Blogs

Use a commercial invoice for any sale and a pro forma for free shipments where accepted. See what FedEx expects and what to check before uploading.

See how gross, net, volumetric, and chargeable weight affect freight and duty, plus three quick checks that catch costly packing list errors.

You switch sourcing models when the same failures keep returning, not when someone says direct is cheaper. The signals, risks, and how to move safely.

Get real, comparable prices from Chinese suppliers. What every quote request must include, a full example, how to compare replies, and what to check first.

Ocean or air, more stock or less, one supplier or two. See the five trade-offs behind most sourcing calls and how to price both sides first.

Setup, samples, inventory, freight, duty, and contingency. See three starting budgets and why the first order usually carries the most weight.

SF Express and COSCO will not move your order. A freight forwarder will. What to check before you book one, what to ask, and when to leave the one you have.

Ask for a lower price without touching the spec. A copy-and-paste email, the four levers that actually move a quote, and how to make the cut hold.

The factory price is just the start. See the hidden costs of importing from China, from inspection to duty to freight, that quietly eat your margin.

The ten steps behind a first Amazon order from China, what goes wrong at each one, and where to fix it while the money is still in your account.

A high packaging minimum is a setup cost, not a stubborn supplier. See four ways to cut it, from stock boxes and labels to bundling with the product.

A sample shows a factory’s best day. An audit shows the ordinary one. See what to check on the floor, and what a passing report does not promise.

Shenzhen for electronics, Foshan for furniture, Yiwu for small goods. See which region fits your product and who assembles it across two clusters.

Made in PRC is not accepted by US customs. See which labels are accepted, where the mark should go, and how to avoid costly relabeling at the port.

FCL or LCL? Below 15 CBM, sharing a container often costs less; above it, a full container may win. Compare cost, speed, and damage risk before booking.