9 Tricks I Recommend for Importing Goods from China

I've imported about $45m worth of products from China. It's not as hard as you might think.

Here are the 9 tricks I recommend:

1. Find vendors that will send you free samples. They're out there.

2. Use Ali Baba, not Ali Express.

3. Find a good broker on the mainland that will source and vet new vendors for a single digit % fee. You can use Ali Baba for this, too.

4. Ask to FaceTime with them at their factory or warehouse.

5. 100% expect the price you see on Ali Baba to not be accurate. Bait and switches are EVERYWHERE.

6. Don't even think about paying for a mold and getting something manufactured until you've 3D printed a ton of your widget and know assuredly that it works in a variety of settings.

7. You're better off importing a product that's already selling really well than developing something brand new.

8. Things WILL get held in customs at some point. Be sure you and your vendor are clear from day 1 what happens when that happens.

9. It's waaaaay more hassle to import via containers than via air. Whenever possible, pick products with sizes and unit economics that allow you to fly in via DHL or FedEx.

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I help a caller in more detail about how to do these things on the last segment of episode 11 on my podcast, links below.

We also talk about how to sell the widget once it arrives. Enjoy, and subscribe if you like it. You'll like it.

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Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-koerner-office-live-call-in-business-advice-dave/id1705154662

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