The Entrepreneur Forum | Financial Freedom | Starting a Business | Motivation | Money | Success

Welcome to the only entrepreneur forum dedicated to building life-changing wealth.

Build a Fastlane business. Earn real financial freedom. Join free.

Join over 80,000 entrepreneurs who have rejected the paradigm of mediocrity and said "NO!" to underpaid jobs, ascetic frugality, and suffocating savings rituals— learn how to build a Fastlane business that pays both freedom and lifestyle affluence.

Free registration at the forum removes this block.

First Time Importing from China

Anything related to sourcing or importing products.

Dan44

Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
39%
Apr 9, 2015
71
28
34
Hello all. I am in negotiations with a factory in China to manufacture a car part I will be selling on ebay. I myself live in New York and the manufacture told me it would cost around $400-500 to get the product shipped to my nearest port (Newark sea port)

My question is... How do I go about getting the product from the port to the storage location where it will be stored? Would I rent a truck and go pick it up myself or would I have to hire some type of shipping forwarder? I am around the Poughkeepsie NY area.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Dan44

Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
39%
Apr 9, 2015
71
28
34
Thanks guys, I will contact Shapiro today to see what they say. I tried calling the port multiple time, different extensions ect. no one would answer the phone. Likewise mostwanted5abi you from the Poughkeepsie area as well?
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.
Last edited by a moderator:

Dan44

Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
39%
Apr 9, 2015
71
28
34
Ohh okay haha hit me up on PM
 
Last edited:

Dan44

Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
39%
Apr 9, 2015
71
28
34
Not me, the reviews of the port sucked, many reports of people waiting hours for problems to get sorted, and I couldn't even get a hold of them via phone. Best to let someone else deal with it.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.
Last edited:

Walter Hay

Legendary Contributor
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
401%
Sep 13, 2014
3,318
13,305
World citizen
Not me, the reviews of the port sucked, many reports of people waiting hours for problems to get sorted, and I couldn't even get a hold of them via phone. Best to let someone else deal with it.
Very wise! I often read recommendations for people to just hire a truck and go pick up the shipment. Even some importing gurus who don't have a clue how it works say that it is easy.

You would be treated as an outsider, and you would find out how unwelcome outsiders can be at a port facility. Nobody will help you. You will be shunted around, given the wrong advice about where to go and what to do next and you could easily be there all day and still not get your goods.

Shapiro don't have an office in NY or Newark, and I suggest it is better to get a local to do the job for you.

Make all these arrangements before you confirm your order with the supplier. Get your local freight forwarder to quote you on DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) basis, with the point of delivery being your storage address. They will handle all the red tape, but they will want a Power of Attorney from you.

To get a quote you will need to tell them package dimensions, total number of packages, total weight, product description, pick up address in China, and delivery address in NY. You should also ask your supplier to quote you FOB port (Shanghai? Shenzhen? etc?) and also get them to quote you EXW (Ex Works) because that might suit your forwarder better.
 

Walter Hay

Legendary Contributor
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
401%
Sep 13, 2014
3,318
13,305
World citizen

Dan44

Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
39%
Apr 9, 2015
71
28
34
Actually they was recommended to me by an exhaust shop in the states, but then I seen they also was on alibaba.

Since the thread is getting so many replies I guess I will spell out the plan so maybe I can get some feedback if its a good or bad idea. The factory I am dealing with had a 30 piece MOQ minimum and the exhaust I want made (axel-back) cost 178 per unit so 5340 + 460 for shipping = 5800

I am not sure how much the freight forwarder would charge have not got any quotes yet. But the plan would be to try to sell the exhaust for around $450-699 I would naturally list it higher first and see if it sells.

The manufacture in China said they would require 50% upfront and they would send me a free sample. I pasted their process description below.

"
1.If we get agreement, you then send us a sample and pay 50% deposit.
2.We make a copy one in 30 days, and send to you for free for you test fitment and check quality.
3.If the sample satisfy you, then start mass production; If somewhere need modify, we will make new ones for your test, until it satisfy you, then start mass production.
4.When mass production finish, you pay the balance 50%, we arrange shipping for you.
"

Also I believe Shapiro does have an office in NY according to this link http://www.shapiro.com/our-company/locations/
 

Walter Hay

Legendary Contributor
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
401%
Sep 13, 2014
3,318
13,305
World citizen
Would you advise against using Ali Babba?
Yes I would. You can see this post Sharing my lifetime experience in export/import. Product sourcing specialist. on my AMA thread where I post about scams on Alibaba and other B2B sites, but here are the two main reasons:
  • A big majority of those listed claiming to be manufacturers are not. They are traders or wholesalers and by dealing with them you are throwing away a huge amount of profit. Prices from the real manufacturer will often be only 50% of the price from one of those traders or manufacturers.

  • Alibaba, and most of the other big sites have verification systems that are near useless. All they do is tell you that the supplier actually exists and has an office that they might have rented for the day while they knew they were being visited for certification. Alibaba and the others try to give the impression that being a Gold member means they are safer to deal with. Rubbish! It just means that not only do they exist, but they have also been willing to spend some money to give you the impression that they are safer to deal with. There is no extra verification process for Gold suppliers.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Walter Hay

Legendary Contributor
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
401%
Sep 13, 2014
3,318
13,305
World citizen
Actually they was recommended to me by an exhaust shop in the states, but then I seen they also was on alibaba.

Since the thread is getting so many replies I guess I will spell out the plan so maybe I can get some feedback if its a good or bad idea. The factory I am dealing with had a 30 piece MOQ minimum and the exhaust I want made (axel-back) cost 178 per unit so 5340 + 460 for shipping = 5800

I am not sure how much the freight forwarder would charge have not got any quotes yet. But the plan would be to try to sell the exhaust for around $450-699 I would naturally list it higher first and see if it sells.

The manufacture in China said they would require 50% upfront and they would send me a free sample. I pasted their process description below.

"
1.If we get agreement, you then send us a sample and pay 50% deposit.
2.We make a copy one in 30 days, and send to you for free for you test fitment and check quality.
3.If the sample satisfy you, then start mass production; If somewhere need modify, we will make new ones for your test, until it satisfy you, then start mass production.
4.When mass production finish, you pay the balance 50%, we arrange shipping for you.
"

Also I believe Shapiro does have an office in NY according to this link http://www.shapiro.com/our-company/locations/
When you were quoted $460 for shipping, what letters such as DAP, DAT, or CPT for example were used? That can be very important and the difference can sometimes cost hundreds.

The supplier you are dealing with appears cooperative, but if they are not the real manufacturer you could be paying a lot more than you need to. See my reply to MyronGainz above. I hate to see new importing entrepreneurs get burnt, so if you like to PM me confidentially the name of the supplier I can get back to you very quickly and confirm whether or not they really are manufacturers. It will take me about 2 minutes after I see your reply alert.

You are right. Shapiro do now have a NY office.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Dan44

Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
39%
Apr 9, 2015
71
28
34
The supplier did not give me an abbreviation when giving the price quote. He said "That include all the cost from our factory to your port".

Should I ask him to be more specific?
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Walter Hay

Legendary Contributor
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
401%
Sep 13, 2014
3,318
13,305
World citizen
The supplier did not give me an abbreviation when giving the price quote. He said "That include all the cost from our factory to your port".

Should I ask him to be more specific?
No that's all you need. He has in fact quoted you DAP (Delivered at your port). This means your freight forwarder can work on the basis that your supplier will deliver to a port in China. It might be Hangzhou, but best to ask before you contact your forwarder.
 

Dan44

Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
39%
Apr 9, 2015
71
28
34
Can someone recommend a freight forwarder other than Shapio? They are not interested unless my shipments are going to a amazon fulfillment center and have at least 20 shipments per year. They referred me to jsconnor.com but I put in a quote request 2 days ago and nothing yet...
 

Walter Hay

Legendary Contributor
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
401%
Sep 13, 2014
3,318
13,305
World citizen
Can someone recommend a freight forwarder other than Shapio? They are not interested unless my shipments are going to a amazon fulfillment center and have at least 20 shipments per year. They referred me to jsconnor.com but I put in a quote request 2 days ago and nothing yet...
There are heaps of forwarders in the NY/Newark area, so check out the membership list of the NY/NJ Freight Forwarder's Assoc. http://www.nynjforwarders-brokers.org/ They are mostly smaller businesses, so are more likely to give you good service.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Dan44

Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
39%
Apr 9, 2015
71
28
34
Thanks for the list. There are so many i'd really like to hear some recommendations from anyone who has already worked with one of these companies and had a good experience. I'm trying as hard as possible to avoid my first shipment turning into a nightmare.
 
Last edited:

Ron Dee

Contributor
Summit Attendee
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
88%
Dec 22, 2014
96
84
Minnesota

Post New Topic

Please SEARCH before posting.
Please select the BEST category.

Post new topic

Guest post submissions offered HERE.

Latest Posts

New Topics

Fastlane Insiders

View the forum AD FREE.
Private, unindexed content
Detailed process/execution threads
Ideas needing execution, more!

Join Fastlane Insiders.

Top