What the Cheapest Way to Ship in Goods from China??

LittleTees

I think I'm having problem myself. Haiz.

Ok, once shipment arrive Singapore, can we get our goods out on our own? Using freight forwarder here definitely going to cost you a bomb!

KittyMi

Hmmm.... maybe there's a misunderstanding here. From what I know freight forwarders are not the same as shipping companies.

Freight Forwarder refers to agents like UPS, FedEx or SingPost. If you use UPS or similar, they will clear customs for you. I think they bring parcels in by air, as in hand carry. If your supplier use their local postal service e.g Taiwan Postal, US Postal Service, SingPost will take over once the parcels reaches SG. And the parcels will be delivered to you via the usual SingPost delivery process.

Shipping Companies deal with big order that usually ships in via the containers. Each container will have big cartons of good from different merchants. Your shipping company will clear the customs for you, do the paper work, pay GST etc and deliver to your doorstep if you have opt for the door-to-door service. If you pay for door-to-port service, then you will have to do all the paper work etc yourself. There are also warehousing cost involve. Usually shipping companies have their own schedules to clear their containers so as not to involve storage cost. You will be charge by per day x volume of cartons stored if your goods are stored for more than the minimum days allowed, over the weekends or public holidays. You will have to arrange for your own transport to move your goods from warehouse to your place. So if you are not experience, I would advice to let the shipping company handle all the nitty gritty & you just wait for your parcels/goods at home

More info here: http://www.customs.gov.sg/topNav/hom/

LittleTees

I'm having major headache here. Usually, when I order stuff from China, I use EMS..worry free, & stuff get delivered to my home doorstep.

This time round, it's a different supplier - put my goods on a ship that goes big round then reach Singapore! Will be taking more than 7 days!!

The delivery agent in Singapore (stated in my B/L) is CWT Globelink. YOu know what, when I called them..they said they don't do custom clearance & definitely don't deliver to my home. Ridiculous? I find it so. Worse, they recommended a freight forwarder to do all these! When I received the quotation, it nearly hit SGD1k just to get my goods!!! Crazy!

That's why now I'm finding out how to get my goods out myself. It's just 6 standard boxes, can fit in my car.. arrgghh..

clefchen

KK.
You just have to check with singapore custom.

KittyMi

They don't offer that service at all or your supplier only pay for door-to-port service? I had this problem with one of my shipper as my supplier had asked them ship via door-to-port. What I did was I ask the their SG agent to quote me the additional cost for clearing customs & delivery to my door, the amount quoted was less than S$400, and that's including the additional warehousing charges as my goods was stored over the weekend.

Is it possible to change shipper then? To one that offers door-to-door service.

LittleTees

Haha now my supplier refuse to communicate with me! Anyways, I called up CWT, just to get the DO alone plus clearance & GST but pick up on my own cost me about $500! I foresee it'll be more.

The ship's embarking tomorrow, so no way we can change shipper..too late.

Haiz. I'm so discouraged now to buy goods from China..

KittyMi

They have quoted you $500, why do you foresee that it will be more? I have contact for delivery at S$50 if you need.

momoten

Hi, littletee

Think quoted sum is exorbitant.

ocean shipping is charged according to volumetric wt, either in cubic meter (ie. the dimension in meter [L x B x H] of each box added together) or the wt of 200kg (equivalent of 1 cubic meter) whichever is higher

Generally custom clearance paperwork cost less than SGD100 (itemised few in total), in total you will have to pay for the Freight cost (sea voyage) + cc ppwk cost + gst amount + tpt (deliver to your door)

doing it by yourself, will at the very least require a CR # which will require an RCB # to obtain although it is free. and to submit declaration will need access to the "Tradenet" system which will require registration and payment to use, etc.

Suggest you to call some other forwarding agent to assist to clear your stock from the shipping agent's container after its arrival.

hope these helps.

clefchen

yes, you can get it by yourself but you have to do custom clearance on your own.
It also required company registered number to do so..