Thread: HELP! Need experienced mentor who can help me deal with China...

I would suggest you find one local or at least one you can go visit. Yes you may pay more than if you go overseas but better to get what you pay for especially when you start.

Then as you get larger and have more money you can go overseas.

I am positioned in China (Taiwan, actually) and have helped several of my clients find suppliers in China.

Your feeling is correct: Most of those you are going to contact with are unprofessional. They will either fail in communications or drop the ball once you give them a project. There few good ones I've seen have been in Hong Kong.

I have ordered a few different packaging items directly from China. I'm not 100% sure, but I think the company that I deal with does both import/export of different types of items, since we were discussing potentially exporting my products through them. The contact person's name is Claire. They accepted payments via PayPal (which made me feel really comfortable).

Ningbo Tane Box & Paper Mfg.Inc.
Add: #1678,Huancheng Nanlu, Ningbo, Zhejiang,China

Tel: 0574 28850935
Fax: 0574 28850935
Mobile Phone: 15967862160
Ningbo Tane Box & Paper Factory - Display box, gift box, white box
email: taneboxmfg@gmail.com
MSN: taneboxmfg@live.cn

I found this company through alibaba.com, and I was also very nervous about trying to buy something directly from China. I think the most important thing is to realize that it is going to take a while to communicate your expectations of the products. There will be a lot of back and forth with specs, pictures, etc, since they really do want to make sure that they get the items done correctly. It took me at probably 6 weeks to get my first order, and it was a simple item, so I would expect more with a more complicated product.

And don't forget to ask them if they will take care of shipping for you. This company handles shipping for me, and since the items are small, they can send them via UPS. Shipping will also add a large amount to your total costs, as well. For me, it was about 50% of the total cost of my order.

I agree with the person who suggested that it would be best to see if you can get your items in the U.S. For me, it wasn't possible, but for something like jewelry, you just might be able to find a U.S. supplier.

ntapia did you have to deal with US customs?

Quick tip for import beginners...

keep the cost of goods (not including shipping) below U.S. $2k per shipment, and your shipment will qualify for informal entry into the United States (i.e. no customs bond, no entry paperwork, and no customs hassle what so ever). Informal Entry.

Early on, just make sure you order less than $2k worth of merchandise, even if you need frequent orders to stay in stock. You can have a shipment hitting you every week, and as long as the value of the merchandise in that shipment is less than $2k it qualifies for informal entry into the united states... no need for a customs broker or any other customs related knowledge at that dollar level.

Originally Posted by Vigilante

Quick tip for import beginners...

keep the cost of goods (not including shipping) below U.S. $2k per shipment, and your shipment will qualify for informal entry into the United States (i.e. no customs bond, no entry paperwork, and no customs hassle what so ever). Informal Entry.

Early on, just make sure you order less than $2k worth of merchandise, even if you need frequent orders to stay in stock. You can have a shipment hitting you every week, and as long as the value of the merchandise in that shipment is less than $2k it qualifies for informal entry into the united states... no need for a customs broker or any other customs related knowledge at that dollar level.

WHOA! Great info, never knew anything like that.

Originally Posted by Vigilante

Quick tip for import beginners...

keep the cost of goods (not including shipping) below U.S. $2k per shipment, and your shipment will qualify for informal entry into the United States (i.e. no customs bond, no entry paperwork, and no customs hassle what so ever). Informal Entry.

Early on, just make sure you order less than $2k worth of merchandise, even if you need frequent orders to stay in stock. You can have a shipment hitting you every week, and as long as the value of the merchandise in that shipment is less than $2k it qualifies for informal entry into the united states... no need for a customs broker or any other customs related knowledge at that dollar level.

Well, that explains why I didn't have to deal with customs. That is very good to know - thanks!

Additional clarification to my above comment. You still, as the importer of record, are responsible for the import duties. For example, on these smaller shipments we will do the following :

1. We will have the manufacturer ship from Asia to Minneapolis via. UPS. Typical transit time is 5 days TOTAL.

2. We will prepay the manufacturer for shipping costs, which they will provide for us and we will include in the wire transfer to them that we use to pay for the merchandise.

3. We will separate freight from merchandise costs as separate line items on the purchase order we provide to them, and on the invoice that they provide to us and remit with the shipment

4. As long as the merchandise (excluding shipping costs) is <$2k U.S., it is INFORMAL ENTRY

5. Note that you are still responsible for incoming duty. UPS generally will just invoice you after the fact for the duty. Duty ranges from 0% to 10% or more, so make SURE you know what the duty is before you do this. Don't be SURPRISED by this bill when you get it from UPS.

This is easier than most people ever imagine. The reason that most people DON'T do this... is because they lack knowledge... even the very simple knowledge contained in the 5 steps above. Let me know if you have any additional questions in this regard.