FAQ

We work with most products made from metal, plastic, wood, stone, ceramic and glass, in addition to clothing and apparel. See products we source for a listing.

China, with its vast industrial base and low labor costs, is the primary country we source from. However, we can also source from India, Pakistan and other Asian countries.

We do not maintain a catalog in the printed form of the products we have worked with or provide a list of the thousands of manufacturers in China. In addition, we have sourced products for some of our customers that are proprietary and/or patented and they do not want their sources made public knowledge.

Yes, we have worked with companies in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australia.

Since 1991. See About Us for more on our company.

On average, about 1-2 weeks after all parties involved with the process of manufacturing in China receive all information on your product.

The minimum order value we may accept is $10,000.00. This varies from factory to factory according to setup costs and production run requirements.

Yes, we do this often. We’ve sourced product packed in individual blister packs (plastic clamshell with full color cardboard insert), cartons with full color artwork and in custom boxes, and in custom display boxes. We can provide plastic, metal or hardwood cases made from woods like walnut, rosewood or maple to provide value added sales appeal. We can also provide custom displays or sales racks made from cardboard, wood or metal.

Sea and inland freight transit time can range from 4-6 weeks. For example, it takes about 2-1/2 weeks for a ship to go from a seaport in China to the port of Los Angeles. Customs clearance and unloading can take another 3-4 days, and then the shipment will be trucked to your door. If you were in Denver it would take approximately 30 days to go from China to your door. For repeat orders or for items the factory is already making, it will take less time as the tooling is already made. The manufacturers in China can start making your parts as soon as their production schedule allows.

All shipments go direct from China to a port of entry in a major city closest to you. You will then have a customs broker of your choosing clear the shipment and get it shipped to your door. We quote your order with the freight paid to the nearest port to you. For example if your office is based in Denver we would provide you with a quote that will include the part price and all sea and inland freight paid to the port of Denver. You would then arrange having the shipment delivered from the port in Denver to your door.

Yes, we can send an existing product that is not patented to China to be duplicated, but the responsibility of insuring there are no patent or trademark infringement issues lies 100 percent with you – we do not perform patent or trademark searches. We will not knowingly quote or source any product that would infringe on a current patent or trademark.

Our customers often request that we sign a license/exclusive contract or non-disclosure agreement (these are provided by the customer or the customer's attorney) whereby we agree not to sell or disclose the customer's product line to others. We have no problem doing this. Upon request, we also add exclusive clauses or license agreements in with our negotiations with the factory in China.

In the U.S., Canada, and all other developed countries, realize that patents and trademarks are your only true legal protection. Without a patent or trademark any company - American or foreign - can legally copy and sell your product.

This issue is addressed in more detail in the July 2010 edition of our newsletter.

Yes, upon request we sign non-disclosure agreements. We do not provide them – these are provided by the customer or the customer’s attorney.

No, China trade and importing is easy once you know the ropes. See Importing from China for more information.

In addition to the cost of the product, you will have the following:

1. Customs duty. This is your country's tax on imported product. In the U.S. customer duties range between 1% and 30+%, depending on the product class. The average is probably around 5%. Your customs broker can tell you the duty rate for your product.
2. Customs broker fees. On average, around $150 per shipment.
3. Inland freight from the port of entry to your door.
4. Document Destination charges (also known as DDC). This is the port of entry's handling charge and it varies from port to port. In general DDC fees run about $30.00 per ton.
5. Labor/forklift fee to unload your shipment from the container. On average, about $40.00 per shipment.
6. Bond fee. This is required by US Customs to back up payment for the duty tax. Bond fees are set by the dollar value of the shipment. The minimum bond fee is usually around $50.00 and from there the cost increases by some $4.00 per thousand dollars of invoice value.
7. Our commission (10%), which is invoiced separately.

Yes, you will need a customs broker to clear your shipment with U.S. customs. Your customs broker will get your shipment transported from the sea port to your door by the inland freight carrier of your choice.

Customs brokers are easily found in the yellow pages and on the internet. The US Customs website has a list of customs brokers available in every state. They also have the addresses of the entry ports in the U.S., general information on importing, and much more.

New for 2012: We now have a partnership with a customs broker agency with a nationwide network, which gives us the ability to provide you with a quote with all import costs. See Customs Broker for more information.

We receive many inquiries from persons or inventors who have an idea for a product. Our Product Development page shows the process from start to finish; we can help you from concept to production.

Yes, we publish a monthly newsletter that is sent out by email. The Global Trade newsletter will keep you up to date on any current events that might affect your overseas purchases.

Want to know more?  See 14 Reasons Why You Should Work with Global Trade Specialists.