Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Do you guarantee that the import process is risk-free if I use your platform?

No, we do not offer any form of guarantee or insurance in case of losses caused by suppliers, third-party service providers, or other parties involved in the process. Also, we do not offer legal advice as part of our support.

That said, one of the goals of the Importer’s Guide is to help you better manage the risks involved in the process. However, there are some risks involved in importing products, and the Importer’s Guide and support alone do not guarantee a successful outcome.

What kind of risks should I be aware of?

Here are some risks to consider:

• Quality issues
• Unforeseen costs and expenses
• Payment fraud
• Product compliance and safety issues
• Provider bankruptcy
• Customs tariffs
• Natural disasters, wars and pandemics, which can affect supply chains

Can you help me even though I have already found a supplier and started the import process?

Yes, you don’t have to start from scratch. About half of our customers have already identified a supplier, or even purchased their first samples, before they start working with us. Even in this situation, we can certainly help you prepare product specifications and assess whether the supplier you have found is qualified.

Which product category should I choose?

We recommend that you choose the category that best defines your product. For example, if you intend to import power banks, then you might want to choose the “Electronics” category. On the other hand, if you intend to import T-shirts, then the category “Garments and Fabrics” is best for you.

How can I get lifetime access to the 8 product categories?

If you purchase the business package, you get lifetime access to the Importer’s Guide for the following product categories:

• General version
• Watches
• Dresses and fabrics
• Accessories and jewelry
• Electronics
• Kitchen utensils
• Home and furniture
• Children’s products

What is included in the Importer’s Guide: General?

The Importer’s Guide: General can be applied to any type of product. It is an ideal choice if your product does not fit into any of the other Importer Guides (Clothing and Textiles, Electronics, and so on).

What does it mean that I will get lifetime access?

It means you will have indefinite access to the platform, including future updates. Should we discontinue service on the website, we will send you a downloadable version of the Importer’s Guide.

Do you have a requirement concerning minimum order quantities (MOQ)?

No, we do not place any minimum limit on the minimum quantities to be ordered. That said, each supplier will have a minimum limit, and that is beyond our control.

Do you offer guarantees or refunds?

No, we do not offer any insurance or guarantee in case there are losses due to delays or defective products. Even in case you have problems, you will still have access to the platform.

Do you receive payments (or other compensation) from suppliers?

No, we do not receive any compensation from suppliers. Our fee is the price paid by the customer to access the Importer’s Guide.

Do you charge a commission on products purchased from the supplier?

No, unlike many commercial agents, we do not charge any commission.

Do you guarantee that my product designs and/or branding will not be used by suppliers or other agencies/companies offering third-party services?

We cannot guarantee that a supplier or other company/individual involved in the import project will not use your designs or trademark, since it is not up to us. Therefore, it is critical for you to obtain patents and/or trademarks in all relevant markets for your product/design whenever possible. We do not offer any insurance or compensation due to theft of intellectual property from suppliers or other agencies/companies you decide to involve in the project.

Do you sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with your clients?

We generally do not sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with clients for the following reasons:

1. We do not ask the client to send us, upload to the platform, or otherwise share with us sensitive information about its products and/or brand. We advise the clientw to share with us and/or upload to the platform only information that is not confidential and that the client already thinks it wants to share with suppliers or other partners.

2. A legal review of an NDA generally costs more than what we earn per client. As such, signing an NDA would result in a loss for our company.

That said, we will not (knowingly) share information about your product with outside parties who are not involved in your project.

How do you protect data that I might upload to your platform (e.g., design files)?

Our platform is protected by a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate, which is a protocol designed to allow online applications to transmit information securely.

That said, we do not offer any insurance or guarantee in case there is loss due to delay or theft of intellectual property. Nor do we offer any insurance or guarantee in case there is theft of intellectual property by suppliers or other agents.

What we can do is to advise you to register your trademark and/or patent (when possible).

Will I incur additional costs?

Here are some possible additional costs:

• Quality control (if required)
• Laboratory tests (if required)
• Transportation costs (will depend on weight, volume, and destination of goods)
• Import duties and other taxes

Note that none of these costs are included in our rate.

Will I be able to launch my product if I apply the process you recommend?

The concept of the Importer’s Guide is to guide you step by step, through the entire process of importing your product. As you can well understand, we cannot guarantee that you will complete the process, as it will depend mostly on you, and your motivation in completing the process.

You can read the opinions of our past clients here.

Do you guarantee that my product will be successful if I follow the advice outlined in the Importer’s Guide?

We cannot guarantee that your product will be successful, since it depends on too many factors. What we offer is a system that simplifies an extremely complex process into a series of steps to follow, each of which is relatively simple. However, we do not offer any insurance or guarantees.

This also concerns customs procedures and taxes, and other regulations, which are constantly changing. Due to this very fact, we also cannot guarantee that the information is always up-to-date. That’s why we always recommend contacting local authorities and relevant professionals when necessary (such as an accountant or intellectual property lawyer), as well as following the advice in the Importer’s Guide.

Do I need to already have experience in the import process if I purchase the Importer’s Guide?

No, the guide is also suitable for beginners. However, we recommend that you use the help of our online expert, and contact us whenever you have a doubt or question.

How long does it take to complete the import process?

Although it depends a lot on the product, it usually takes 4 to 8 months.

What software do I need to make the most of the Importer’s Guide?

You only need a computer (or tablet), and an internet connection. In fact, our platform is fully accessible online.

Do you offer opinions of past clients?

Yes, click here to read the opinions of some of our past clients.

What kind of clients do you work with?

For the most part, our clients are startups and small- to medium-sized companies based in Europe or the United States (via our English-language site). However, we also have clients in other countries.

Online Expert

What does ‘1 ticket’ consist of?

1 ticket is defined by a series of questions and answers, on a specific topic. For example, you can send us several questions related to transportation, all through the same ticket.

However, if you want to discuss another topic, such as quality control, you will have to open a second ticket.

Note that, in any case, we are flexible on this point.

What kinds of questions can I ask the online expert?

We can answer your questions regarding the import process from China and other Asian countries, for example:

• Making your own customized or private-label product
• Product development
• Supplier search
• Regulations concerning the product
• Payments and fraud prevention
• Quality control and laboratory testing
• Transportation, duties and taxes.

Can you handle communication with my provider on my behalf?

No, you will be the one to discuss with the supplier. Our customers are in charge of managing their own import project, contacting us when they need assistance.

Do you help obtain prices and other information from suppliers or other parties involved?

We do not contact suppliers or other third parties during any stage of the process. Here are some examples of tasks that are not included in the Importer’s Guide:

• Calling or emailing suppliers
• Requesting quotes from suppliers
• Price negotiation with suppliers
• Asking questions of suppliers
• Resolve disputes with suppliers
• Contact government agencies
• Classification of customs/HS codes

Importer Guide customers should manage the process themselves using the manual and other tools provided. Customers can contact us to ask questions or request help on how to use the platform (document templates or the reservation system, for example). However, we do not actively manage client projects. Keep in mind that the platform is designed to provide you with the tools you need to manage the process yourself.

How much time do you spend answering questions posed through the online support system?

We usually respond within 24 hours, excluding holidays and weekends.

Importer’s Manual

What does the importer’s manual include?

The manual includes tutorials and task lists covering the entire import process:

• 1. Create product specifications
• 2. Supplier search
• 3. Development of pre-production samples
• 4. Production and quality control
• 5. Transportation, duties and taxes

Can I keep track of my progress as I progress along the import process?

Yes, we offer the option to mark each tutorial as “complete.”

Where can I find a complete list of the tutorials contained in the manual?

Click here to download an overview (PDF file).

List of Suppliers (PDF)

Based on what criteria do you choose vendors to include in the list?

Supplier selection is based on information concerning the supplier’s company that is publicly available. This includes social capital, certificates, test reports, and product scope. We apply different criteria depending on the product category and production sector.

Keep in mind that reports can only reflect actual market conditions. We cannot change reality and select suppliers that do not exist, such as suppliers that offer lower prices or minimum order quantities (MOQs) than the market offers.

How does the vendor search process work?

Step 1: Determine the type of supplier

Once we receive your request concerning the supplier relationship, we determine the type of supplier we are going to select. We also define our selection criteria, such as:

• Product Scope
• ISO 9001: Yes / No / Preferred
• BSCI or Sedex: Yes / No / Preferred
• Test Report: Yes / No / Preferred
• Share Capital: Minimum XXX,XXX
• Location: City, Province, Country

Step 2: Create the Supplier List

We review lists of B2B suppliers and go on to identify 6 to 8 suppliers that meet our criteria.

We cannot select providers based on the following criteria:

• Product design
• Price
• MOQ

Step 3: We send the Supplier List (PDF) to the client.

We normally send the Supplier List (PDF) to the customer by e-mail, within 3 working days.

What kind of information is contained in the Supplier List (PDF)?

• Company name
• Product Scope
• Share capital
• Quality Management System (ISO 9001)
• Social compliance (BSCI or Sedex)
• Website/Contact Page

Do you guarantee that the suppliers on the list are reliable?

Suppliers cannot be classified as “reliable” or “unreliable” a priori. Although we filter suppliers based on selection criteria to find the most qualified companies, the outcome depends entirely on how the process as a whole is managed. There are also other supplier-related risks to consider that can never be eliminated from our selection criteria. Here are some examples:

• Failure to produce a satisfactory product sample
• Quality problems during production
• Failure to meet the initial budget
• Fraud perpetrated by individual employees (e.g., payment fraud)
• Bankruptcy of the supplier’s company
• Theft of intellectual property

Our selection is based on an assessment, which cannot reasonably predict every single outcome. The client should never assume that the suppliers listed are to be considered “reliable” or “quality” in every situation.

Do you offer an example of a report?

Yes, click here to download a sample report.

How many suppliers does the report contain?

Usually, 6 to 8.

How long do you take to prepare and deliver the report?

Usually, 3 working days (although there may be exceptions)

Do you contact suppliers and negotiate the price of the product on my behalf?

No, you will be the one who has to contact the providers.

Supplier Evaluation Tool

What do I need the supplier assessment tool for?

The supplier assessment tool helps you evaluate which of the following 4 categories your supplier belongs to:

• Excellent
• Qualified
• Medium
• Unqualified

The rating is made depending on the industry. Thus, a supplier who might be excellent in one industry (or product category), might be “only” average in another industry.

To finish, the tool should be used in conjunction with the supplier search and evaluation process outlined in the importer manual.

How do I use the supplier evaluation tool?

The system evaluates suppliers based on user-entered data that include, for example, the registered capital or company registration year of the Chinese supplier. This information can be found free of charge in various business-to-business databases or on suppliers’ websites.

Based on the information provided by the user, the system will automatically perform the supplier evaluation and send a PDF report, containing the final evaluation, to the email address used to purchase the Importer’s Guide.

Document Templates

What kind of document templates are included in the Importer’s Guide?

• Product Specification Sheet
• RFQ Supplier
• Sample Order Form
• Review of Samples
• Production Manual
• Quality Control Checklist
• Purchase Order

Reservation System

What kind of services can I book?

Once you login to the platform, you can get a free quote from our partners and, if you wish, book the following services:

• Transport
• Laboratory testing
• Quality controls
• Factory inspections
• Inspections concerning corporate social responsibility

Which companies provide these services?

We currently offer services provided by the following companies:

• Sofeast
• QIMA
• Imdico Consulting

How do I know what extra services to order?

You do not need to order any of the extra services on the platform. That said, you may need a transportation agency, quality control or other.

The purpose of the proposed extra services is to give you access to a range of companies that have been in the industry for some time, and are considered reliable.

How do you pay for the extra services offered by Chinaimport?

Regarding extra services offered by our company, such as Supplier Verification, you pay using the same payment system you use to purchase the Importer’s Guide (PayPal).

How do you pay for extra services offered by third-party companies, i.e., Chinaimport partners?

Regarding extra services offered by third-party companies, you will have to use the payment methods offered by those third-party companies. Most partners offer PayPal, credit card and bank transfer.

What terms of service apply to services purchased from third-party companies?

The terms of service and privacy policy proposed by the company from which you are purchasing the service always apply. Note that we do not offer any kind of compensation or insurance, due to losses, delays or other problems caused by a third party company. Note that this is also true in the case of the services offered by our company.

Methods of Payment

Can I pay by Visa or MasterCard?

Yes, through Stripe.

Can I pay through PayPal?

Yes, if you prefer to pay through your PayPal account, there is no problem.

Do you offer a reimbursement policy?

The Customer has the right to cancel access to the service and request a full refund within 14 days from the date of purchase. The Customer agrees to waive the right to a refund if he/she decides to use the platform.

Examples of platform use:

• Sending a support request ticket
• Submit request to obtain a supplier list
• Request for quotation from one of the partners, using the platform
• Downloading/copying a document template
• Starting a New Project (Importer Manual)

Do you offer a secure payment method?

Yes, the payment process is handled entirely by PayPal, who use an SSL certificate, which is a protocol designed to allow online applications to transmit information securely.

Will I receive an invoice for my company?

Yes, the invoice is sent along with the payment confirmation e-mail.

Terms of Service

Where can I find your Terms of Service?

Click here to read our Terms of Service.

Where can I find your Privacy Policy?

Click here to read our Privacy Policy.

Access the ServiceFree Consultation