The clause our competitors cannot sign
Every BuyerSide Türkiye engagement contract contains a zero-kickback clause: we accept no commission, discount, gift, hospitality or benefit of any kind from any supplier, agent or factory connected to the client's order. Breach gives the client an immediate right of termination and a full refund of the engagement fee. The clause is reproduced in full on this page.
The clause, in full
Clause 4 — Independence and Zero Consideration
4.1 The Service Provider acts exclusively in the interest of the Client. The Service Provider does not act as agent, representative or intermediary for any manufacturer, supplier, trading company or sourcing agent in connection with the Client's order.
4.2 The Service Provider shall not solicit, accept or receive, directly or through any related party, any commission, rebate, discount, fee, gift, hospitality, travel, accommodation, entertainment or benefit of any kind from any supplier, factory, agent or third party connected with the Client's order.
4.3 Third-party costs incurred on the Client's behalf shall be invoiced at documented cost with receipts attached, without mark-up, commission or handling charge.
4.4 The Service Provider shall disclose in writing any prior or present relationship with any supplier under assessment, before commencing work.
4.5 Breach of Clause 4.2 entitles the Client to terminate this agreement with immediate effect and to a full refund of all fees paid under it, without prejudice to any further remedy.
This is not a values statement. It is a term of the contract you sign, and it carries a remedy.
Why it matters more than it sounds
Supplier commission in Turkish export trade typically runs between three and eight per cent of order value, paid by the factory to the agent, and invisible on your invoice. On a €200,000 order that is between €6,000 and €16,000 flowing to the person who told you the factory was good.
The money is not the problem. The incentive is. An agent earning a percentage of shipped value is paid more when your goods ship and paid nothing when they do not. At the exact moment you need someone to say "do not release the balance", that person's income depends on the opposite answer.
You cannot fix that with good intentions. You fix it by removing the second income entirely, in writing, with a penalty.
What independence costs you
Honesty about the trade-off: a commission-funded agent can appear cheaper because part of their income is hidden inside your unit price. Our fee is fully visible and paid by you.
On a single small order, a commissioned agent may cost you less in visible cash. Across a supply relationship, they cost you the unit price they negotiated on their own behalf, plus the shipments they let through.
The visit rule
One specific application worth stating separately: when your team visits Türkiye, we invoice the hotel, the driver and the interpreter — never the factory.
A supplier-hosted buyer visit is the oldest and most effective concession in the trade. Three days of hospitality, and the price conversation on Friday afternoon happens between a guest and a host rather than between a buyer and a seller. It is not a bribe and nobody calls it one, which is exactly why it works.
Frequently asked questions
What if a factory offers you something without our knowledge?
We decline it and disclose the offer to you in writing. Repeated offers from the same supplier are themselves reportable information about how that supplier does business.
How can we verify you are not taking commission?
Three ways. The clause gives you a contractual remedy. All pass-through costs come with receipts at documented cost. And you may request, once per engagement, a written declaration signed by us confirming compliance with Clause 4 for that specific order.
Do you refuse work if you have a prior relationship with a supplier?
We disclose it before starting and let you decide. Where we have any commercial history with a factory under assessment, we recommend you appoint a different inspector for that specific site, and we will say so.