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Importing & global sourcing

Source from China & abroad without getting burned.

All Beginner Intermediate

All India Global

Everyone Aspiring Brand Builder Maker / Artisan Trader Going Own-Brand Scaling Brand Cross-Border Founder

How do I actually import a product from China as a small D2C brand with no existing supply chain? Start on Alibaba to benchmark price and MOQ, but don't place a real order there blind, get 3+ quotes, order paid samples, and use Trade Assurance f... Beginner 2 resources → What's actually different between working direct with a factory, buying off Alibaba, and hiring a sourcing agent? Alibaba is fastest to start but you're often talking to a trading company, not the factory floor, fine for standard products, riskier for anything ... Intermediate 2 resources → What do I legally need in India to import goods, IEC, GST, anything else? An Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT is non-negotiable, without it you cannot clear customs or get paid in foreign currency, and it's a one-time o... Beginner 3 resources → How do I estimate my true landed cost before I commit to an order? Landed cost is CIF value (product + insurance + freight) plus Basic Customs Duty, Social Welfare Surcharge, and IGST on top of that, not just what ... Intermediate 4 resources → What are the classic ways first-time importers get scammed or burned? Watch for prices that undercut the whole market, demands for 100% advance payment off-platform, and 'golden sample' switches where a great sample i... Beginner 3 resources → Should I ship by air or sea, and how do I actually choose a freight forwarder? Air freight makes sense for your first small validation order or anything time-sensitive; sea freight (LCL/FCL) is dramatically cheaper per unit on... Intermediate 3 resources →

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