does it come unlocked, support total replacement of the OS down to the bedrock, and provide the full source of all firmware for all on-board ICs? i know the answer's no, so I won't be getting one.
Hmmm.. just use the cam function then @*&! :)
that and the fact that they were willing to be there during the holidays, tells me what i need to know. they had time for a westerner (me), when several of the suppliers were really very rude (clearly didn't want any business).
Avoid conclusions - they may not know English and instructed / can't deal with you. Or they been burned by previous westerners and too tired / bored with it all. The way to break ice is to buy 100 pieces of something you like to ship back to hope you can find a use for it. Having a CN friend there to chat works better - proper respectful introductions are important. They can be senior staff and paying a fortune to be in that building in relative terms and representing a factory of several hundred to thousands of people.
now, if i was looking to source 100,000 components it would be a different matter: i'd go haggling on price. but honestly it's worth paying a small percentage more just to be able to go to the one single supplier.
QA everything - hire a QA guy if you can. Avoid blaming the supplier for anything that goes wrong - just say thank you, and say what changes your want to make it better. They will try their utmost to get it right.