Hello,

I've recently contacted a company in China to supply some hand-tools. they've sent me some samples and I'm about to order some.

Let me just say, this is my first time importing anything this big and I am very naive! I'm years away from being able to order a container load, I'm just a one-man-band. But this company is happy to supply small orders of about 500 items each which I'll sell via ebay and my website.

So I want to order 1000 items, I would have thought this would be less than a pallet load, but it's difficult to say.

The chap I have been dealing with has asked the question...

could you inform me ship by air or by sea? and which port that I can check out exactly cost for you.

Which has really raised some questions for me. He has asked for a port. Does that mean I can just specify my local docks and go to collect it there? Does this mean if I specify "air" that I have to collect it from the airport?

I want to receive the parcel asap, so if I select "sea" would this mean I'd wait for months to get anything? if i select "air" would this mean a huge bill as it's quite a heavy and large crate/box.

Any advise would be gratefully received!

---

Last edited by TSG; 01-12-2005 at 11:11 AM.

TSG, you can specify whatever port u want..best thing would be to chose one thats closest to you for obvious reasons. You wont have to wait months, we're in not in 16th century. sorry just had to...a week maybe. If you are using sea, then contact a customs broker who works at/for those docks and they will help you out. With air, you will have to goto the cargo holding area and the procedure is almost the same. From what i know, 'air' will cost you just a bit more. Air is usually a more worthy option if you are far inland, quite a distance from the sea. but like i said, it will cost just a bit more: not an arm and a leg.
I cant tell you for sure what kind of duties you will be charged so make sure you get your supplier to send you all the invoices and the bill of lading in advance.

you dont really have to go personally and collect ur goods. your customs broker should be able to handle that for u. it might be a good idea to go the first few times just to establish a good relatioship.

Well I live just moments away from Swansea docks. But does that mean they will ship to any docks I want? I mean it's only 1 pallet or less, only about £600 - they wont send a ship just for me!

Things were so much easier when people delivered to my door

shipping companies have a rotating schedule. all ur supplier will have to do is book ur pallet to be sent on one of the ships going to swansea (assuming thats where u tell him to ship)

why not just consider air for the first few orders until ur more comfortable with importing?

But if I went with air, would I not have to pick it up from an international airport? That would be more difficult for me. Or do i miss-understand this? All I want is to pay them to deliver to my door - LOL

Thanks for the advise your giving me, by the way, it's all good stuff, but I am a bit lost!

u can either pick it up from the airport or ask your customs broker to ship out ur stuff after he's cleared it from customs...im not sure about the UK but here in the US you can let them know what shipping company/method you want.

I've just had the shipping costs from the supplier. By sea, is SOOOO much cheaper that it make sense for me to do it this way. It's about 10% the cost of air.

I've tried to find a "customs broker", but cannot find anything with this search term. Could they be called anything else? Or can anyone recomend a UK broker?

you can pick any port you want providing you dock is deep enough to take certain toonage of ship as i picked my local port to have goods shipped to its the 2nd busyiest in the country teesport , but they could not dock here as the current port is not deep enough so i'm guessing that your company will want to ship to southampton as this is easier for the far eastern countries also they should be able to sent goods direct to your door using say fed ex or a cheaper opition is air cargo , where they will send goods to any airport but , you wil have to arrange transport from airport to your house,

__________________

---

Last edited by Boro97; 02-12-2005 at 05:14 PM.

trying looking for customs brokers in a telephone directory

They wanted $50 to send via sea, and $600 to send via air. FedEx would be even more expensive! I think it's quite a heavy pallet.

So I'll drive down to Southampton and pick it up. I spoke to customs today and they said I'd need to fill in a C88 form, but they'd talk me through it.

I did look for "customs broker", but found nothing. But it doesn't matter.

Thnaks for the advise again.