u/Apprehensive_Can7651

Hi everyone,

I work in freight forwarding and I’m trying to understand more from the shipper/importer side.

When you choose a freight forwarder, what matters most to you?

For example:

• Price (cheapest rate wins?)
• Transit time / reliability
• Communication speed & clarity
• Problem-solving when issues happen (delays, customs, etc.)
• Local presence in destination country
• Documentation accuracy

From your experience, what usually makes you trust a forwarder enough to keep working with them long-term?

And what are the biggest red flags that make you switch?

Would really appreciate honest opinions from importers, exporters, or even other logistics people.

Over the last few weeks, I've been digging through Google Maps, company websites, and LinkedIn profiles looking at manufacturers in Vietnam.

I expected to find mostly small workshops.

Instead, I found furniture factories with 300+ employees, plywood manufacturers exporting worldwide, and cabinet companies running multiple factories and shipping hundreds of containers every month.

The interesting part is that many of these companies seem deeply connected to China through machinery, materials, and supply chains, while selling mainly to the US and Europe.

For people who work in manufacturing or sourcing:

Is Vietnam becoming a true manufacturing alternative, or is it still heavily dependent on China behind the scenes?

Curious to hear real-world experiences.

• Wrong HS code
• Missing import permits
• Incorrect packing list
• Unexpected local charges

What was your most expensive importing mistake?