Importing from the US when there are restrictions

[chickenlady]

I purchase one of my products from the UK subsidiary of a European company which is the sole manufacturer of this product. It is available through other UK and EU wholesalers at the standard wholesale price. The company also trades in the USA and exports its product from the EU to the USA where it is packaged under the brand. It then sells it - presumably at wholesale prices - to several wholesalers across the USA and places restrictions on those wholesalers which mean that they cannot sell it into the UK (or Europe I presume). It is available retail at Walmart at less than I pay wholesale. It is cheap and lightweight but bought in a large number of variations at a time - a 10kg parcel would be about 45 x 30 x 25 cm and keep me going for a month or so.
I believe I could purchase in the US if I had a US address - if so, how do I go about this? Would I need to register anything in the USA or pay US taxes? Would it be illegal, immoral or good business?
I'm not too worried about payment - I have a borderless account I can use but I am worried about importing. I have only ordered small amounts from the US before I was VAT registered and they came in under the customs charge apart from one package which cost me more in freight and customs charges than the contents. Is there an optimum size or weight or cost I should be aiming for to make it cost effective?
Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Mr D]

Buy from wholesaler, they send to a freight forwarder who then sends it to you.
With appropriate vat and customs duties payable.

That is presuming the wholesale place is willing to sell to you. If they ask for your sales number you do not have one?

To be cost effective perhaps do an order as large as Walmart? Or a big order anyway.

Sometimes the cost of buying via a roundabout way is not cost effective for a smaller buyer.

 

[Bob Morgan]

Which State? 50 States, 50 Rules, then City/County Rules, then Municipality Rules, Village Rules, Subdivision Rules! - GOOD LUCK!

 

[chickenlady]

Which State? 50 States, 50 Rules, then City/County Rules, then Municipality Rules, Village Rules, Subdivision Rules! - GOOD LUCK!

Indeed!

 

[chickenlady]

Buy from wholesaler, they send to a freight forwarder who then sends it to you.
With appropriate vat and customs duties payable.

That is presuming the wholesale place is willing to sell to you. If they ask for your sales number you do not have one?

To be cost effective perhaps do an order as large as Walmart? Or a big order anyway.

Sometimes the cost of buying via a roundabout way is not cost effective for a smaller buyer.

My apologies for the delay and thank you for your advice. I thought that might be the problem - I'm no Walmart and the sales number might be a problem. I will have a look at freight forwarders to see if there is a way round it. Can't say I'm optimistic though.