Asian Import Consulting: FAQ's
Is this service really free?
Yes, you do not pay us anything for our consulting or referral services. We are paid a small commission from our vendors only after you have paid for any order you place with the vendor.
Do you recommend using websites that provide direct factory sources (eg. AliBaba)?
Anyone who has tried using a website that provides direct factory sources in China like AliBaba.com will tell you that it is very difficult to get a response from any of the sources contacted through those types of websites. Further, even if you do succeed in contacting one of the sources obtained through that type of website, how do you verify if that source is legitimate? Are you willing to do business with someone in Asia with whom you cannot obtain any real background information or references? Are you willing to wire money to a complete stranger? When you use Asian sources provided to you by Bright Source, you are dealing with tested and tried Asian sources with whom we have done business for over 15 years. We know our sources and are proud of their professionalism, quality products and courtesy.
Do you know all the laws with respect to importing items from Asia, so we don’t encounter any problems?
We don’t claim to know everything with respect to all of the laws with respect to importing, but we are familiar with all of the basic legal requirements related to customs and duty. Your customs broker will be the ultimate expert on all of the laws related to the item which you are importing. And, we always suggest that you check with your legal counsel about the item you are importing to verify any and all of the federal and state law requirements ( e.g. FDA laws with respect to lead testing and child safety and California Prop 61) specifically related to your item.
What makes your sources better than others out there?
We have used many Asian sources over the years. From all of our positive and negative experiences with our sources, we now work only with the sources we believe are among the best in Asia. We know these vendors personally and can vouch for their integrity, honesty, ability to effectively communicate and ability to provide you with quality products at reasonable prices.
The executive staff needs a comparison proposal between our current supplier and your free service. Can you provide one?
Our sources provide you with a free quote on your item for comparison purposes. Our sources are happy to answer any reasonable questions your staff has about their operations.
Can I call any of your current clients and ask for feedback? We will absolutely provide references to seriously interested prospective importers.
Why does it have to be 10,000 or more for orders?
That is the general minimum order quantity required by our vendor in order to profitably produce an item. Depending on the item. the minimum order quantity may be even greater than 10,000. The minimum order quantity is generally calculated according to the fixed costs of production for a factory to produce an item and make a profit on the item. Conversely, the larger quantity produced the lower the price offered, so quantity discounts are usually available on all items.
Can you help with freight? Yes, we would be happy to refer you to our personal contact at the customs broker and freight forwarder that we have used for several years, William A. McGinty Co.(www.wamcginty.com). WA McGinty has worked with our vendors and executed many shipments with them.
What is the normal lead time for an order of 10,000 units? The normal lead time for an order of 10,000 units of an item is 12-14 weeks from approval of the reference sample provided to you by the vendor. This time frame is comprised of 8-10 weeks in production and 4 weeks in ocean transit and subsequent ground transit to your location. We recommend providing yourself with an extra 2-4 weeks cushion in case of any possible production delays as well as any delays in either Chinese or United States customs.
Do you have a question? Let us know and we will be happy to assist.
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