Importing from China

Can anyone give me some pointers on importing from China?
I'm looking to bring in some BBs—basically airsoft pellets.
Just wondering if I'll get hit with customs duties and what shipping from China to the States would actually run me.

So, have you actually gotten anything done yet??

If anyone here has some experience dealing with imports, shoot me a DM
Thanks🙂

I tracked down some inventory—ceramic souvenirs from a factory out in Savannah, Delaware, via Fujian FOB (not entirely sure which specific port in China we're talking about here), using 20ft containers at $2,500 and 40ft ones at $4,000

I’m trying to figure out if these numbers actually hold water or if I'm dreaming here.

Also, quick side note: does anyone here handle imports for the Memphis area?

I’ll add my two cents regarding imports from China and organizing freight.

In most cases, transit times for 20', 40', and 40'HC containers coming from China hover around 30-35 days; for LCL shipments, expect an additional 7-10 days on top of that.
When dealing with Chinese suppliers, it is best to stick to FOB terms specifically tied to a designated loading port (and make sure it actually *is* a port). This ensures the container arrives at the Port of Los Angeles exactly as you planned, preventing unexpected local port fees from hitting your bottom line.
For instance, some suppliers sell goods on FOB Shenzhen terms—common for IT equipment—but Shenzhen isn't a port; it's a city that primarily exports through the Port of Los Angeles or Chiwan.
Every state in China has its own specific ports for container exports.
Similarly, you'll often find that a sales agent might be based in New York City or Hong Kong while the actual factory is located elsewhere. They might quote you FOB Port of Hong Kong because shipping from there is cheaper than, say, Seattle, or faster due to direct service to the Port of Los Angeles. You pay for the goods, hire a freight forwarder, and then realize the cargo is stuck somewhere else entirely, resulting in massive unexpected costs.

It is especially critical to insist on FOB loading port terms for LCL shipments.

Why?
Because Chinese exporters often ship containers to northern ports like New York City simply because it's cheaper for them. This leaves you footing the bill for the extra inland transport of the container or LCL shipment to your destination, which can end up costing more than the original ocean freight from China to the West Coast. They do this because they are high-volume exporters with deep discounts on northern routes, and looking at a map, they figure New York City and Los Angeles are close enough.🙄
Always use a freight forwarder that maintains offices in both the US and China. It guarantees much more transparent pricing and faster information flow, avoiding those bloated markups and document fees that tend to spiral out of control.

Most importers start by requesting samples to verify quality, but even that isn't foolproof. You can get a perfect sample, only to have the container arrive with goods that look nothing like what you approved.
Sales tax applies to all imports, and depending on the tariff code, you may also be hit with customs duties. You should always verify this via the official US Customs website at http://www.cbp.gov.

An importer in Chicago bringing in textiles, for example, must clear customs the same day the container leaves the port, typically through Local Waste Management facilities.
Keep in mind that Customs officials can demand lab testing, which can cause significant delays. If an analysis reveals a violation—like prohibited substances or toxic materials—they can ban the sale entirely. That’s a nightmare scenario: you’ve already paid for the goods, you can't return them to the supplier in China, and on top of that, you're stuck paying for the disposal or destruction of the product.

That's all from me for now.

Best regards,

fadedwolf81 said:From what I’ve gathered, air freight rates—at least when you're working with Chinese forwarders—are sitting somewhere around $3.80 per kilo.

Hmm, well, that’s pretty much the same ballpark as here in the States.
Right now, you're looking at roughly $5 USD/kg plus fuel and insurance. Depending on the final destination, it rarely drops below $7–$8 USD/kg once everything is tallied up. Just remember, whether it's air freight or any other mode of transport, they always bill based on volumetric weight.

Michael Hayes8 said:I tracked down some inventory—ceramic souvenirs from a factory out in Savannah, Delaware, via Fujian FOB (not entirely sure which specific port in China we're talking about here), using 20ft containers at $2,500 and 40ft ones at $4,000

I’m trying to figure out if these numbers actually hold water or if I'm dreaming here.

Also, quick side note: does anyone here handle imports for the Memphis area?

From what I can gather, the closest export port in China would likely be XIAMEN. You should hunt for suppliers who can give you an FOB XIAMEN quote or at least specify the exact port.
A 20ft container based on FOB XIAMEN might be maybe $100-$200 cheaper, whereas the 40ft price seems a bit too low (though these are prices from four months ago, so they aren't really comparable).
If you need a freight forwarder who can handle both ocean freight to the Port of Long Beach and trucking over to Mostar, send me a PM—I might be able to help.

Sophia Cook4, the port is XIAMEN and you can't send private messages here

I really wouldn't recommend using the Port of Ploc—it’s just way too expensive compared to coming through Cleveland. In my experience, when you factor in all the transport costs, the Cleveland-Mostar route ends up being much more budget-friendly than going via Ploc-Mostar. Since Ploc is such a small port, any vessel has to make this massive, unnecessary detour off its main course, which just drives the prices through the roof.

Michael Hayes8 said:I tracked down some inventory—ceramic souvenirs from a factory out in Savannah, Delaware, via Fujian FOB (not entirely sure which specific port in China we're talking about here), using 20ft containers at $2,500 and 40ft ones at $4,000

I’m trying to figure out if these numbers actually hold water or if I'm dreaming here.

Also, quick side note: does anyone here handle imports for the Memphis area?

Honestly, when you're dealing with ceramic souvenirs, the pricing usually isn't the main headache... the real issue is how incredibly fragile they are. My big concern is what kind of shape they'll actually be in by the time they reach you. You really have to tread carefully when shipping stuff like that.

Importing from China means importing carcinogens 😉

bluegardener8 said:Importing from China means importing carcinogens 😉

And where exactly would you import from instead? Is there anything left on this planet that isn't made in China?

I haven't caught up on the previous posts yet... but I'll just say this—whenever I see "made in China" on a label, my hair stands on end and I pass on it immediately!

James Mitchell11 said:I haven't caught up on the previous posts yet... but I'll just say this—whenever I see "made in China" on a label, my hair stands on end and I pass on it immediately!

I feel the exact same way about "made in China" labels, but unfortunately, we’re living in an era where everything is imported from China—from the raw materials used in manufacturing to the finished goods themselves. The other day, I realized they’re even selling garlic from China in our supermarkets... I mean, come on... it's freaking garlic.

Hey there, everyone in the States.
I’ve been reading through all the headaches you guys are posting about when importing goods from China, and honestly,
there’s a pattern here. Some people swear by flying out to meet the manufacturer face-to-face to fix everything, while others think they can solve their problems just by sticking to Amazon or Made in China.
My advice? Before you even think about sinking money into this, talk to a local US freight forwarder. Get the lowdown on the specific product, customs duties, shipping logistics, and all that boring stuff.
Once you actually know what you're looking at, then go ahead and start hunting for products on those search engines I mentioned. But watch your back. About 90% of what you find are just middleman trading companies
hiding behind fancy corporate names. So, let's say you finally find the right gear at a decent price. Now, some people will tell you to hire an inspection agent. Careful there. Even a big name like SGS doesn't offer much of a safety net. They basically just say, "Yeah, the stuff we looked at was fine," and if the shipment arrives and it's total junk, you're the one left holding the bag.
If you can swing it, I really recommend visiting the "manufacturer" personally while they're actually loading the container.
You have to realize that an agent is always going to look out for their own interests—to them, you're just another small-time buyer passing through.
When it comes to quality, be extremely wary of anything coming out of Yiwu. That place is a graveyard for defective goods. There's plenty of it, and frankly, there's a lot of lessons for Americans to learn the hard way there. If you need more pointers, I'm happy to help if I can.
Cheers from Shenzhen,

Hey there—you’ve got a point there regarding the "made in China" label and how people view it. In my opinion, relying solely on those mass-produced goods is really just the go-to method for amateurs or small-time players who aren't scaling up yet.
Regarding Yiwu, I think you might be off base on that one. You could easily argue that Shenzhen is basically the place where all the technical scrap from Guangzhou ends up eventually.
It’s quite simple, really—the way things work over here in China is that each of these massive trading hubs specializes in its own specific niche of goods.
For instance, Yiwu handles things like decorations, tapestries, adhesive tapes, wardrobe components, bedding—they even have this massive furniture fair.
Hangzhou focuses on apparel; they have an enormous clothing market.
Meanwhile, Guangzhou and Shenzhen mostly deal with tech gadgets and computer hardware.
If you ask me, Yiwu actually hosts the largest fairs, and it's hard to just dismiss everything coming out of there as junk.
As for agents, I think you're missing the mark again... as a buyer, you're the one bringing the bread to the table, not some big corporation. If an agent does a great job for you, you'll keep coming back to them because they make their money from *you*, not from the factory.
...I mean, there are millions of companies in China, but actual buyers are much harder to come by. Plus, every new customer is usually hunting for something completely different. It's very common to order from a company once and then never touch them again, even if the same buyer tries to pull strings for you later.
So, why would you assume an agent is looking out for the factory instead of the client? Unless the manufacturer is actually right, which—let's be honest—happens more often than you'd think.
Back home in the States, everyone has heard those horror stories about Chinese suppliers scamming naive buyers. But since I actually live here in China, let me ask you: how many times have you heard about a buyer taking a full container of goods and just vanishing into thin air???
Or how many times has an agent ended up in hot water because a buyer refused to pay the remaining balance after receiving the shipment?
Look, if we’re going to talk about scams... we could go on until tomorrow morning, because honestly, neither side is ever completely blameless.
But at the end of the day, that kind of stuff only accounts for maybe 1% of the business being done with China.

day
I have one question, even if it isn't strictly related, but maybe someone here knows
Is it possible to import vehicles from China or other parts of Asia when there is already an authorized general importer established here in the US?
thanks

My initial intel came from retail buyers, and honestly, they’ll be able to give you a much clearer picture of the mess
regarding what happened to the "major players" and why fixing this disaster is such an uphill battle.
Look, I’m just trying to be helpful here. I hope this actually does some good.
I work in a high-level advisory role for a major firm dealing with the European Union market, so I see the cracks forming in both China and the EU firsthand.
So, if you’re the type who pays upfront, watch your back. Do your due diligence. If a deal is north of $10,000, don't cut corners—use a massive, household name like FedEx to handle the whole package, not just the shipping and customs. They have the connections and the vetted people to make sure you aren't getting fleeced. It keeps your risk at basically zero.

A bit more food for thought: if you've got the capital, starting your own company or a manufacturing outfit is a smart move. With enough grit, you can break into domestic or global markets pretty easily. The entire world starts by hunting for deals in China; they send their representatives straight there...
China is going to be the biggest market on the planet.

Greetings from San Francisco

Chloe Martin9 said:My initial intel came from retail buyers, and honestly, they’ll be able to give you a much clearer picture of the mess
regarding what happened to the "major players" and why fixing this disaster is such an uphill battle.
Look, I’m just trying to be helpful here. I hope this actually does some good.
I work in a high-level advisory role for a major firm dealing with the European Union market, so I see the cracks forming in both China and the EU firsthand.
So, if you’re the type who pays upfront, watch your back. Do your due diligence. If a deal is north of $10,000, don't cut corners—use a massive, household name like FedEx to handle the whole package, not just the shipping and customs. They have the connections and the vetted people to make sure you aren't getting fleeced. It keeps your risk at basically zero.

A bit more food for thought: if you've got the capital, starting your own company or a manufacturing outfit is a smart move. With enough grit, you can break into domestic or global markets pretty easily. The entire world starts by hunting for deals in China; they send their representatives straight there...
China is going to be the biggest market on the planet.

Greetings from San Francisco

Look, don't get me wrong—I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade here. It's just that the part about the defective goods wasn't quite clear to me.
And I've got a question for you too—what kind of investment in China are you actually suggesting we make?