I have never imported anything into the U.S. so I have a few questions. If anyone can help me, it'd be so much appreciated. I am trying to see if it's more feasible to manufacture my item overseas or try to manufacture it in the U.S. My product is apparel/textiles.

1) How do I know how much of my product will ship in a container or half a container?

Example:

I found one lead to say this:

Packing: 1pc/polybag 10pcs/polybag, 200pcs/export carton dimension: 55x38x72cm, G.W: 50kg

when they say export carton dimension, is this for a standard 40 cubic foot  container or just their own big box? How would I know how much of their product would fit in a half a container or a whole container.

Does G.W. stand for gross weight? So for one carton, the gross weight would be 50KG?

2) What is the cheapest and easiest way to get my apparel items to here and through customs? I was thinking to use fedex air or maybe their ocean freight. Any other suggestion for a cheaper, reliable service that will get my product from origin to final destination and take care of all the paperwork that goes along with customs and importing?

3) If my item has 5% tariff on it does that mean I have to pay 5% of the expected retail value or what the value is if I'd have to replace my items?  Is there any other fee I have to pay?  Do fees depend on which particular port I bring my items in to? Like, instead of choosing NY can I choose cleveland as it might be cheaper to get the product from cleveland to me rather from NY to me, since it's a shorter distance.

Thank you in advance for your time. I appreciate it.

Aisha

Hi Aisha,

Let me help you,I am not familiar with US standard,but from my experience,the answers may be:

1,Carton is only their own box.You can ask them to have a clear impression on how many will be shipped in one container.Normally,suppliers will tell you everything.

G W means gross weight,you are right,one carton of textile(Or others you have imported),gross weight is 50Kgs.

2,There are lots of shipping companies,not only Fedex or their ocean branch.In fact,I think you can put all these things on your factory's side,ask them to help you find shipping agent and ship them to your port.This is easier for a new businessman.There are almost no paperwork for them to kept with you because all paper will be shipped to you by air,to ensure you are able to get your goods with your Bill of lading on time.So I think shipping agent is no the key problem.Beside this,I think a good customs broker will help you more in import.They know things about US custom.

3,The 5% tariff means 5% added value on your buying price.For example,you buy 100 dollars things from China,then you need to pay 5 dollar for tariff.Usually it is not the only fee,another big charge is VAT,which costs 17% in many countries(I do not know if in US is the same or not).Fees may be different in different port because some ports are duty-free,but if you need to ship to your city,every port is the same for you because your city is not a duty-free area.

Wish you have a good luck.


Sid


P.S.:If there are something wrong with my answer,I hope someone could point them out please.

Sid,

thank you so much for taking time for me. I've written followup questions to your replies and colored them green.

Quoting from [inspectorsid]:

2,There are lots of shipping companies,not only Fedex or their ocean branch.In fact,I think you can put all these things on your factory's side,ask them to help you find shipping agent and ship them to your port.This is easier for a new businessman.There are almost no paperwork for them to kept with you because all paper will be shipped to you by air,to ensure you are able to get your goods with your Bill of lading on time.So I think shipping agent is no the key problem.Beside this,I think a good customs broker will help you more in import.They know things about US custom.

I have no experience with importing. I don't even know what a bill of lading is yet. I think I have to hire a broker to meet my items when they arrive and get them cleared for me then forward them on to me or whatever destination I choose. I just thought it'd be so easy if someone like fedex does everything for me because it all seems very daunting.

3,The 5% tariff means 5% added value on your buying price.For example,you buy 100 dollars things from China,then you need to pay 5 dollar for tariff.Usually it is not the only fee,another big charge is VAT,which costs 17% in many countries(I do not know if in US is the same or not).Fees may be different in different port because some ports are duty-free,but if you need to ship to your city,every port is the same for you because your city is not a duty-free area.

How do I find out about the VAT? That's a huge extra bill!

Suppose I am having my products shipped directly to my customer. Will my customer see that like in your example, I only paid $100 for my items and know I only paid 5% tariff?  I don't want them to know how much I pay for my goods. So how does that get prevented from knowing?

 

Wish you have a good luck.



Sid



P.S.:If there are something wrong with my answer,I hope someone could point them out please.

 

1) How do I know how much of my product will ship in a container or half a container?

I strongly recommend that you ask your own forwarder to help you calculate the loadings based upon the product packaging information that the factory gives you.

It seems that every factory works loadings out differently as they all have different formulas and different sizes for the containers - i dont know why but they do.

As your forwarder will be the one handling things for you I would go with their information as they are the ones you will need to answer to if you give them the wrong loadings.

when they say export carton dimension, is this for a standard 40 cubic foot  container or just their own big box?

They are giving you the size of their export box. They don't know what size container you will ship in unless you tell them.

How would I know how much of their product would fit in a half a container or a whole container.

You can work it out based upon cubic meters. But as I mentioned above everyone has different ways of doing this so you will get different answers from different people. Let your forwader help you.

Does G.W. stand for gross weight? So for one carton, the gross weight would be 50KG?

Yes.

2) What is the cheapest and easiest way to get my apparel items to here and through customs? I was thinking to use fedex air or maybe their ocean freight. Any other suggestion for a cheaper, reliable service that will get my product from origin to final destination and take care of all the paperwork that goes along with customs and importing?

Fedex would not be cheap it would be expensive. Cheap is standard ocean freight. You can arrange this through a forwarder in your country.

3) If my item has 5% tariff on it does that mean I have to pay 5% of the expected retail value or what the value is if I'd have to replace my items?  Is there any other fee I have to pay?  Do fees depend on which particular port I bring my items in to? Like, instead of choosing NY can I choose cleveland as it might be cheaper to get the product from cleveland to me rather from NY to me, since it's a shorter distance.

Your forwarder will help you with local taxes and payment required.

Quoting from [aisha7860]:

I have never imported anything into the U.S. so I have a few questions. If anyone can help me, it'd be so much appreciated. I am trying to see if it's more feasible to manufacture my item overseas or try to manufacture it in the U.S. My product is apparel/textiles.

1) How do I know how much of my product will ship in a container or half a container?

Example:

I found one lead to say this:

Packing: 1pc/polybag 10pcs/polybag, 200pcs/export carton dimension: 55x38x72cm, G.W: 50kg

when they say export carton dimension, is this for a standard 40 cubic foot  container or just their own big box? How would I know how much of their product would fit in a half a container or a whole container.

According to above informations, I can work out the loading q'ty of 1x20' container or half container, a 20'container may hold 192 cartons, that is to say, a 20'fcl can carry 38400 pcs of your item. half container may carry 19200 pcs .

Does G.W. stand for gross weight? So for one carton, the gross weight would be 50KG?   G.W= GROSS WEIGHT

2) What is the cheapest and easiest way to get my apparel items to here and through customs? I was thinking to use fedex air or maybe their ocean freight. Any other suggestion for a cheaper, reliable service that will get my product from origin to final destination and take care of all the paperwork that goes along with customs and importing? The cheapest transportation way is by ocean freight, it will take 25day from China port to main port of US.

3) If my item has 5% tariff on it does that mean I have to pay 5% of the expected retail value or what the value is if I'd have to replace my items?  Is there any other fee I have to pay?  Do fees depend on which particular port I bring my items in to? Like, instead of choosing NY can I choose cleveland as it might be cheaper to get the product from cleveland to me rather from NY to me, since it's a shorter distance.

Re. this question, you'd best ask for a broker of US.

Thank you in advance for your time. I appreciate it.

Aisha

Suppose I am having my products shipped directly to my customer. Will my customer see that like in your example, I only paid $100 for my items and know I only paid 5% tariff?  I don't want them to know how much I pay for my goods. So how does that get prevented from knowing?

i think you need to look for a local broker and they will help you to handle all including the taxes and you just pay some money to them, not too much, and they will finally ship the goods to the place where you tell them, and as usual your customer only receives the goods, they will not have the information of cost you buy from somewhere.

Quoting from [aisha7860]:

I have never imported anything into the U.S. so I have a few questions. If anyone can help me, it'd be so much appreciated. I am trying to see if it's more feasible to manufacture my item overseas or try to manufacture it in the U.S. My product is apparel/textiles.

1) How do I know how much of my product will ship in a container or half a container?

Example:

I found one lead to say this:

Packing: 1pc/polybag 10pcs/polybag, 200pcs/export carton dimension: 55x38x72cm, G.W: 50kg

when they say export carton dimension, is this for a standard 40 cubic foot  container or just their own big box? How would I know how much of their product would fit in a half a container or a whole container.

Does G.W. stand for gross weight? So for one carton, the gross weight would be 50KG?

2) What is the cheapest and easiest way to get my apparel items to here and through customs? I was thinking to use fedex air or maybe their ocean freight. Any other suggestion for a cheaper, reliable service that will get my product from origin to final destination and take care of all the paperwork that goes along with customs and importing?

I think that  you can  communication with  the  factory which  produce apparel  and  texil  for  you ,they  will  help you   to  find broker ,then you paid for  some fees.

3) If my item has 5% tariff on it does that mean I have to pay 5% of the expected retail value or what the value is if I'd have to replace my items?  Is there any other fee I have to pay?  Do fees depend on which particular port I bring my items in to? Like, instead of choosing NY can I choose cleveland as it might be cheaper to get the product from cleveland to me rather from NY to me, since it's a shorter distance.

Thank you in advance for your time. I appreciate it.

Aisha

Quoting from [aisha7860]:

I have never imported anything into the U.S. so I have a few questions. If anyone can help me, it'd be so much appreciated. I am trying to see if it's more feasible to manufacture my item overseas or try to manufacture it in the U.S. My product is apparel/textiles.

1) How do I know how much of my product will ship in a container or half a container?

Example:

I found one lead to say this:

Packing: 1pc/polybag 10pcs/polybag, 200pcs/export carton dimension: 55x38x72cm, G.W: 50kg

when they say export carton dimension, is this for a standard 40 cubic foot  container or just their own big box? How would I know how much of their product would fit in a half a container or a whole container.

Does G.W. stand for gross weight? So for one carton, the gross weight would be 50KG?

2) What is the cheapest and easiest way to get my apparel items to here and through customs? I was thinking to use fedex air or maybe their ocean freight. Any other suggestion for a cheaper, reliable service that will get my product from origin to final destination and take care of all the paperwork that goes along with customs and importing?

I think that  you can  communication with  the  factory which  produce apparel  and  texil  for  you ,they  will  help you   to  find broker ,then you paid for  some fees.

3) If my item has 5% tariff on it does that mean I have to pay 5% of the expected retail value or what the value is if I'd have to replace my items?  Is there any other fee I have to pay?  Do fees depend on which particular port I bring my items in to? Like, instead of choosing NY can I choose cleveland as it might be cheaper to get the product from cleveland to me rather from NY to me, since it's a shorter distance.

Thank you in advance for your time. I appreciate it.

Aisha

Quoting from [aisha7860]:

I have never imported anything into the U.S. so I have a few questions. If anyone can help me, it'd be so much appreciated. I am trying to see if it's more feasible to manufacture my item overseas or try to manufacture it in the U.S. My product is apparel/textiles.

1) How do I know how much of my product will ship in a container or half a container?

Example:

I found one lead to say this:

Packing: 1pc/polybag 10pcs/polybag, 200pcs/export carton dimension: 55x38x72cm, G.W: 50kg

when they say export carton dimension, is this for a standard 40 cubic foot  container or just their own big box? How would I know how much of their product would fit in a half a container or a whole container.

Does G.W. stand for gross weight? So for one carton, the gross weight would be 50KG?

2) What is the cheapest and easiest way to get my apparel items to here and through customs? I was thinking to use fedex air or maybe their ocean freight. Any other suggestion for a cheaper, reliable service that will get my product from origin to final destination and take care of all the paperwork that goes along with customs and importing?

3) If my item has 5% tariff on it does that mean I have to pay 5% of the expected retail value or what the value is if I'd have to replace my items?  Is there any other fee I have to pay?  Do fees depend on which particular port I bring my items in to? Like, instead of choosing NY can I choose cleveland as it might be cheaper to get the product from cleveland to me rather from NY to me, since it's a shorter distance.

Thank you in advance for your time. I appreciate it.

Aisha

thank you all so much.

I got in touch with a broker yesterday and she's working on a quote for an all inclusive service from shipping coean to getting through customs.

She's charging $150 to clear customs; is that too much? Should I look around for someone else?

Thanks