Small import help needed

[North Hosts Limited]

Hi guys, I need some advice if possible. I'm importing an evaporative air cooler from China which has been quoted as $380 with shipping on CIF terms to Felixstowe port. I'm based in Wigan and would like the cooler shipping there. How would I go about doing this? Am I going to be hit with stupid charges? Is there a better way of doing it? The unit is roughly 1 metre square and weighs 70kg. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[GraemeL]

Yep. (This sounds cheap to me, so you will probably face additional charges to clear customs in UK. See CIF on here http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/t...if-and-fob-mean-and-the-pros-and-cons.288040/ )

Suggest:-
Ask factory for an ex works price (Make sure it includes good packaging) and get detailed address of where the item can be collected from.
then ....
Ask a UK based freight forwarder to quote you for collection from factory through to delivery to your premises. Don't be surprised if it is a lot more than you expect as it will be!

G

 

[North Hosts Limited]

Hi, thanks for your reply - I guessed there would be import charges etc - I presume the parcel gets unloaded and warehouses and then the freight forwarder collects it?

 

[GraemeL]

Not quite sure what you mean? If you do as I suggest, the FF will collect from the factory in China and deliver to your premises in UK - no warehousing involved.

 

[Novevan]

Easy, you can find a local logistic company.
Ask them if they can offer door to door services.
Many forwarding company offer this kind of services. So that you do need to handle any custom documents.

 

[TaobaoGuides]

$380 isn't high at all for 70kg and 1 metre square volume if the forwarder shipping via UPS or DHL courier service. It is cheaper to shipping via sea but it takes around 1 month from China to UK.

I am not sure what kind of evaporative air cooler you bought, it is usually around 7 ~ 15 kg weight include packaging instead of 70 kg and it cannot be 1 metre square for personal usage. The commonly family size is 30cm*50cm*70cm. You can paste a product link here maybe I can give you more suggestions.

 

[Import Expert]

As above, as long as no urgency buy on EXW or FOB terms - It will work out a lot cheaper than CIF. Ensure packing sufficient for transport by sea.

 

[TaobaoGuides]

Only industrial evaporative air cooler weight around 70 kg with 1 metre square volume, however, $380 shipping fee which might higher than the cooler itself, sea shipping is cheaper although it takes long time.

 

[WesthavenWWL]

Hi. As mentioned above, be very careful of buying on CIF terms. Shipping agents in the UK who receive goods charge very high amounts for handling, handover fees, documentation and delivery.
If you can let me have the full dimensions of the cooler, and where it's coming from in China, I can give you a complete price through to Wigan by sea and / or air. If you are buying on FOB terms, the price will be from the Chinese port / airport of departure. If you are buying on EX-WORKS terms, I will need the full address of your supplier in order to give you a through price from their premises. The only thing our price won't include is import duty (if any payable) and import VAT. I can work out approx what import duty you would have to pay, but it would be helpful to have the HS Code for the goods. Your supplier should be able to give you this.

 

[jefhasmi]

As its coming in from outside the EU/UK why not register it coming via Isle of Man, you could save a few bob too! pm me if you would like to know more.

 

[Maple Sourcing]

$380 isn't high at all for 70kg and 1 metre square volume if the forwarder shipping via UPS or DHL courier service. It is cheaper to shipping via sea but it takes around 1 month from China to UK.

I am not sure what kind of evaporative air cooler you bought, it is usually around 7 ~ 15 kg weight include packaging instead of 70 kg and it cannot be 1 metre square for personal usage. The commonly family size is 30cm*50cm*70cm. You can paste a product link here maybe I can give you more suggestions.

I believe it's sea shipping, not via air.

is it possible to ask factory to quote you price in door-to-door (sea shipping + dispatch)?