Question: Do you have buying agents who place orders and coordinate with suppliers?

I'm looking to hire a buying agent from the country I source products from. I have a few questions for folks here who have buying agents:

How well were you doing in sales before you brought on an agent?

Do you pay them a flat fee or commission?

What are some unforeseen issues that can come up while working with an agent?

Please share your experience while working with an agent, any other information or suggestions about hiring a buying agent is welcome!