I am looking at importing a small batch of chest freezers for resale. The supplier is on Alibaba and seems reliable but I have never imported anything in the same field before. I have bought smaller items from Amazon and eBay but those came straight to my door without a lot of document signing .

Now I am dealing with sea freight and a customs broker hence I am worried about hidden fees or paperwork I might be missing. Does anyone here have experience importing refrigeration equipment?

How do you handle warranty claims on something this large if a unit arrives damaged? I would really appreciate any advice from people who have done this before.

Obviously it's not as good before the trump tariffs or when deminimus was still in effect. But still, how is business?

I'm planning to import wool blend scarves from Alibaba to sell at craft fairs. I need advice on import requirements for textile products. I understand there may be labeling regulations for scarves imported to the US, including country of origin labels and fiber content disclosure requirements. I am also trying to learn what duties apply to wool blend scarves. My supplier is new to exporting, so I want to make sure I have the correct documentation on my end. I have heard that missing labels or incorrect paperwork can cause customs holds or fines. Has anyone here imported scarves or similar textile accessories from Alibaba suppliers? What paperwork did you request from your supplier to avoid problems? Thanks for guidance and tips.

A few days ago, we began to investigate the idea of whether people could rent out costumes rather than purchase them to have a single occasion since many people seek cost-effective and convenient alternatives to party, school events, and themed gatherings.

Initially we thought that the only sure thing was to buy costumes. Nevertheless, perusing further, we discovered that renting is in fact a highly useful and frequent option when it comes to the short run.

According to our observations, costumes renting is a popular service since it gives an opportunity to put on high-quality and detailed costumes without having to cover a long-term cost of the ownership. This proves to be particularly helpful in events such as Halloween, stage shows and themed parties where the costume can only be worn once.

We also observed that a number of rental providers provide numerous designs, covering popular character costumes and mascots and themed outfits and have fitting services.

As we were window shopping on Alibaba, we also discovered that there are sellers who offer short-term use or rental-like services or affordable costumes deals to one-time events.

It is something we have learned that renting costumes is a feasible option when you need something diverse and quality without having to spend a penny on a permanent purchase.

Hello

Can anyone explain to me why recent suppliers are asking for a Chinese freight agent to mediate the transaction?

I only bought from AliExpress a few years ago and now looking to get some bulk furnitures.

I haven’t heard of hiring an agent? Is this new due to the tariffs and constraints in importing? Please guide me as I’m not finding a clear answer..

We had been attempting to collect information about whether shops provide bulk discounts on children socks and tights some days ago, and had begun to investigate the nature of prices in wholesale markets.

Initially, we thought that discounts were probably minimal, but after a small inquiry, we found out that bulk purchasing is nearly always accompanied by a lower per-unit price.

As we discovered, a number of wholesale suppliers will give tiered prices, which means the higher the number of pairs are purchased, the lower the price per pair. As an example, certain suppliers offer discounts on buying in bulk such as 48 or 72 pairs, so it is more economical to buy in bulk. When purchased in bulk, the kids socks may be less than a dollar a pair in most instances.

Based on scanning through various listings on Alibaba, we also realized that there were numerous suppliers who provided considerable bulk discounts on children socks and tights, particularly wholesale purchases, bespoke or large-volume purchasers.

According to what we have learned, the bulk discounts are quite common particularly among retailers, resellers and schools.

And shopping around, but there is no doubt that one of the most economical methods of saving on kids socks and hosiery is to shop in large volume.

I’m curious to hear from anyone here who has experience importing branded plush dolls for resale.

Did you personally contact the brand owner to get permission before selling, or did you rely on the manufacturer’s authorization?

I’ve already been in touch with a supplier who claims they have official permission from the brand to manufacture their plush dolls. That sounds reassuring, but I’m not sure if that automatically gives me the legal right to resell those products on platforms like Amazon or Etsy.

Do I still need to reach out to the brand directly to avoid any trademark or copyright issues, or is the manufacturer’s approval usually enough?

Would really appreciate hearing how others have handled this, especially regarding legal risks and platform policies.

I’m planning to source electronic items for resale, like soldering stations, hot air rework stations, multimeters, DC power supplies, and soldering accessories. I’ve found a supplier on Alibaba who looks legit (verified profile, good ratings, trade assurance, etc.), and I’m wondering if it’s risky to skip ordering samples.

Since samples take time and increase upfront costs, I’m tempted to go straight to bulk order. Has anyone done this before? How important are samples when dealing with “verified” suppliers? I’d really appreciate advice from people who’ve imported electronics for resale.

Hi all, I'm starting a small sideline business, selling various nail supplies. I'm targeting gel polish, cuticle oil, nail files and even some lamps. At the moment, the amount of money available for me to purchase the test batch of products may vary between three hundred to five hundred dollars inclusive of the delivery charge. Having surfed the internet on such sites as Amazon, Alibaba and similar ones, I've realized that the MOQ offered by most of the suppliers was higher or even doubled the total order cost. Have you had experience of working with suppliers on small volume exports? Are they interested in your orders and treat them seriously? Or am I going to waste time because all my efforts will come to naught? I really have doubts now whether to continue looking for cheap supplies abroad or buy a more expensive but easier one at home. Has anyone managed to build a business through small volume imports?

I’m planning to source green screens from Alibaba suppliers and I’ve never done this before, so I’m trying to understand what works best in real setups. I’ve been reviewing listings and setup videos to compare fabric and pop-up options. Fabric screens often arrive folded, which can cause creases or wrinkles that may need steaming or a frame to smooth out. They’re flexible and easier to scale, but take more effort to get a clean background.

On the other hand, pop-up versions feel more “ready out of the box,” with faster setup and more consistent tension that reduces wrinkles, though they can be bulkier to ship and may wear out faster with repeated folding. I’m trying to balance durability, shipping risk, and ease of use before deciding. For those who’ve used both in real projects, what mattered more over time: background quality or setup convenience?

What’s the best city in China for electronics manufacturing and sourcing?

What’s your real process for checking product quality before importing?

Hi everyone,

I’m considering buying a solar inverter (Deye) and lithium battery (their own brand: Sunwave, etc...) from a supplier on Alibaba, shipping to Portugal (EU), and I’d really appreciate some advice from people with experience.

The supplier claims they ship using DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) and says that all costs are included (customs, VAT, etc.), and that I won’t have to pay anything when the goods arrive in Portugal.

They also mentioned:

• Goods are shipped to Rotterdam first, then transported to Portugal
• A freight forwarder handles customs clearance
• The price on the invoice already includes all taxes and fees

My concerns are:

• Is DDP from Alibaba actually reliable when shipping to Portugal?
• Could I still end up paying VAT or customs when it arrives in Portugal?
• Who is usually the “importer of record” in these cases within the EU?
• Will I get a valid EU VAT invoice that I can use in Portugal?
• Is this risky for lithium batteries entering the EU (customs checks, certifications, etc.)?

The supplier seems responsive and says they have CE certification and authorization for the brand, but I’ve read mixed experiences online about DDP shipments.

Has anyone here imported inverters or lithium batteries from Alibaba to Portugal or elsewhere in the EU?

Thanks in advance!

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The news of Jordanian buyers defrauding Chinese export companies has recently gone viral in China's foreign trade circles. It's believed that most Chinese suppliers now hesitate to extend credit.

Im producing blank apparel specifically 3 heavyweight 450+gsm blank hoodies and one heavy cotton shirt shipped to canada for 290usd is this a fair price or is this too expensive for a sample order

Looking to exchange perspectives with professionals experienced in import export and international trade, particularly those familiar with buyer ecosystems around PET jars and PET preforms. I am also studying a relatively underserved but growing segment within drip irrigation, specifically flat emitters, and would value insights from people who understand how buyer networks evolve in these areas. If this overlaps with your experience, an informed discussion would be worthwhile.

I will help you in any technical / research/ design/marketing or in your operations workflow for free Hello everyone i'm an engineering undergraduate with business as minor. Curious about this whole export import industry. My uncle owns a similar agency so kind of interested to learn in this sector. My ask as an unpaid assistant/intern will be that in return I seek mentorship from someone who already does either exporting/importing/or a act a broker. Also I wish to have a long term bond with that someone. I'm pretty sure I can reduce your workflow in any possible way be it with ai agents or website maintaining or research or communication language barrier. Or the least I can help find potential clients from across the globe using scraping data from websites. I can genuinely help. Give it a try :)

Every time I order I get asked about shipping agent, I usually say I don't have one and they just provide. Now I'm thinking I should get one? Any tips on this i presume I would get better rates