[TYLOLA]

Originally Posted by theimporter

It will be alot cheaper if the whole move is arranged from China, you will need to pay the freight charge and any handling fees only, if you are buying on FOB terms then it is the responsibility of your supplier to get your goods to the airport/port of your choice AND make sure Chinese Customs are taken care of.

A UK forwarder arranging the move would have to collect the goods from your supplier and pay off customs and that is why it will be more expensive and sometimes more of a pain.

If your chinese supplier is reliable and honest then he will know good forwarders as his goal will be to keep his customer happy and comming back for more.

When the goods arrive here you HONESTLY do not want to be going down to the airport or port to customs clear them filling out the forms is not easy and in most cases they wont allow it, Birmingham airport is one place where it still is however this is only because it is a customs training centre, I very much doubt the ports do but could be wrong as ive never been down to pick up a container, wouldnt fit in my car!

Its alot easier to the the forward on this side clear the goods, then if you want to collect it from their shed then carry on but keep in mind fuel costs etc, it may be cheaper to get it delivered to your door.

If you let the agent do it this is what they will do:

Goods come into UK, call you,
Present the goods to Customs
Pay Customs Duty and VAT

Then you can either goto where they are at the port/airport and pay them onsite (provided they are on site) and pick up your goods from their warehouse or you can get them to deliver, delivery will probably be a nominal charge, well worth asking, may save you alot of time, fuel, and stress in traffic jams.

Let me know where your good are comming from I may be able to recomend a forwarder that we use in china if it is in the same areas.

Hope some of that has helped.

Best Regards

Khalid

Khalid - are you on msn? could use your help as you seem very familiar with the importing process.

Steve