, 2018 6:42 pmSure, I probably ended up paying 100-150 in international shipping last year, but I'm pretty sure that if I'd had to buy all those teas from a local retailer the markup would add up to way more than that.ShuShu wrote: ↑Fri Mar 09, 2018 2:48 pm
Last year I paid more than 100$ for shipping. specialized vendors in China that I have ordered from in the past (pu-erh, white, green, etc) charge something like 10$ for shipping (Some more and some less). One way to cut these costs is to find a good “generalist”, and preferably a local one. If, as I have heared, a us generalist that sells good puerh also sources yancha from Cindy, then that will be a good way to save.
Right now I know of at least one local vendor from which you can get some of her teas in more or less the same price including shipping (though in bigger quantities). The seller doesn’t offer other kinds of tea that I like so except for the shipping speed there is no real advantage here.
I can't quite say yet. We are currently the exclusive US vendor carrying his teas, but we are hoping to get that in writing before revealing who he is. Who we source from is kinda analogous to our IP, so we have to walk carefully.wildisthewind wrote: ↑Fri Mar 09, 2018 10:32 pmInteresting to know. Do you mind divulging who's oolong you're carrying?chofmann wrote: ↑Fri Mar 09, 2018 10:08 pmThis isn't always true. Our Taiwanese Oolong farmer sells online as well, and we were able to lower our margins enough to match his prices, while providing faster and cheaper shipping. He prefers it this way, because he wants to focus on producing quality teas, not shipping small retail orders globally all the time.wildisthewind wrote: ↑Fri Mar 09, 2018 6:42 pm
Sure, I probably ended up paying 100-150 in international shipping last year, but I'm pretty sure that if I'd had to buy all those teas from a local retailer the markup would add up to way more than that.
Totally fair, I assumed so. And sounds like it's who I thought it might be. Great teas!chofmann wrote: ↑Fri Mar 09, 2018 10:43 pmI can't quite say yet. We are currently the exclusive US vendor carrying his teas, but we are hoping to get that in writing before revealing who he is. Who we source from is kinda analogous to our IP, so we have to walk carefully.wildisthewind wrote: ↑Fri Mar 09, 2018 10:32 pmInteresting to know. Do you mind divulging who's oolong you're carrying?chofmann wrote: ↑Fri Mar 09, 2018 10:08 pm
This isn't always true. Our Taiwanese Oolong farmer sells online as well, and we were able to lower our margins enough to match his prices, while providing faster and cheaper shipping. He prefers it this way, because he wants to focus on producing quality teas, not shipping small retail orders globally all the time.
With that said, I can disclose that TeaForum pros are definitely familiar with him!
(I post under my personal name, but I discuss our company, Leafy Green, in the vendor section).
If it is who I think it is, I'll definitely be enjoying the samples i just ordered from you.chofmann wrote: ↑Fri Mar 09, 2018 10:43 pmI can't quite say yet. We are currently the exclusive US vendor carrying his teas, but we are hoping to get that in writing before revealing who he is. Who we source from is kinda analogous to our IP, so we have to walk carefully.wildisthewind wrote: ↑Fri Mar 09, 2018 10:32 pmInteresting to know. Do you mind divulging who's oolong you're carrying?chofmann wrote: ↑Fri Mar 09, 2018 10:08 pm
This isn't always true. Our Taiwanese Oolong farmer sells online as well, and we were able to lower our margins enough to match his prices, while providing faster and cheaper shipping. He prefers it this way, because he wants to focus on producing quality teas, not shipping small retail orders globally all the time.
With that said, I can disclose that TeaForum pros are definitely familiar with him!
(I post under my personal name, but I discuss our company, Leafy Green, in the vendor section).
While we didn't use the name of the farm, we definitely hinted towards which one it is. We are proud to be carrying his teas and would love to be able to advertise the fact more, hopefully with less 'cloak and dagger' discretion in the near future.
Nice going, as he’s turned down many other vendorschofmann wrote: ↑Sat Mar 10, 2018 1:28 pmWhile we didn't use the name of the farm, we definitely hinted towards which one it is. We are proud to be carrying his teas and would love to be able to advertise the fact more, hopefully with less 'cloak and dagger' discretion in the near future.
Not everybody can read Chinese characters AND is a good sleuth like you Bok
