Broker
From Supply Chain Management Encyclopedia
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'''Broker''' or, in the context of international logistics, an '''import/export broker''' <ref> Zoldac, A. How to Become an Import/Export Broker - http://www.ehow.com/how_6976589_become-import_export-broker.html</ref> is the individual or organization who brings together buyer and seller for a fee, eventually withdrawing from any transaction. The chief function of a broker is to bring a buyer and seller together. Thus the broker is a specialist in performing the contractual function, and does not actually handle the products sold or bought. For its services the broker is paid a commission by the principal (client) – sometimes, there is a monthly fee plus the commission depending on a total sum of the deal done. The broker commonly specializes in particular products or classes of products, usually staple primary commodities such as grains, lumber, rubber, fibers. Being a commodity specialist, there is a tendency to concentrate on just one or two products. Because the broker deals primarily in basic commodities, for many potential export marketers this type of agent does not represent a practical alternative channel of distribution. | '''Broker''' or, in the context of international logistics, an '''import/export broker''' <ref> Zoldac, A. How to Become an Import/Export Broker - http://www.ehow.com/how_6976589_become-import_export-broker.html</ref> is the individual or organization who brings together buyer and seller for a fee, eventually withdrawing from any transaction. The chief function of a broker is to bring a buyer and seller together. Thus the broker is a specialist in performing the contractual function, and does not actually handle the products sold or bought. For its services the broker is paid a commission by the principal (client) – sometimes, there is a monthly fee plus the commission depending on a total sum of the deal done. The broker commonly specializes in particular products or classes of products, usually staple primary commodities such as grains, lumber, rubber, fibers. Being a commodity specialist, there is a tendency to concentrate on just one or two products. Because the broker deals primarily in basic commodities, for many potential export marketers this type of agent does not represent a practical alternative channel of distribution. | ||
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+ | The distinguishing characteristic of export brokers is that they may act as the agent for either the seller (main term – “''to sell not cheaper than X''”) or the buyer (main term – “''to buy not more expensively than Y''”). For example, an export broker in the lumber business may be contacted by a sawmill and asked if he or she can dispose of a quantity of lumber of a size and grade not readily salable domestically. The broker will then get in touch with potential foreign buyers with whom he or she is acquainted and either offer the lumber to them at a predetermined price or ask them to make an offer. When several foreign offers are received, the broker accepts the best offer or relays the information to the sawmill to ascertain whether the price is acceptable. When the transaction is successfully concluded the sawmill pays the broker's fee. Alternatively, the broker may be contacted by a foreign buyer and asked to secure quotations on a quantity of a certain size and grade of lumber. Quotations are then sought from sawmills with which he or she is also acquainted. If the broker is not authorized to place the order with the mill making the best quotation, the prices are sent to the foreign buyer for determination whether the price is acceptable. When the transaction is concluded successfully, the foreign buyer pays the broker's fee. | ||
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See also [[Agent]] and [[Pure International Commercial Middlemen]] | See also [[Agent]] and [[Pure International Commercial Middlemen]] |
Revision as of 13:32, 10 November 2014
Russian: Брокер
Broker or, in the context of international logistics, an import/export broker [1] is the individual or organization who brings together buyer and seller for a fee, eventually withdrawing from any transaction. The chief function of a broker is to bring a buyer and seller together. Thus the broker is a specialist in performing the contractual function, and does not actually handle the products sold or bought. For its services the broker is paid a commission by the principal (client) – sometimes, there is a monthly fee plus the commission depending on a total sum of the deal done. The broker commonly specializes in particular products or classes of products, usually staple primary commodities such as grains, lumber, rubber, fibers. Being a commodity specialist, there is a tendency to concentrate on just one or two products. Because the broker deals primarily in basic commodities, for many potential export marketers this type of agent does not represent a practical alternative channel of distribution.
The distinguishing characteristic of export brokers is that they may act as the agent for either the seller (main term – “to sell not cheaper than X”) or the buyer (main term – “to buy not more expensively than Y”). For example, an export broker in the lumber business may be contacted by a sawmill and asked if he or she can dispose of a quantity of lumber of a size and grade not readily salable domestically. The broker will then get in touch with potential foreign buyers with whom he or she is acquainted and either offer the lumber to them at a predetermined price or ask them to make an offer. When several foreign offers are received, the broker accepts the best offer or relays the information to the sawmill to ascertain whether the price is acceptable. When the transaction is successfully concluded the sawmill pays the broker's fee. Alternatively, the broker may be contacted by a foreign buyer and asked to secure quotations on a quantity of a certain size and grade of lumber. Quotations are then sought from sawmills with which he or she is also acquainted. If the broker is not authorized to place the order with the mill making the best quotation, the prices are sent to the foreign buyer for determination whether the price is acceptable. When the transaction is concluded successfully, the foreign buyer pays the broker's fee.
See also Agent and Pure International Commercial Middlemen
References
- ↑ Zoldac, A. How to Become an Import/Export Broker - http://www.ehow.com/how_6976589_become-import_export-broker.html