From “I want 500 of these” to a pallet at your door
What actually happens
Most guides to buying from Asia are written by shipping companies, and they quietly assume you will be doing the importing. For most buyers that assumption is the expensive part. Here is the alternative, in order.
- 01You tell us what you wantProduct, rough quantity, and where it is going. A photo, a link, or a competitor’s product is plenty to start with.
- 02We source it and price itWe find the supplier, or check over the one you found — we do both — and come back with one delivered price per unit.
- 03You confirm the orderYou approve the price and the specification before anything is bought.
- 04We buy the goodsManufacturer is paid. From this point the goods will be prepared and packaged for export. We are responsible for expedient shipping.
- 05We check them before they loadEither in person or through our agent at origin. If they are not right, the factory makes them right before anything moves.
- 06It shipsOcean freight out of our nearest port — often combined with other orders, which is what keeps smaller quantities affordable.
- 07We import and clear itUnder our own name, as importer of record. We pay the duty. Nothing lands on you.
- 08We deliver to your doorAnywhere in the United States, by carrier. Liftgate or inside delivery is included rather than billed as an extra.
- 09You pay the balanceOn delivery. One invoice, one US company, in dollars — ACH, wire or check.
Where the risk sits
Ours, until it reaches you
This is the part that separates buying through us from buying direct. The goods belong to us for the whole journey.
Before it ships
The supplier takes payment and does not deliver. The goods are not what was ordered. The shipment is delayed at origin.
In transit
The vessel is late. Cargo is damaged. Customs holds the shipment. The duty comes out higher than expected — and the price you agreed does not move.
On arrival
Damaged, or not what was ordered. You get a replacement. We deal with the factory; you deal with us.
You buy a product, not a shipment. You are not managing a supply chain — you are buying a delivered thing from a company in Florida. After delivery the goods are yours; but if a problem turns out to be a fault from the factory rather than something that happened once it arrived, tell us. Chasing the supplier is our job, not yours.
Common questions
The things people ask first
No. We are the importer of record. The goods come into the United States under our name and our bond, and we sell them to you once they are here. You are making a domestic purchase from a US company. We do, because it is our cargo. You never file an entry, never file an ISF, never post a bond, and never get an invoice from a customs broker you have not spoken to. We do — either in person or through our agent at origin, before anything is loaded. If the goods are not right, the factory makes them right before they move. This is the step most buyers skip when they go direct, and it is the one that costs the most when it is missed. You get a replacement. They are ours until they reach your door, so putting it right is our problem rather than yours to chase across twelve time zones. Yes, down to a small package. We combine smaller orders with others into one shipment, which is exactly what makes a smaller quantity worth doing. Most companies in this space will not take them. Neither. Those obligations belong to the importer of record, and on your orders that is us. One delivered price per unit, covering the goods, the ocean freight, customs, duty and delivery to your door. There is no separate freight line and no second invoice.Am I importing anything?
So who deals with customs?
Who checks the goods before they ship?
What if the goods arrive damaged or are not what I ordered?
Can I order a small quantity?
Do I need a customs broker or an importer number?
What does the price include?