Your questions are no trouble to me. I would much prefer you to ask rather than make mistakes. I have numbered your questions.Dear @Walter Hay
I am talking with a supplier, I sent them over mockups for my product, and they quoted me, but things concern me.
Since I am importing from China to the USA, I want to use door-to-door service as you suggested. 1 Who needs to arrange the shipment? Is it me or the supplier? (using FedEx or UPS). because the supplier quoted me a price for manuefacturing+door-to-door shipping and I expected it to only be for manufacturing.
2 The supplier accepts these payments: "Payment way: T/T(add US$30 handle cost), Paypal(add 4.5% handle cost), Trade Assurance and Western Union- no additional costs."
3 Is it strange that the supplier request 4.5% PayPal costs?
I checked with PayPal and saw that the processing fee is 2.9% and 0.3$ per purchase. I am buying 650 pieces.
Also, they mentioned: "50% deposit+balance payment before shipment (we will take bulk photos for your approval before balance payment)"
4 Are photos really enough? Since it is my first shipment I expect them to provide some kind of certificate/papers that prove accurate quantity and quality, and not just photos.
5 Another thing:
I asked: "is the door-to-door service include customs clearance"
They responded:
"What do you mean of including customs clearance?
If need pay for tax for customs, you need pay for us
We don't afford it"
Thank you Walter!
I apologize if I am asking too many questions, my first time importing is a bit difficult
1. When shipping via air courier you will usually get the best deal if the supplier arranges the shipment. They will almost always get much better rates than you can.
2. NEVER pay via Western Union. It's as risky as sending banknotes.
3. PayPal can provide an extra level of safety, but search my thread for PayPal to see warnings about how to make a PayPal claim if the goods are faulty.
4. Photos can be sufficient for some types of product, but to be sure of quality and compliance with your specifications you would need a quality inspection. The big European based inspection services will usually charge about $300, but a number of my book users have had good results with a Chinese company that charges a lot less. You can contact direct the person that I deal with at safeimport@topwin.com
5. Customs clearance is almost invariably included in the courier charge.Your suppliers were probably thinking you meant payment of duty, not the clearance work.
Walter
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