Importing laser from China did you get a customs broker.

[Kev Williams]

My broker was CTL-Lax, which was based where the boat dropped off my machine. Triumph arranged for them to help. I was (still am) totally clueless about this stuff, but CTL was great, they even answered the phone and called me back on Thanksgiving day. Actually SHE did, I only dealt with one lady, forget her name but she took care of everything. Which was great if you're clueless!

[Mayo Pardo]

I showed this thread to my wife and she responded:

Mayo with the modernization of U S Customs a Customs Broker can clear cargo anywhere in the USA from anywhere. ACE (Automated Commercial Environment) is the new computer system for The Department of Homeland Security.
All Government agencies(including U S Customs and Food and Drug) are working to move under this one program in the USA whether Import or Export.

Feel free to have anyone contact me directly and I can offer advice(or get them in contact with a reputable company) to whoever needs it. From any country to any country.

Hope this helps.

Thanks & regards,

Merit Tremper, LCB, C.C.S.
Merit Trade Consulting Services LLC
E Mail: merit@merittradeservices.com
Tele: 847-899-4131
www.merittradeservices.com

[John Lifer]

Old thread, but if you are importing ONE laser, just get the seller to arrange for a broker. Cost me $90 for their fees to take care of filing the preshipping paperwork and the import paperwork with no hassles with the US Government. Now their handling of the shipping was another thing but not entirely their fault.

[Erik Goetheer]

Why let the seller pick a broker for you? Then you sure will pay too much.

I bought a laser, one, a few weeks ago, delivered FOB Qingdao. To organize further shipping to my hometown, a little town in The Netherlands, I contacted one of the many shipping companies in The Netherlands (a broker?) asked them for a quotation for the shipping from Qingdao to my doorstep, including custom clearance etc, was satisfied with the price and that's it. They booked cargospace on a vessel for me through their contact in China and they take care of everything else. The only thing that I have to do is delivering copies (yes, copies) of the commercial invoice and the packing list. It will be a telex release, so no paper B/L is necessary. And I pay the custom duties of course. All this saves me about 50% of the qouted shpping costs door-to-door by the seller.

[John Lifer]

Like I said, it cost me $90 for the broker to handle things. And if I had picked a broker it would have cost the same or more. Shipping costs were actually lower this time due to an error. But I checked costs and was satisfied the manufacturer and broker were being fair. You do have to realize too that I am about 1500 miles from the port.... Not a hundred kilometers or less:-)

[Joseph Shawa]

I have a friend who imports from China. The laser manufacturer shipped it to a factory nearby where it joined a container and was shipped....for free. No customs : )

[Tal Siegmann]

At your recommendation I contacted Merit. She was AWESOME! guided me throughout the process. Importing from China requires specific documents. Merit knows them all.
I highly recommend using her services!