Importing from China

At least the capitalists in Hong Kong actually put in the work; I doubt they're sitting around being lazy over there 😁

Anyone else hanging out in China right now?

Noah Thompson said:Anyone else hanging out in China right now?

Well, there aren't really many people from our neck of the woods here
—hardly anyone from the old North American region, actually
— so, what's on your mind?

fadedwolf81 said:Well, there aren't really many people from our neck of the woods here
—hardly anyone from the old North American region, actually
— so, what's on your mind?

Sent you a PM. 👍

I suppose I should offer a little praise for my Chinese contacts.
The story goes like this: I find the goods I need online, reach out to a company, vet their pricing, check availability, confirm lead times... everything seems perfect. So, I fly out to China (Shanghai) to meet the man in person. A charming fellow, Mr. Albert, shows up with his catalogs and samples, and after a bit of back-and-forth, I realize he’s actually a trader rather than the manufacturer himself. We sit down for some traditional tea in a hotel that costs about as much as five fancy coffees in the States, but it doesn't really matter. Once I get back home to the US, I happen to stumble upon the actual factory online and discover they have prices about 5% lower than his, for the exact same product. It turns out Mr. Albert is just buying from them and reselling to me. The factory kept insisting they could handle everything perfectly if I just ordered directly, but somehow, I decided to stick with my guy, Mr. Albert. I told him straight up that I knew he wasn't the producer, but I wanted to work through him because I trusted him. I promised the factory we'd do business directly next time. Fast forward a month, and Mr. Albert drops the bomb: "Sorry. Factory, cant make delivery time before Chinese new year!" What? Are you kidding me? This is exactly why I shouldn't have skipped the direct negotiation with the plant. Just great. I call Mr. Albert, and in my most "gentle" tone, explain that the shipment is urgent. He tells me he can't fit it into this first container because the ship leaves on February 9th, while the goods won't be ready at the factory until the 11th. It isn't even his fault; the factory is running behind. I call the factory, and they confirm it. I had already resigned myself to the idea that I wouldn't see my goods until the next container, which meant a roughly 40-day delay. Then, I walk into work the next morning, open my email, and get a pleasant surprise. Mr. Albert is sending an LCL (less than container load) shipment instead. He’s sending the goods via a consolidated shipment immediately, and he’s covering the cost himself. To protect our future partnership, he’s paying for the freight and offering a sincere apology on his own behalf. You honestly can't make this stuff up. If I had gone directly to the factory, I am certain they never would have pulled a move like that. I'll definitely be working with him again in the future. My takeaway here: trust your gut and stick with people who are playing the long game.

Hey everyone, I’ve been scrolling through all these threads about importing stuff from China and a question popped into my head: do you actually need special permits to bring certain things in, like salon equipment or medical devices and gear? And if so, who am I even supposed to be talking to about that kind of thing?

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole visa situation. It feels like you take one step forward and two steps back, doesn't it? Does anyone else feel like the paperwork alone is enough to make you want to pull your hair out? I’ve been looking into the requirements again, and honestly, it's just a maze. Is there any actual clarity to be found, or are we all just guessing at this point? I really want to get this sorted, but the more I read, the more confused I get. Just feeling a bit stuck. kaže:
Come on, people... lighten up a little! :P
Eleven to fifteen days... I mean, you have to remember, it’s still a communist system over there.🙂

It looks like they’re heading into the Year of the Tiger, if I’m not mistaken. But honestly, all these different migrations and massive shifts of people tied to their New Year celebrations... it's just hard to wrap my head around. It feels almost impossible to grasp.

Does anyone here have any idea what kind of money a sales manager or an independent broker actually pulls in over in HK? I’m trying to get a sense of what the typical salary looks like in that sector over there. Anyone got any insight?

Is it actually possible on this Alibaba site to just... pick something out, see a price, hit pay, and call it a day? Like, if the stuff is sitting over in China $67 By the time it lands here, I'm looking at $3,000, which still feels way cheaper than what we'd pay locally, so I guess I'm just confused. Is that price supposed to cover shipping? And what am I looking at once the goods actually show up in the States—do I have to deal with sales tax or some extra customs fees? I haven't a clue. If anyone knows, please let me know, I'm genuinely curious. Also, someone mentioned that shipping for clothes is somehow free... is that even a thing? Or just wishful thinking?

Bradley Roberts80 said:Is it actually possible on this Alibaba site to just... pick something out, see a price, hit pay, and call it a day? Like, if the stuff is sitting over in China $67 By the time it lands here, I'm looking at $3,000, which still feels way cheaper than what we'd pay locally, so I guess I'm just confused. Is that price supposed to cover shipping? And what am I looking at once the goods actually show up in the States—do I have to deal with sales tax or some extra customs fees? I haven't a clue. If anyone knows, please let me know, I'm genuinely curious. Also, someone mentioned that shipping for clothes is somehow free... is that even a thing? Or just wishful thinking?

It really depends on the specific deal, I suppose.

First off, I'd bet my life that shipping is an extra cost. The real question isn't whether it exists, but who actually ends up footing the bill. 😁

You can't leave that to chance; you have to be explicit about it. That’s why we have those international standards, specifically
Incoterms 2000.

From what I've gathered, CIF and FOB are the heavy hitters, though I'm certainly not an expert enough to make a definitive call.

If you bother to look into what CIF entails, you'll see it covers the freight, the insurance, and... well, other things too.
The Incoterms standards basically dictate the responsibilities—who pays for what, and exactly where one party's liability ends and the next begins.

Take a situation I dealt with recently: I was looking at quotes based on FOB Mumbai. That meant everything from the moment the goods hit the ship in Mumbai until they reached my local port was my headache to pay for.
I did some digging, and a small container headed toward a port like Savannah costs roughly $1,100, while a large one runs closer to $1,450.

Suppose I decided to pull a stunt and order 100,000 MP3 players off Alibaba to bring them over here (they go for maybe $2-$5 wholesale, compared to $200-$100 retail)—it might actually be a profitable move, assuming I could actually find someone to buy them all.

Bradley Roberts80 said:Is it actually possible on this Alibaba site to just... pick something out, see a price, hit pay, and call it a day? Like, if the stuff is sitting over in China $67 By the time it lands here, I'm looking at $3,000, which still feels way cheaper than what we'd pay locally, so I guess I'm just confused. Is that price supposed to cover shipping? And what am I looking at once the goods actually show up in the States—do I have to deal with sales tax or some extra customs fees? I haven't a clue. If anyone knows, please let me know, I'm genuinely curious. Also, someone mentioned that shipping for clothes is somehow free... is that even a thing? Or just wishful thinking?

Look, if you're just buying as an individual for yourself, don't even bother trying to import stuff—it's a headache. But if you have a registered business, then you're in business.
Chinese companies and manufacturers aren't really set up like eBay where you can just grab a single t-shirt; they usually want you to buy in bulk, like 200 units of one Batman shirt and then maybe 200 Superman shirts, and so on.
If your plan is just to import stuff for your own personal use, it's definitely not worth the hassle coming from China. Now, if you have a small business or a side hustle set up, that's a completely different conversation.
And yeah, you definitely have to pay... taxes, customs, and sometimes even health or safety inspections depending on what you're bringing in. It’s totally possible to end up stuck waiting at US Customs for a month because of those inspections or paperwork issues. My advice? Do your homework first. Talk to some customs brokers or look into the regulations here in the US before you commit any money.

Betty Gray3 said:I suppose I should offer a little praise for my Chinese contacts.
The story goes like this: I find the goods I need online, reach out to a company, vet their pricing, check availability, confirm lead times... everything seems perfect. So, I fly out to China (Shanghai) to meet the man in person. A charming fellow, Mr. Albert, shows up with his catalogs and samples, and after a bit of back-and-forth, I realize he’s actually a trader rather than the manufacturer himself. We sit down for some traditional tea in a hotel that costs about as much as five fancy coffees in the States, but it doesn't really matter. Once I get back home to the US, I happen to stumble upon the actual factory online and discover they have prices about 5% lower than his, for the exact same product. It turns out Mr. Albert is just buying from them and reselling to me. The factory kept insisting they could handle everything perfectly if I just ordered directly, but somehow, I decided to stick with my guy, Mr. Albert. I told him straight up that I knew he wasn't the producer, but I wanted to work through him because I trusted him. I promised the factory we'd do business directly next time. Fast forward a month, and Mr. Albert drops the bomb: "Sorry. Factory, cant make delivery time before Chinese new year!" What? Are you kidding me? This is exactly why I shouldn't have skipped the direct negotiation with the plant. Just great. I call Mr. Albert, and in my most "gentle" tone, explain that the shipment is urgent. He tells me he can't fit it into this first container because the ship leaves on February 9th, while the goods won't be ready at the factory until the 11th. It isn't even his fault; the factory is running behind. I call the factory, and they confirm it. I had already resigned myself to the idea that I wouldn't see my goods until the next container, which meant a roughly 40-day delay. Then, I walk into work the next morning, open my email, and get a pleasant surprise. Mr. Albert is sending an LCL (less than container load) shipment instead. He’s sending the goods via a consolidated shipment immediately, and he’s covering the cost himself. To protect our future partnership, he’s paying for the freight and offering a sincere apology on his own behalf. You honestly can't make this stuff up. If I had gone directly to the factory, I am certain they never would have pulled a move like that. I'll definitely be working with him again in the future. My takeaway here: trust your gut and stick with people who are playing the long game.

Man, that's why I always say you don't deal with companies anymore—you deal with agents.🙂
So, Mr. Albert, huh?🙂
You know, I love it when they use English names; it makes the introductions feel so much more casual.
That's just standard practice over there... especially with freight forwarders handling last-minute chaos. And since Feb 9th is basically the finish line for the year, they'll do anything to move some CBM cargo for free.
But hey, if they're being honest and fair, they're worth it.

So, look, I’m technically just an individual, but I run this pretty decent-sized boutique, so my goal is to pull the trigger on ordering a full container of assorted goods—you know, t-shirts, pants, dresses, all that kind of stuff. I was looking at some items where maybe 50 different pieces go for about $50 USD, which is basically peanuts. I tried placing an order once, and it mentioned free shipping, and apparently, companies like FedEx could handle the transport. I'm thinking customs shouldn't be much of a headache either since everything is super straightforward... nothing weird like chemicals or food or anything like that
I don't know if I'm totally reading the situation right, but I'd really appreciate any advice you guys have..
Maybe it would actually be smarter if I had a contact over in China—someone I could trust to actually fill up the container properly. Honestly, I wouldn't mind dropping maybe $2,000 for the container plus another $2,000 for the stock, plus tax... so we're looking at maybe $5,000 total. But if I actually knew exactly how much space is in one of those containers, I might even consider going bigger 🙂
Anyway, if anyone has extra tips, let me know. Or, if you happen to know someone super reliable who is already over there and easy to get a hold of, please reach out
Thanks a ton, everyone!

Has anyone actually spent some time digging into exports.cn lately?

Bradley Roberts80 said:So, look, I’m technically just an individual, but I run this pretty decent-sized boutique, so my goal is to pull the trigger on ordering a full container of assorted goods—you know, t-shirts, pants, dresses, all that kind of stuff. I was looking at some items where maybe 50 different pieces go for about $50 USD, which is basically peanuts. I tried placing an order once, and it mentioned free shipping, and apparently, companies like FedEx could handle the transport. I'm thinking customs shouldn't be much of a headache either since everything is super straightforward... nothing weird like chemicals or food or anything like that
I don't know if I'm totally reading the situation right, but I'd really appreciate any advice you guys have..
Maybe it would actually be smarter if I had a contact over in China—someone I could trust to actually fill up the container properly. Honestly, I wouldn't mind dropping maybe $2,000 for the container plus another $2,000 for the stock, plus tax... so we're looking at maybe $5,000 total. But if I actually knew exactly how much space is in one of those containers, I might even consider going bigger 🙂
Anyway, if anyone has extra tips, let me know. Or, if you happen to know someone super reliable who is already over there and easy to get a hold of, please reach out
Thanks a ton, everyone!

And I have a black cat that's white. 🙄

Bradley Roberts80 said:So, look, I’m technically just an individual, but I run this pretty decent-sized boutique, so my goal is to pull the trigger on ordering a full container of assorted goods—you know, t-shirts, pants, dresses, all that kind of stuff. I was looking at some items where maybe 50 different pieces go for about $50 USD, which is basically peanuts. I tried placing an order once, and it mentioned free shipping, and apparently, companies like FedEx could handle the transport. I'm thinking customs shouldn't be much of a headache either since everything is super straightforward... nothing weird like chemicals or food or anything like that
I don't know if I'm totally reading the situation right, but I'd really appreciate any advice you guys have..
Maybe it would actually be smarter if I had a contact over in China—someone I could trust to actually fill up the container properly. Honestly, I wouldn't mind dropping maybe $2,000 for the container plus another $2,000 for the stock, plus tax... so we're looking at maybe $5,000 total. But if I actually knew exactly how much space is in one of those containers, I might even consider going bigger 🙂
Anyway, if anyone has extra tips, let me know. Or, if you happen to know someone super reliable who is already over there and easy to get a hold of, please reach out
Thanks a ton, everyone!

Does this even help?

Look, you don't need to nitpick my every single word, we aren't here to debate semantics, haha
Anyway, I just went through that
Incoterms 2000 stuff you sent over. I was mostly just trying to get a feel for how the whole process actually flows, and honestly? It’s probably not as much of a headache as it looks at first glance
But, I guess I’d still love to chat with someone who actually knows their way around local sourcing—someone on the ground. Everyone keeps telling me the best move is to just fly out there myself, but I put that as a last resort because... I don't know, I'm not sure if paying for a flight just to order one single container makes any sense. I wouldn't be jumping in with massive quantities right away anyway; maybe start small and see if things stick, and if everything goes smoothly, then we can talk scale, right? Because let's face it, the first time you try anything, it's always the messiest part

So, if there happens to be anyone currently in China who specializes in this kind of procurement—or even just general sourcing—hit me up. Maybe we could figure something out and finally get some real clarity on how this all works

Thanks

Betty Gray3 said:That doesn't really square with what I've seen firsthand. That 2-3% figure is mostly just marketing fluff. Real buying agents don't actually operate that way, though not many people seem to realize it. The reality is a bit different. I actually just got back from a trip to China. I spent seven days hitting up trade shows, chatting with traders, meeting buying agents, and talking directly to manufacturers... I decided to skip the buying agent route entirely and saved quite a bit on a single container $13. More importantly, it gives me the flexibility to mix all sorts of different products into one shipment. If anyone is looking for something—anything from sewing needles to locomotives—maybe we could look into pooling our orders into a single container together. Most of my sourcing comes out of California, typically through the Port of Los Angeles or New York City.

Hey, let me know when you're planning your next sourcing trip so you can post the dates. If the timing works out, maybe I'll tag along. It's my first time heading over there, and well, China is a pretty massive place, haha.
Let me know what you think about that idea!!!

So, I was wondering... if I used a STA Travel student discount for a round-trip ticket to Beijing $733

That’s the price before you even factor in the Uber...

Bradley Roberts80 said:Hey, let me know when you're planning your next sourcing trip so you can post the dates. If the timing works out, maybe I'll tag along. It's my first time heading over there, and well, China is a pretty massive place, haha.
Let me know what you think about that idea!!!

I’m thinking about heading out again this summer. China is huge, sure, but once you figure out where the actual sources are, it starts to feel a lot more manageable. Take the Zhejiang province, for example; it’s a bit like a major US state—highly developed with everything you could possibly need right there. For electronics, though, you usually have to pivot to a different province entirely. Summer isn't exactly the most pleasant time to visit due to the brutal humidity, but sometimes you just have to push through it. Honestly, I’d love to personally oversee every single container shipment, but let's be real—it’s just not economically viable. To give you an idea, my last trip cost me about $4.00. Between the $6,500 flight, the hotel, and all the little extras, the costs pile up incredibly fast. So, why does everyone insist on going in person? Well, here's my take. Some people suggest just having a buying agent pack a container and ship it out. It sounds like a great shortcut, but an agent doesn't inherently know what’s actually trending or in demand in the American market. They'll follow your instructions to the letter, of course, but you have to be incredibly specific about what you want. That’s why I think visiting at least once to hand-pick your inventory is worth the effort. Just a quick technical note for those keeping track: a small 20-foot container holds about 33 cubic meters, while a large 40-footer holds about 67. Using carriers like FedEx or DHL to import full containers is prohibitively expensive; they are fantastic for sending samples, but not for bulk freight. Also, I can't tell you how many products I've seen labeled "made in USA" when they clearly weren't. I actually asked one of my Chinese suppliers about it once, asking what they were importing from the States just to resell. He just laughed and said, "No, we just make the packaging however the client wants it. We can write 'made in USA' on the box, no problem." They can export just about anything; how an Italian company manages to declare it at their own customs is their business, and we all know how deep-seated certain organized crime elements can be in Italy. Just imagine the markup: a container of clothing or shoes labeled "made in China" is worth one price, but if that label says "made in USA," the value doubles or even triples. At the end of the day, you can't really avoid dealing with the Chinese manufacturers, even if you tried.

Betty Gray3 said:I’m thinking about heading out again this summer. China is huge, sure, but once you figure out where the actual sources are, it starts to feel a lot more manageable. Take the Zhejiang province, for example; it’s a bit like a major US state—highly developed with everything you could possibly need right there. For electronics, though, you usually have to pivot to a different province entirely. Summer isn't exactly the most pleasant time to visit due to the brutal humidity, but sometimes you just have to push through it. Honestly, I’d love to personally oversee every single container shipment, but let's be real—it’s just not economically viable. To give you an idea, my last trip cost me about $4.00. Between the $6,500 flight, the hotel, and all the little extras, the costs pile up incredibly fast. So, why does everyone insist on going in person? Well, here's my take. Some people suggest just having a buying agent pack a container and ship it out. It sounds like a great shortcut, but an agent doesn't inherently know what’s actually trending or in demand in the American market. They'll follow your instructions to the letter, of course, but you have to be incredibly specific about what you want. That’s why I think visiting at least once to hand-pick your inventory is worth the effort. Just a quick technical note for those keeping track: a small 20-foot container holds about 33 cubic meters, while a large 40-footer holds about 67. Using carriers like FedEx or DHL to import full containers is prohibitively expensive; they are fantastic for sending samples, but not for bulk freight. Also, I can't tell you how many products I've seen labeled "made in USA" when they clearly weren't. I actually asked one of my Chinese suppliers about it once, asking what they were importing from the States just to resell. He just laughed and said, "No, we just make the packaging however the client wants it. We can write 'made in USA' on the box, no problem." They can export just about anything; how an Italian company manages to declare it at their own customs is their business, and we all know how deep-seated certain organized crime elements can be in Italy. Just imagine the markup: a container of clothing or shoes labeled "made in China" is worth one price, but if that label says "made in USA," the value doubles or even triples. At the end of the day, you can't really avoid dealing with the Chinese manufacturers, even if you tried.

I think there might be a more sophisticated way to handle this through offshore companies... if I'm understanding the situation correctly.