6 Secret Questions and the Answers About Importing

Q1.. How do I keep from being scammed by the exporter?
A. Do Your Home work - Research, and More Research when dealing with someone whom you have never personally met, one need to be very careful. One thing you want to do is Require References, of firms they have done business with. Ask, local businesses in the same area, where they are located, about them. Contact the American Embassy about information on them. Contact the embassy of that country, located in the USA, about that firm. Share with them you are importing from that country. Let the firm you are talking to know that it is nothing personal, but it is a function of doing business with foreign companies to check them out.

Q2. How do I contact people to get started importing/exporting?
A. If the firm you wish to purchase from is located in The USA, a letter followed by a phone call is my suggested form of contact. If they are located in another country, as ours was/is we did so with an email of intent to conduct business. After we made contact we had them contact us on MSN, and conducted most of our negotiations via web cam and chatting. (web cam is optional - we had one so we used it)

Q3. Is there a minimum to import each time?
A. Many firms have a minimum amount of pieces for importings, that can be ordered. Some are flexible, and some are not. Negotiations will usually resolve any concerns about a minimum order. Hence, keep looking until you find a firm that is willing to work with your already pre-calculated minimum amount order.

Q4. How do I find wholesale distributors and/or manufactures?
A. We found ours by doing a google search. www.google.com You can also go to www.alibaba.com You will need to join the site as a buyer, to get the
best search results. However, when you do not know who makes the goods you wish to import this is a good starting point.

Q5. Do I need a business licenses, visas, or other paperwork?
A. We did not need any permits or licenses other than what your local/state agencies require for any business., to import goods from the far East.

Q6 What products have import duties?
A. Most if not all products have both export and import duties. The type and amount of each is the sole desecration of the countries involved. By finding a US Customs approved broker. They will, tell you the types and amounts on the USA side. The export fees from the other country should be the responsibility of the seller.
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