Importing from USA

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chopsky

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Hi all

Considering importing some product (cost of about $500 and weight of approx 20lb) from the USA.
Any ideas what the best way to do this might be?
Have approached several freight forwarders but they all seem to be quoting a few grand, which after duties & VAT of about 30%, doubles the cost by the time it's landed.
USPS is the most economical, but I don't really trust anything that involves the post office from a business stand-point.

Thanks!
 
Either way it is going to be expensive - unless you have contracts with one of the big shipping companies.
 
chopsky said:
2 boxes of about 10lb each - both approx 30cmx30x30
Click to expand...

it looks like around $160 with courier, at least 15.4%vat, around R200 for clearing fees and duties depends if you can get creative on the description without causing issues - so around R3000 landed.
 
So how exactly do small businesses bring in that size order, without doubling the cost of the product before it's landed?
$160 + 14% VAT + approx 15% duties + R200 = +-R4000, which is almost the cost of the products.
 
chopsky said:
So how exactly do small businesses bring in that size order, without doubling the cost of the product before it's landed?
$160 + 14% VAT + approx 15% duties + R200 = +-R4000, which is almost the cost of the products.
Click to expand...

That's precisely why they don't, or why limited order niche products on special import are as expensive as they are.

Unless you can bring it an entire shipping container of stuff it generally doesn't make too much sense.

Sea Freight = Cheap
 
SauRoNZA said:
That's precisely why they don't, or why limited order niche products on special import are as expensive as they are.

Unless you can bring it an entire shipping container of stuff it generally doesn't make too much sense.

Sea Freight = Cheap
Click to expand...

Ouch. Any way of sharing a container with someone?
 
You can negotiate rates with a company like DHL if you have an account with them but to qualify you need to ship regularly.

Ie a couple of times a month. I can tell you that account customers pay significantly less and achieve better transit times than cash customers.
 
Shayd said:
You can negotiate rates with a company like DHL if you have an account with them but to qualify you need to ship regularly.

Ie a couple of times a month. I can tell you that account customers pay significantly less and achieve better transit times than cash customers.
Click to expand...

What sort of discount are we talking here? Half the price?
 
chopsky said:
So how exactly do small businesses bring in that size order, without doubling the cost of the product before it's landed?
$160 + 14% VAT + approx 15% duties + R200 = +-R4000, which is almost the cost of the products.
Click to expand...

vat on imports works out to 15.4% and not 14% - or take your declared value x 10% and then do the 14% vat amount - why, because that's what sars does.
 
check out this:
https://www.usaddress.com

I've never used them before, but could help you.

What type of product are you looking to bring in? The reason I ask is sometimes trying different outlets can give you better shipping options
 
chopsky said:
What sort of discount are we talking here? Half the price?
Click to expand...
Possible if you have the volume to justify. Once a week won't cut it, to get that kind of discount think closer to a few hundred kilograms a week.

Think more like 20 to 30 percent. Remember you cannot compare a 2 day international courier with a multi month maybe it will arrive postal service.

Also the larger the shipment the lower the cost per kilogram. So rather bring in a 25 kilogram box than 5 x 5 kg boxes.
 
SauRoNZA said:
That's precisely why they don't, or why limited order niche products on special import are as expensive as they are.

Unless you can bring it an entire shipping container of stuff it generally doesn't make too much sense.

Sea Freight = Cheap
Click to expand...

Places like Raru take about two weeks. I don't think they use DHL and they pay significantly less. Probably bring in via other freight carriers. Or maybe they have major discount deals but even FedEx Economy does not take 2 weeks.
 
chopsky said:
What sort of discount are we talking here? Half the price?
Click to expand...

EMS is a possible option. USA is a bit slow but EMS from Japan is fast, about 2 weeks. Used to be 3 days.

Only if you're in Cape Town or Durban. JHB will be slow as heck.
 
Space_Chief said:
Places like Raru take about two weeks. I don't think they use DHL and they pay significantly less. Probably bring in via other freight carriers. Or maybe they have major discount deals but even FedEx Economy does not take 2 weeks.
Click to expand...

I believe they do very big bulk shipments all in one lot.

Not necessarily via sea freight, but certainly in bulk.

Although two weeks is about right for sea freight.
 
chopsky said:
Hi all

Considering importing some product (cost of about $500 and weight of approx 20lb) from the USA.
Any ideas what the best way to do this might be?
Have approached several freight forwarders but they all seem to be quoting a few grand, which after duties & VAT of about 30%, doubles the cost by the time it's landed.
USPS is the most economical, but I don't really trust anything that involves the post office from a business stand-point.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

From which state?
is the size 30 x30x30 cm or inches?
value of each package? 250 each or $500 each?
 
SauRoNZA said:
I believe they do very big bulk shipments all in one lot.

Not necessarily via sea freight, but certainly in bulk.

Although two weeks is about right for sea freight.
Click to expand...

Well then the cash customer should be able to do something similar as surface freight.
 
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