This question should be of special interest to someone who deals with
importing/exporting on a regular basis.  My company, MarvelSoft
Enterprises, Inc., is looking for an inexpensive source of talking
watches or talking clocks.  Since all of our software products have
been designed specifically for the totally blind user, all features on
the talking watches we purchase must be usable by the blind (speaking
the time, setting the time and alarm, etc.).  The other tricky thing
is that we need to be able to purchase high-quality talking watches at
very low prices, as we're planning on using them as a free promotional
item for the holiday season.  I have a friend who told me that he'd
found a company in China or Taiwan who was selling talking watches for
US $0.49 each (with a low minimum order requirement), but he now can't
remember their name or web site address.  So, to make a long story
short, we need to find a company selling talking watches for well
under $1 each, and without a minimum order quantity of anything more
than $1,000-$1,500.  ((I came across one company in Taiwan who was
selling talking watches for $2.20 each, and whose minimum order
quantity was $8,000, both of which we can't remotely consider at
present.  Now, I think the price per watch would drop if I were to
place a large order with this company, but the overall cost of the
order really does have to stay down ... hard, eh?!)  Hope I don't
sound like I'm asking for the world; these particulars are what we
need so we can give these watches away to our customers this holiday
season.

Thanks so much for your time, and I'll look forward to hearing from
you!  Have a great week-end! - Craig.

---

Clarification of Question by marvelsoft-ga on 19 Oct 2002 19:53 PDT

Just wanted to mention that I've been talking this question over with
the powers that be here, and I've been told that we can pay up to USD
$1.00 for each talking watch.  In addition, the minimum order quantity
can be as much as USD $2,000.  Hope this helps you clever searchers
somewhat!  BFN - Craig.

---

Request for Question Clarification by fons-ga on 01 Nov 2002 22:56 PST

Hi Marvelsoft,

I have been able to locate two companies making talking watches, one
in Taiwan, one in Shenzhen. They do not list their prices, since I
guess that is negotiable. If you can accept the other details as an
answer, I will post them for you.

Regards,

Fons

---

Clarification of Question by marvelsoft-ga on 02 Nov 2002 00:23 PST

Good Morning Fons,

So far, I've been able to locate a company in Hong Kong that
manufactures talking watches.  Their minimum order quantity is 1,000
pieces, each costing $1.50.  This isn't too bad, I suppose, but for
our holiday give-away, we really need to be able to buy these watches
as cheaply as possible, since some of our orders are only for six or
seven dollars.  Hence, I really would need the assurance that the
companies you've found do offer their talking watches for $1.00 or
less per unit, without our having to place an order worth more than
$2,000.  I know, it's a tall order, and one, I'm beginning to suspect,
which is nearly impossible.  So if you can't find any companies for
us, don't feel bad.  One tip I can offer you (and one which you've
probably thought of long ago): try searching a global manufacturing
database, such as Made-in-China.com or GlobalSources.com.  I
personally haven't had much luck with this, but if one had enough
patience, I think we might be able to find a good lead.

Thanks for working on my question.  I really appreciate your time. 
Have a great week-end! - MarvelSoft.

Greetings!  While I have not found a good wholesale source for you, I
wanted to suggest that you contact http://www.maxiaids.com to see if
they might want to assist you in a semi-partnership on your giveaway
promotion.  You might ask them if they would get you the watches at
wholesale and you would promote their business as a result.  I don't
know if this is viable, but it is a possibility and I wanted to
suggest it.  Good luck.

I found a $6.95 retail talking watch (Tel-Time IV)at their site
http://www.maxiaids.com/cgi-bin/miva?Merchant2/merchant.mv+Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MAXI&Product_Code=63795
and the retail price suggests it might could be had for far less at
wholesale.

I also found the same watch at the same price at
http://learnmoreshop.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?

Hi!  Thank you so much for taking the time to suggest your idea.  If I
can't find a wholesale source for talking watches, your suggestion is
definitely the next best way to go.  Again, it was very thoughtful of
you to post it, and I really appreciate it.  (This is the first
question I've posted on Google Answers, and from what I've seen so
far, it's one great community!)

Have a great week! - Craig.

I find this a great community and there are many top-notch researchers
at Google Answers.  I think you'll probably have to go towards Asia
for your price and there isn't a lot of Asian company info I've found
on the net.  Mostly they tool up for whatever project a firm wants.

You might examine some electronics trade magazines for ideas on
foreign sources.  Good luck, and wish I could have found the exact
info for you.

Journalist, I'm sure you're absolutely right.  I've been in contact
with several Asian companies (based in Hong Kong and China) but all
seem to be charging more for their watches than we can fork out at
this point, giving the nature of our holiday give-away plan.  Of
course, if you're prepared to spend $10,000 or more, the price per
unit drops significantly, but ...  Anyhow, thanks again for
everything! - MarvelSoft.

Should you be interested in expanding to further "talking" amd other
accessible tools for blind, etc., you can find an awful lot of
information and discussion about what blind people are looking for at
eSight Careers Network www.eSightCareers.net.  Check both the "Search
eSight" feature and the adaptive tech forum.

Nan Hawthorne