Importing chinese wrought iron

[baconbarm]

I often get emails from wrought iron manufacturers in china, asking me to consider buying railheads, baskets, panels etc off them.

I know its a long shot- but does anyone have any experience in importing wrought iron parts from the far east?

Or any other product for that matter, it would be interesting to learn how the process works, from ordering to shipping, to eventually having the product in your hands.

 

[AdrianH]

Watching with interest

Adrian

 

[TechnicAl]

I dont know about wrought iron but with MIG wire. First you make contact. They send samples. The best they have ever made. They give you a very low price. You decide to order. They send an invoice and you pay. You then wait for the delivery. Its usually late and by that time your worried about your cash flow. After all your profit margin is low anyway. It arrives and you sell it at whatever price you can get to move it as soon as possible. Some customers complain but you ignore them because a few returned spools eats up most of your profit. You try to convince yourself (and your boss) that selling MIG wire for little or no profit is good business as it helps you sell other items that are more profitable. You forget all this and order more.

 

[baconbarm]

S

I dont know about wrought iron but with MIG wire. First you make contact. They send samples. The best they have ever made. They give you a very low price. You decide to order. They send an invoice and you pay. You then wait for the delivery. Its usually late and by that time your worried about your cash flow. After all your profit margin is low anyway. It arrives and you sell it at whatever price you can get to move it as soon as possible. Some customers complain but you ignore them because a few returned spools eats up most of your profit. You try to convince yourself (and your boss) that selling MIG wire for little or no profit is good business as it helps you sell other items that are more profitable. You forget all this and order more.

Sounds like a painful experience.

Pardon my ignorance, but once the gear arrives at the docks in a container, how does it end up at your workplace? Who organises the unloading of a container full of equipment, then assign where it gets delivered to?

 

[mcostello]

Thats what You hire (insert name of cheapest foreigner You can find) for.

 

[Kent]

The issue is you need a big consignment to really make it pay! Any wrong ones are more expensive to send back than its worth. I have never imported railheads etc but was involved in bringing in other things in vast quantities- ITS NOT WORTH IT when you factor these things in and your holding a lot more stock (dead money in a business)

 

[TechnicAl]

S


Sounds like a painful experience.

Pardon my ignorance, but once the gear arrives at the docks in a container, how does it end up at your workplace? Who organises the unloading of a container full of equipment, then assign where it gets delivered to?

There are companies that do this. Freight Forwarders. They see all the paperwork at the docks and if you havent arranged anything beforehand these people deal with it inc Customs clearance etc. You unload the container

 

[owas]

I have to sort out having hair extensions shipped over from china for my parents shop,
Quite easy with stuff like this that just fits in boxes and is shipped through UPS.
Talk to suppliers rep with how much i need > sends invoice > pay invoice > wait time for manufacture > receive goods

 

[Kent]

I have to sort out having hair extensions shipped over from china for my parents shop,
Quite easy with stuff like this that just fits in boxes and is shipped through UPS.
Talk to suppliers rep with how much i need > sends invoice > pay invoice > wait time for manufacture > receive goods

are they all shiny and in any colour as long as its black ?