Importing from China

Hey there,

I'm looking to grab my husband a new DVD/LCD head unit for his car—it's the perfect fit for our model! I've found one on eBay for about $450, using PayPal for the checkout. Shipping is totally free, too. The seller is based out of China—specifically Shenzhen, Guangdong—and they offer a bunch of different shipping options. Aside from that, what else should I be looking out for? Is there any way to avoid customs fees or sales tax, or does stuff like this even get taxed at all? Any advice would be amazing!

Thanks so much in advance for the help!!! 😍

Kimberly Robinson55

When it comes to customs, you're basically playing a game of chance with the government🙂

And seriously, keep a close eye on what people are saying about the seller before you pull the trigger
Every buyer leaves their own little review, and if you actually take the time to read them, you'll get the real story on whether this guy is reliable or if his stuff is just cheap junk

Michael Hayes8 said:When it comes to customs, you're basically playing a game of chance with the government🙂

And seriously, keep a close eye on what people are saying about the seller before you pull the trigger
Every buyer leaves their own little review, and if you actually take the time to read them, you'll get the real story on whether this guy is reliable or if his stuff is just cheap junk

Why's that?
Has anyone else ordered something around this price point from China lately? Did you run into any trouble with Customs or anything?

Hey everyone!

Kimberly Robinson55 said:Hey there,

I'm looking to grab my husband a new DVD/LCD head unit for his car—it's the perfect fit for our model! I've found one on eBay for about $450, using PayPal for the checkout. Shipping is totally free, too. The seller is based out of China—specifically Shenzhen, Guangdong—and they offer a bunch of different shipping options. Aside from that, what else should I be looking out for? Is there any way to avoid customs fees or sales tax, or does stuff like this even get taxed at all? Any advice would be amazing!

Thanks so much in advance for the help!!! 😍

Kimberly Robinson55

There's no customs duty on items like that... but you still have to deal with sales tax, and if you try to be too cheap, you end up paying more for the "savings" in the long run.

Jack Young said:There's no customs duty on items like that... but you still have to deal with sales tax, and if you try to be too cheap, you end up paying more for the "savings" in the long run.

It feels impossible to dodge... or maybe that’s just the "luck" we’re all talking about, I guess 🙂

What if the seller marks it as a gift and puts a lower value on the package? Does that work?
I'm really trying to figure out how to avoid those extra fees—it's already pricey enough as it is, and adding more costs on top is just not what I want to deal with... 🤷

Thanks!

I honestly can't figure out how much this is all going to cost me... could someone help me out?
Here’s the breakdown:
For example,
350 iPhone USB cables.
The price is $233
If anyone could just run the numbers for me on what the customs, sales tax, and everything else would end up being...

stormyotter6 said:I honestly can't figure out how much this is all going to cost me... could someone help me out?
Here’s the breakdown:
For example,
350 iPhone USB cables.
The price is $233
If anyone could just run the numbers for me on what the customs, sales tax, and everything else would end up being...

Sales tax is generally around 7% to 10% depending on your state, but I can't give you an exact figure for the customs duty rate. There are so many different classifications for various types of cables within the tariff schedule that you won't know for certain until the shipment actually hits the port.

Then there is the freight forwarder's service fee, which would be your third major expense, though that really just depends entirely on which logistics company you decide to hire.

restlesstiger102 said:Sales tax is generally around 7% to 10% depending on your state, but I can't give you an exact figure for the customs duty rate. There are so many different classifications for various types of cables within the tariff schedule that you won't know for certain until the shipment actually hits the port.

Then there is the freight forwarder's service fee, which would be your third major expense, though that really just depends entirely on which logistics company you decide to hire.

Jane Doe, thanks for the help... 🙂

Anyone here pick stuff up from Alibaba on a regular basis?

Every single year, I pick up a pretty substantial bulk order of ceramics from one particular vendor over on Alibaba.

The thing you really have to watch out for is making sure that seller has been an active user on the platform for at least two years. It’s basically a built-in litmus test; if they're just some fly-by-night operation or a total scammer, they usually get caught and flagged by then.

Has anyone here actually gone through the process of importing a heat pump from China?
I'm looking at something priced around $2,500.
What’s the deal with customs, sales tax, and all those necessary certifications?
I’ve read that it’s much smoother if you hire a US customs broker to handle the paperwork...
If anyone has successfully pulled this off before, I’d really appreciate it if you could reach out.
Best,

I’m looking at importing a machine weighing about 2,400 lbs with a value around $9,000 (quoted CIF Port of Los Angeles)
Does anyone know what kind of customs duties I'm looking at here? Also, what are the typical freight forwarder fees for this kind of cargo lately?

Betty Thomas56 said:I’m looking at importing a machine weighing about 2,400 lbs with a value around $9,000 (quoted CIF Port of Los Angeles)
Does anyone know what kind of customs duties I'm looking at here? Also, what are the typical freight forwarder fees for this kind of cargo lately?

Just give any local broker a call; they'll give you an exact quote.

What kind of machine are we talking about?

Please DM me if there are any customs brokers or frequent importers from China on here. I have a few specific questions...

I'm looking to start importing some goods and need someone to walk me through the process and give me a ballpark estimate for the landed cost here in the States.

Thanks!

How do I go about ordering a sample from China? The manufacturer mentioned they offer this, but what’s the best way to actually request the shipment? How should I handle the negotiation? It's just a tiny package, maybe 6x6 inches and weighing about 3 or 4 ounces. Any idea what shipping might cost? Also, can I just have it sent directly to me personally?

It’s not like shipping from China is some luxury service; of course they can just ship it directly in your name.

I actually had to shell out my own money to cover the cost of getting the samples made first.

Michael Hayes8 said:It’s not like shipping from China is some luxury service; of course they can just ship it directly in your name.

I actually had to shell out my own money to cover the cost of getting the samples made first.

What's the best move—stick with DHL or someone else?

I don't know, personally I felt like just getting those photos sent over via email was plenty since we were really just talking about souvenirs

So, we’ve got a bit of a situation where a supplier (based outside the US) totally botched an invoice. It already cleared customs and everything, but basically, the sales tax was undercalculated because the total should have been $1,100 higher than what was listed. What's the deadline for notifying Customs to fix the tax assessment? And more importantly, what kind of penalties are we looking at if we don't report it right away? I’ve been digging through the CBP website, but I can’t find anything concrete.
Any help would be appreciated if anyone knows the drill.

Interesting read regarding imports from China:

http://www.nytimes.com/Business/China-imports-economic-impact