Importing from China - help!!

[violet80]

Please help! I have been trying to get some jewellery made in China since October - I found a factory on Alibaba, have paid and received samples but, very frustratingly, have had ongoing issues with the poor quality and also absolute verification from the factory of the metal/contents of coating that is being used. I am only wanting to do an initial order of 250 pieces of 4-5 designs so it's not massive quantities.
Also, have now just been told by the factory that I will need to pay USD310 for each style of my jewellery designs as part of a commercial inspection fee - this apparently has just been introduced for all exports out of China...is this true? I knew I had to pay freight, then possibly import duty and VAT but this extra fee is a new one?
Am feeling that I really should get an agent but haven't a clue where to start looking and am uncertain of what the costs are involved?
Any help would be gratefully received.
Thanks

 

[onlineseoserivce]

hello what kind of jewellery you want? you can check it on taobao.com this is helpful compare to alibaba site if you dont mind you can try some phil jewerly also

 

[jamie1183]

Hi we deal with alot of importing clients who directly import from China, unless you have a agent out there or fly out on a regular basis it is very veyr difficult.

I would personally try to get a agent out there, I may be able to put you in touch with some people in this field if required. Send me a PM with details and will speak with our clients who import regularly.

 

[tongsinjoe]

Hi Violet80,
I don't think that USD310 of commerical fee is true. I've heard of that.I'm just a Chinese buying/sourcing agent , mainly serving for UK clients.You can feel free to contact me if I can do anything for you.

 

[choorian]

Hey violet, I got quotes from a couple of companies in China and samples do not cost that much. I'm having furniture designed and for that i've been quoted 200USD so 310 does not make sense. Try and find another supplier, there are loads out there who provide quality and ask them if they already supply to the UK and give you references, ask them if the material is safe and what tests they have had done, send you test certificates. First question I asked was do you supply to UK and adhere to our safety standards and what proof they have. It's not easy finding suppliers, I've been trying for weeks

 

[violet80]

Ok...thanks Jamie....will send you a PM to get contact details of relevant people....cheers again

 

[violet80]

Thanks for that information Jo. My instinct was to question the extra fee and have googled it too and have come up with nothing

 

[violet80]

Hey Choorian...thanks for your post. Some good tips there, I should have asked about UK references, such a simple but good thing to do - the UDD310 wasn't the sample fee (that was only $45 a piece), it's an extra fee for 'commercial testing'....

 

[ulikcathy]

Hi
I am new to the forum , I am also trying to get some samples from a factory in china but they keep on asking for my account details I found them on alibaba, I dont have an agent or a courier but it seems impossible to get these samples they are just plastic swing clips that you use on files for paper but the china company says the shipping will cost $85 for what !!!! a piece of plastic in an enovelope, can someone help me, I would not be ordering a lot each month maybe 1000 to 2000 pieces.

 

[J-Wholesale]

...absolute verification from the factory of the metal/contents of coating that is being used.

I assume it's nickel you're worried about. They'll swear blind that it's nickel free if you insist on it, but that doesn't mean it will be. You can't trust what they say in this regard.

The 'commercial inspection fee' - unless it's been brought in in the past 10 days, which I very much doubt, is absolute rubbish. They're pulling a fast one. Which in itself is reason enough to back out of any deal. It's very difficult to buy jewellery in China unless you have an agent on the ground who has the knowledge to check your stock before it ships and before final payment is made. Sorry, but the odds are stacked against you if you're not able to go out there yourself.

 

[zgj512]

I also don't think USD310 is true. In fact, if you want to buy products in small amount in from alibaba. You can try to buy them on aliexpress.com.

 

[pauldla]

I'd have to agree with J-Wholesale on this, it does indeed sound very suspect.

If you can foreward me some details of who you are dealing with, etc, I'll have a nose around and see if I can find out anything about them. But as others have said, you're going to really need a reliable agent, or be prepared to visit China a few times yourself, in order to really suss out the market here.

 

[gzf1215]

Violet80, I mean you have your own designs to let them customise for you or you just want to find some nice designs and buy from the factories here ? But I guess this 310usd comes from nowhere as I've never heard of anything like this. It's ture some factories may ask for design fee if you only get an concept of what you want and let them make the design for you, but it also can be free. That really depends.
You better have someone collect quotes and samples from different factories(say 3-5) and send to you by one time so that you can compare which provides the ones you want most.
We run factory sourcing here, feel free to contact

 

[Cooben Wang]

Sounds like if you are really stuck you cold try working with us to match you with a trusted company on our online business platform. Just a suggestion. This message is being written from a cubical in Beijing, this is what we do!

cooben.com

 

[hawa.june]

As the price is $45/Piece,I think the Jewellery is an imitation. For all imitated ornaments which the material is unknow,the HS code is 7117900000,it is under customs commecial inspection catalogue,so commecial inspection is a must.

Just for your reference.

Please help! I have been trying to get some jewellery made in China since October - I found a factory on Alibaba, have paid and received samples but, very frustratingly, have had ongoing issues with the poor quality and also absolute verification from the factory of the metal/contents of coating that is being used. I am only wanting to do an initial order of 250 pieces of 4-5 designs so it's not massive quantities.
Also, have now just been told by the factory that I will need to pay USD310 for each style of my jewellery designs as part of a commercial inspection fee - this apparently has just been introduced for all exports out of China...is this true? I knew I had to pay freight, then possibly import duty and VAT but this extra fee is a new one?
Am feeling that I really should get an agent but haven't a clue where to start looking and am uncertain of what the costs are involved?
Any help would be gratefully received.
Thanks

 

[ihatebusy]

you can try asking other suppliers and see if same thing appeared

 

[BensonYan]

I'm chinese.
this thing can happen anywhere in the world, not only China.
so the key is right man, right means
good luck, friend