I wanted to know if it is illegal to purchase items from China .Some of the items look real but the prices seem to be  fairly low. Let me know I am interested in buying shoes and jerseys and don't want to get in trouble trying to make a extra dollar.

Quoting from [coopdacash]:


I wanted to know if it is illegal to purchase items from China .Some of the items look real but the prices seem to be  fairly low. Let me know I am interested in buying shoes and jerseys and don't want to get in trouble trying to make a extra dollar.

 

There is nothing illegal about buying product in China and selling it back home.

Just stay away from brand name product as none of that is legit and it is illegal to try to import and sell that type of product.

Other than that you need to make sure that the product you sell complies with state and federal safety and other laws.

Quoting from [coopdacash]:


I wanted to know if it is illegal to purchase items from China .Some of the items look real but the prices seem to be  fairly low. Let me know I am interested in buying shoes and jerseys and don't want to get in trouble trying to make a extra dollar.

As a U.S. citizen and or an importing business there are things that you can not legally import from China and or any other country.  You have not stated what your trying to import, thus no one can tell you if it is legal or subject to quota's and anti-dummping taxes and fee's.

On the other hand their are other products for which you need special license to import and may only do by first contacting the goverment authority that covers that import or even by submitting pre-importation documents.  For the best advice it is better if you contact U.S. customs as to the legality of any import or to contact a customs broker who handles imports at your designated port of entry.

best regards,

Ranger

Quoting from [coopdacash]:


I wanted to know if it is illegal to purchase items from China .Some of the items look real but the prices seem to be  fairly low. Let me know I am interested in buying shoes and jerseys and don't want to get in trouble trying to make a extra dollar.

Hi

The problem with importing from China is with licensed products. If you are buying generic products you will have no problem, if you try to buy designer brands (which are too good to be true), you will probably get a knock at the door. If in doubt, I would always buy from a recommended supplier in your home country.

Quoting from [coopdacash]:


I wanted to know if it is illegal to purchase items from China .Some of the items look real but the prices seem to be  fairly low. Let me know I am interested in buying shoes and jerseys and don't want to get in trouble trying to make a extra dollar.

Don't buy any branded products from China, especially those you mention - footwear and sports jerseys. There's a 99% chance that they are fake. The chance of getting caught by customs may not be that high, but if you are caught importing counterfeits I imagine they won't look kindly on you.

Main places that fakes are coming out of in China now are Putian and surrounding areas in Fujian Province, as well as Guangzhou, and to a lesser extent, Shanghai.

Quoting from [coopdacash]:


I wanted to know if it is illegal to purchase items from China .Some of the items look real but the prices seem to be  fairly low. Let me know I am interested in buying shoes and jerseys and don't want to get in trouble trying to make a extra dollar.

I have had the same experience.  If the price seems to good to be true, than it is.  It will certainly be a fake.  If it is real brand name merchandise the price will not differ a great deal than if you by wholesale in the U.S. 

Quoting from [coopdacash]:


I wanted to know if it is illegal to purchase items from China .Some of the items look real but the prices seem to be  fairly low. Let me know I am interested in buying shoes and jerseys and don't want to get in trouble trying to make a extra dollar.

If your order is large enough, you may contact the authorized factory in China, their prices might be a bit lower, say, if you want to buy Nike series, you can try to contact www.nike.com.cn, this is the exclusive authorized Nike factory in Taicang, China. Take care!

 

Replying to [Business in China]:

Justin there is still a problem with that.  Unless the buyer actually obtains from Nike the rights to import from the brand they will be confiscated by U.S. Customs in fact anyone wishing to know if the can import any brand into the U.S. should visit:  http://iprs.cbp.gov/  If its on this list it is illegal to import into the U.S. unless you have a letter from the brand directing U.S. Customs to allow the import.

Ranger

 

Quoting from [coopdacash]:


I wanted to know if it is illegal to purchase items from China .Some of the items look real but the prices seem to be fairly low. Let me know I am interested in buying shoes and jerseys and don't want to get in trouble trying to make a extra dollar.

My friend iam sure you would know that buying branded products from any one else other than those authorised by the brand owner is illegal but not criminal. So mere possession of goods will not cause any harm to you till you try to sell the same. So till you have the goods for your own use and transport it as your personal effect for self use will not be a problem. But if are trying to make money may make the things in grey area of LAW.

Regarding the copy goods or fake goods again for the commercial purpose will create a problem.  and of course bringing it in USA will be require you to qualify the safety standards as need. If you can satisfy that then is ok.

again makeing or trading fake goods is in grey area of law and is considered infringement of copyright laws of the original brand owner which is a commercial crime. .

Quoting from [praveen29p]:


My friend iam sure you would know that buying branded products from any one else other than those authorised by the brand owner is illegal but not criminal. So mere possession of goods will not cause any harm to you till you try to sell the same. So till you have the goods for your own use and transport it as your personal effect for self use will not be a problem. But if are trying to make money may make the things in grey area of LAW.


Regarding the copy goods or fake goods again for the commercial purpose will create a problem.  and of course bringing it in USA will be require you to qualify the safety standards as need. If you can satisfy that then is ok.


again makeing or trading fake goods is in grey area of law and is considered infringement of copyright laws of the original brand owner which is a commercial crime. .

Praveen in your statement "My friend iam sure you would know that buying branded products from any one else other than those authorised by the brand owner is illegal but not criminal. "

To do something illegal is criminal.  Legal = Lawful  If you break a law you commit a crime against something or someone.  To import any item protected by IPRS for resale is to actually commit a crime against the owner of the trademark.  If you dont think so then maybe you should ask one of the 2600 U.S. importers that have been fined more than 52 million dollars this year and had their imported goods confiscated.  This does not even take into consideration the numbers of those prosecuted and fined via the U.S. Federal Trade Commision for illegally selling brand name products or products that are copies or infringe on trade marks from auction sites and e-commerce sites.  Then there are the countless numbers that have been prosecuted through each states Consumer Protection Agencies. 

its not the first time I have been asked by someone why customs confiscated goods.  They thought that they could keep importing goods for resale under the personal import exemption afforded to U.S. Citizens.  U.S. Customs tracks all incoming goods from all foreign suppliers.  Thus its not rocket science that any foreign company that ships items to individuals contstantly under the guise of personal is not eventually going to be caught and those individuals importing getting caught as well.  Yeah its a grey area until the time you get caught.  But then why risk hefty fines that businesses cant recover from?

Ranger

Quoting from [coopdacash]:


I wanted to know if it is illegal to purchase items from China .Some of the items look real but the prices seem to be  fairly low. Let me know I am interested in buying shoes and jerseys and don't want to get in trouble trying to make a extra dollar.

I ve been buying for the last four years in China I go to  factories that has establihed themselves  with Alibaba. I  first ask the factory  to sell me samples pay for them , have it send out by UPS or  TNT  ,test  it , give to  clients , also ask a friend in China to phone the factory and establish if they are real  The prices are low ,  of course , If  they are what I want i  import it and make my  profit , which is not a sin Thank you