Many entrepreneurs base their commercial activities on importing products from abroad. Particularly profitable is the import of goods from Asian countries, especially China: these products are cheap and easily available - just click on the link to the auction. Are such purchases safe? What do you need to know to avoid problems when importing from China?
Importing products from Asian countries
Importing products from China involves a lot of formalities, which very often overwhelm novice entrepreneurs. In addition to the extensive documentation that is compulsory, the ordering of goods itself can be problematic. In popular auctions, bids are often placed by intermediaries, who add their often high commission to the price. The novice importer is usually not aware of this and often has no choice but to buy from a middleman because he has not built up a base of contacts among Asian producers.
Another problem is checking the seller. The novice importer often does not know how he or she can verify his or her Chinese partner, and it is worth doing so as there is no shortage of fraudsters - it will save time and money. By verifying Asian manufacturers, you can not only confirm their reliability as a business partner, but also gain valuable information - for example, whether the Chinese factory has all the necessary permits, certificates or export licence. It is also worth checking whether the factory actually produces the products you are looking for.
Another potential obstacle is customs clearance, during which VAT and customs duties are calculated. All necessary documents must be submitted to the customs agency - a very important step, as if even one required document is missing, the entire ordered goods can be taken back to China.
Every importer must also have what is known as an EORI number, a number that is necessary to import goods from outside the European Union. In order to obtain one, an application must be submitted to the customs office.
These are just some of the items on the checklist of every importer of goods from Asian countries. The list of obligations can be intimidating, especially for first-time sellers, which is why it is worth giving serious consideration to contract importing.
Importing to order - contracting
Contracting is nothing more than importing selected products on behalf of a customer. You make a request for goods and we bring them straight to your warehouse, complete with all the necessary documents and certificates. It's that simple!
Import on request is a very convenient form of cooperation for any entrepreneur who assortment is based on products imported from abroad. In recent years, imports from Asian countries, particularly China, have been triumphant.
China is now referred to as the world's manufacturing centre and in recent decades has become the largest exporter of goods and an economic powerhouse. If you are interested in importing goods from China, you need to be aware that you will be faced with a number of formalities that, for the inexperienced, can be very cumbersome. That's why you should consider the option of outsourcing your import - such a service is offered by our online wholesaler Ikonka.
Contract import at Wholesale Ikonka - advantages
Wholesale Ikonka has been on the market for more than 20 years - during this time we have managed to build a wide network of contacts among the largest exporters in Asia. By entrusting the import of goods for your shop into our hands, you can be sure that you will receive products of the highest quality. Thanks to many years of experience, we know how to verify suppliers from China and other Asian countries. The contacts we have developed can help you negotiate, so we are able to offer you lower rates.
By opting for contract import, you not only gain a sense of security because you don't have to worry about the quality of the goods you order. You also gain time and peace of mind - because we take the struggle with all the paperwork off your shoulders. Yes, it is up to us to take care of all the formalities involved in importing goods from Asia. So you miss out on, among other things:
registration with customs,
filing of all documents and reports relating to trade outside the European Union,
signing contracts with shipping companies and customs agencies.
An additional advantage is that, according to the regulations, we, as Ikonka Wholesaler, are the importer and place the goods on the market - we issue a VAT invoice for your ordered goods. So you do not need to have a so-called EORI number - we take care of everything.
Importing on order - disadvantages
Of course, contract importing also has its disadvantages. The biggest one is the lack of control over the goods - when deciding to import products from the other side of the world, we do not really know what goods we will receive. Of course, you can minimise the risk by ordering only from reliable suppliers or by ordering samples, but novice importers can never feel 100% safe.
Another disadvantage is the long waiting time for products to be delivered - unfortunately, transport takes a long time. The longest we will wait for goods will be transported by sea, but this is currently the cheapest form of delivery of goods from China to Europe.
In summary, by choosing to import on contract at Ikonka Wholesale you can only gain - your goods will be thoroughly checked and safely delivered to your warehouse. On the way, we will take care of all the necessary documents so that there are no problems at the border. Thanks to Wholesale Ikonka, you will save time and money.