Qiao Qiao's old man does have business in India, and the one I value particularly is an import and export trading company in New Delhi, India. Based on my experience, I guessed that the old fox may also have some not-so-clean smuggling business in his hands.
It's very simple. In fact, almost 90% of the import and export companies have some illegal activities, such as entrainment, smuggling, tax evasion, etc... They have to do some of these. Even for some large state-owned foreign trade import and export groups in China, their hands are not absolutely clean.
In India, it is up to the old fox to figure out how to find a way to get the right to operate a legal diamond business. Whether he buys it, bribes him, or finds a company that has the right to manage diamonds, that’s all. That's what he's worrying about.
As for me, in the next two or three days, under the lead of the old fox, I met with several domestic jewelers or their representatives.
But the meeting process, it is hard to say happy.
Because, I feel that these jewelers in China always seem to be petty... Yes, that's right, petty! They seem to be hesitant about doing business, they want to make money, but they are also worried about risks, and they are timid. No wonder for so many years, the domestic jewelry industry has been doing small things, and there is not even a slightly well-known brand that can break the region! Don't tell me about psychics, it's from Belgium.
Over the years, I have become accustomed to dealing with those foreigners who are full of adventure and exploration spirit abroad. In such a comparison, the judgment is judged!
It's hard to say that, but I have to say it.
Foreign businessmen, when cooperating, think more about: how can we make more money!
And domestic businessmen, when cooperating, more consideration is: be careful not to be tricked by others!
The realms are all different, and the results will naturally be different.
"How can you guarantee that the diamond you gave me is legitimate?" The first jeweler to meet was a representative from the north.
I glanced at him: "Can you guarantee that the diamonds you are dealing with now are legal?"
"Of course!" He exclaimed, "All our goods have formal customs import procedures and certificates of origin!"
I smiled: "I will also give you a full set of legal procedures, as well as the certificate of origin of the goods... well, and it is issued by the Indian customs."
"I'm not asking about documents and procedures... I'm asking about whether your diamonds are legal!" The representative seemed annoyed: "We are a formal state-owned company, and we don't do smuggling business!"
I smiled and looked at him: "I know that the diamonds in all domestic jewelry stores are imported from foreign businessmen, most of them come from Europe, right? Can you guarantee that the diamonds you sell now Is it legal?"
"Of course!" The guy answered me confidently.
I sighed, glanced at him, and then said lightly: "Okay, goodbye, let's cooperate again when we have a chance."
An idiot, fitting the image of incompetence in state-run companies I've known. As a representative of a jewelry company, I don't even know the most basic common sense... legal? Two-thirds of all diamonds on the world market are illegal! European diamond merchants are all engaged in the business of smuggling diamonds, but they have put a legal cloak on those diamonds of unknown origin... Documentation procedures, these can be artificially bleached!
Two-thirds of the diamonds in circulation in the world are illegal, so you dare to say that all your diamonds are legal? joke.
…
"Your price is too high." This is the second diamond merchant I have faced.
This time he was not as stupid as the people from the first state-run jewelry company, but he competed with me on the price.
I said lightly, "The price I offered is 10% lower than the price you get from Europeans."
The man frowned, and the subsequent conversation with him made me even more unhappy. Finally I came to a conclusion...
I see.
In fact, the main reason for his distrust of me and the dispute over the price is because I am Chinese! It's Chinese!
Because the supply of diamonds is now in the hands of white people, the domestic local jewelry industry imports diamonds, and they all deal with Europeans. After all, there is no diamond producing area in China, and China's diamond consumption has become the second largest country in the world in the past two years! As a result, the demand in the market and the lack of local origins made domestic jewelry merchants have to humble themselves in front of European diamond merchants and let the other party slaughter them.
They are used to each other being superior, to the high price, to... being looked down upon by others!
"Damn it." I couldn't help cursing after sending this guy away. He doesn't trust me because I'm a yellow-skinned Chinese like him! This guy does not believe that a Chinese can break the monopoly of Europeans on diamonds, and he does not believe that a Chinese can help them get so many diamonds... Moreover, it seems that in his impression, since he is a Chinese, what he should do is For low-end cheap goods, the quality of the goods must not be good, so the price must also be low!
I couldn't help but sigh... These people look down on themselves and think they are inferior, so what am I talking about with this trash? !
…
The third person I met was actually a young man, who seemed to be no more than thirty years old, and even a little clumsy.
"I'm from Baoqing Jinlou." He handed me an exquisite business card. I first had a good impression of this honest-looking person by two points, and when I saw his business card, my good impression rose by three points again.
No one else, just because Baoqing Jinlou is a local jeweler from Nanjing, my hometown city.
For domestic jewelers, due to historical reasons and Chinese characteristics, generally time-honored brands are called XX Gold Building, XX Silver Building, XX Gold Shop... and so on.
As a native of Nanjing, I am naturally familiar with this brand. This is the largest jewelry company in Jiangsu. It has branches in several cities in Jiangsu Province. It is a regional brand. And their business strategy is relatively advanced in China in my opinion. They have learned to initially separate out different consumer groups and divide customer groups into different grades!
In Nanjing, the shop of this jeweler has already been divided into ordinary stores and boutiques. Ordinary stores meet the needs of low-end consumers, while boutique stores are aimed at high-end customers with strong spending power.
This jeweler has a strong market share in gold products, and their strategy is considered clever among local jewelers in the "small workshop operation" model in China.
This person seems to be honest, but as soon as he talked about it, my perception changed drastically.
"The annual sales of the domestic diamond market have reached 15 billion yuan, and I estimate it will reach 20 billion yuan next year... This is a big cake. It's a pity that our necks have always been We are led by the Europeans. They have firmly grasped our lifeline, because the diamonds are in their hands, and they control the market. They can set the price at will, and they have the final say on the profit. We have no choice. Yes. Therefore, although domestic jewelers also do diamond business, most of them regard diamonds as a supporting need. A jewelry store does not sell diamonds. We can’t make money from diamonds, we still focus on traditional gold, silver, jade, etc.”
"The second is the cutting technique." The man sighed: "Our cutting technique is also behind. You know, whether a diamond is good or not, the cutting technique is very important, and in this regard, we are also much behind others... However, if we can cooperate, we are willing to import a complete set of cutting equipment from India immediately, and introduce some professionals in this field." When he said this, he glanced at me: "The key is that we must first have Diamonds! There has to be a supply."
I laughed, I like this guy, at least he is a sensible person, unlike the first two who are stupid.
Of course, I couldn't be so stupid as to show him the bag of diamonds. I only took out one and handed it over: "Two-thirds of the diamonds in circulation in the world are smuggled goods. You should know that." So, don’t ask me where these goods come from, I won’t tell you if you ask, and even if I do, you’re just asking for trouble for yourself.”
He took the diamond, and immediately took out a small detector from his arms, looked at it carefully for a while, smiled on his face, and then returned the diamond to me: "Of course, as long as you give me the goods, There is no violation of the laws of the country in terms of procedures and documents! As for how these goods came from abroad... I will not ask. For so many years, those Europeans have been doing this!"
"Happy cooperation!" I laughed and said, "But it's a pity, you and I both understand that these things are not on the table, so we can't sign any contracts. However, to show my sincerity..."
I slowly handed the diamond to him: "You must have a girlfriend or wife, just treat it as a gift from me to a friend."