I have just started dealing with a supplier based in China and just recently they have approached me with a potential deal. I'm currently waiting for a sample to arrive and if all is good I intend to place an order with them. Anyway, back to the deal.. They have asked me if I would be interested in buying goods that have been shipped to Spain (I'm based in the UK) and are now stuck in a warehouse there because the original customer can't afford to buy them anymore.
I was happy to consider the deal providing that my supplier could arrange for the goods to be shipped from Spain to the UK. I have been led to believe that the goods have been cleared through Spanish customs and in order to send them to the UK would need to be cleared through Spanish customs again. My supplier is saying that his freight forwarder can't do this on their behalf. Is this right?
I really don't want the hassle of arranging the freight and clearance myself. What are my options? My gut feeling is to call the deal off... or can this easily be resolved?
Many thanks in advance.
Mark
If you have never dealt with the supplier before and this is your first deal together then I would be a bit wary. Is it possible that the items were rejected due to patent concerns, or quality concerns? If so these may be problems for you there in the UK also.
If the product has already cleared customs then you should be able to organize someone to go in and do an inspection of what is in the container - basically a pre-shipment inspection - after shipment.
If all comes up clean after that then great go ahead. If you can't do the above then it seems to me to be too risky to chance and you better give it a miss this time around.
Really risky!
![[em9]](http://img.alibaba.com/images/eng/style/icon/emoticons_dizzy.gif){kind=icon}
. I am a suplier in China too, but i won't do the same to cause so many troubles. Frankly, our customers are our God (exaggerate a little)![[em1]](http://img.alibaba.com/images/eng/style/icon/emoticons_smile.gif){kind=icon}
, so we should do the best to attract and keep our customers. Long development is our common and final aim. Good luck for everyone--seller or buyer. Thank you!
Mark,A couple of things you need to make 100% sure of before even thinking about this.
If the goods are in a WAREHOUSE rather than with customs in Spain, either they DID clear customs or something VERY strange is going on.... or maybe they just didn;t define "warehouse" correctly.....
What you need is PROOF that the goods ARE owned by the Chinese company.
Proof that the goods HAVE passed thru Spanish customs (if they have then contact UK curstoms and ask if they can be moved thru to the UK without any more customs accruing)... You want this proff from Spanish customs direct, not just some funky piece of paper someone sends you from China.
Proof that there is no fee waiting to be paid for the warehousing!!!!! Someone owns that warehouse and they are going to want to be paid for the use of their facility!! I would want the name and contact info for the warehouse owner and make sure the goods can be moved out with no penalty to you, any fees need to be paid by the Chinese side or the original buyer not by you.
Movement of goods thru the EU shouldn't be too much of a problem, assuming customs stuff is taken care of..... once again, explian the whole situation to UK customs and ask their advice. They seriously aren't a bad bunch of people..... If you happen to have a local office near you, it is always a good idea to actual go talk to them face to face, remembering to give yourself a few hours to spend there.
That should give you a starting point to work from. Please note that i do NOT deal in the UK or Europe myself so there may be some points I missed that you will need to clarify with Customs or an agent.... For one, I have no idea what the deal with Uk VAT would be in this situation.
It sounds really risky. But also it means benifit. I think you can make a research of this supplier first. If its information shows that this supplier is reliable, then you can have a try. Otherwise, even there's a little bad words, I suggest you giving this deal up.
Good luck!
Ken
This sounds like a scam to me. I suppose they want you to prepay for the goods as well?
Chances are, there is no product in Spain. They're using this scenario because there are many things they can say went wrong to delay the delivery of your goods.
Even if the product is real and this is a legitimate deal how do you know it is not damaged?
Just be very careful and make sure all your ducks are in a row before proceeding.
Good luck!!!
Manys thanks for the information, its been food for thought! I've decided to turn the deal down unless the supplier can get the goods to me in the UK.
Thanks agains to those who contributed... very helpful!
Mark
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