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Comment by curt | Hacker News Reader

Nope you can't do much. But if you really want to do something the best would be to go there and contact the authorities (local party officials forget the police, bring cash, wink wink) and get them involved.

In the future it's best to have an expediter in China that can check the facts on the ground. Also you should not have to pay for manufacturing before the product is shipped or at least checked by an independent contact in China. Usually terms are around 30-90 days depending on the industry and product (sometimes up to 6 months).

I put up a manufacturing guide a few months ago where I talked a bit about this: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1840896

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It would not seem prudent whatsoever for someone - especially with no local knowledge (or language ability?) to go to Shenzhen and attempt to bribe anyone, much less government officials, to solve this problem. Guanxi aside, even if you think some local cadres are very 腐败, not a good idea. Cannot emphasize enough how many potential problems could arise from this course of action.

@OP, I would concur with the "lawyer first" strategy. While it may be worthwhile to go to meet with your supplier(s) / contact to try to resolve the issue, the first step you need to take is to better understand your current legal posture and options, lest you find yourself in unpleasant territory once you hit Chinese soil.

Yes, as exciting as that approach may seem, considering recent immigration trends, I would think most anyone from China could extend their reach for revenge purposes into my home country with great ease....I think I'll be keeping this negotiation on the straight and narrow.

That's good; a reminder in general: it's a serious crime in the USA to bribe foreign officials: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_Corrupt_Practices_Act

Wasn't recommending it, sorry for not being clear it was more of a joke. I know of a few people that operate like that though with great success, but yes you need to know the culture. Usually that's what expediters are for (even though they don't tell you that directly), that's why the good ones are worth what they ask.

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