Importing larger and heavier items from China

paulears · Dec 18, 2019

We bring in a fair bit of Chinese audio and lighting equipment via air freight, but I have a need for a larger PA system, and have found exactly the right product via Alibaba - slightly unusual in the audio field as it's a rather uncommon design that fits the requirements exactly. The only snag is that air freight is out off the question due to the number of boxes, and their weight. 5 large cabinets the heaviest coming in at about 40Kg, the others around half that. Size wise - probably 700x700x1600mm

They are suggesting sea freight, and while time is not critical, I hear all sorts of problems with collecting individual orders from the port - in my case, Felixstowe is closest.

Anything important I should know? VAT and duty are fine and I have the necessary import registration number.

EDIT
HMMM They just came back and said the product is not CE marked or approved. My understanding is that the only possible requirement could be the Low Voltage ones, and that can be covered by self-certification as I'd be using them myself?

MOIC · Dec 18, 2019

If using LCL (Loose Cargo Load) you must ensure that the packaging is adequate, due to all the handling involved. If possible ask for the cartons to be enclosed in a wood frame for protection.

I would advise against arranging your own collection (and Clearance if that’s what you had in mind). Employing a forwarding company will be much easier.

Without knowing the exact product, I would think carefully about importing audio equipment without certification. It might be prudent to have the products tested before ordering. It will add to the cost, but at least it will give you peace of mind. There are nearly always alternative suppliers who will have certified products.

paulears · Dec 18, 2019

TA - The snag really is the cost. It's a line array loudspeaker system, but it fits a quite tight flying footprint and weight limit. These are lower powered but quite compact and there were two companies who used to sell them into the UK by dealer channels, but sales are low in volume so they've ceased supply. The ones I'm looking at are the same unit, but without the branding - and they'll use my brand if I want. There is a flight case option, which I could use and would be sensible protection. They're really just wooden boxes, and aluminium fastenings - but they will be flown, so there is an element of potential risk, being honest. The nearest conventional product I can buy from the usual manufacture chain is nearly 4 times the price. I think I'm looking at around $2500 for the package.

MOIC · Dec 18, 2019

An alternative may be to send in your own container, so there will not be any handling from the point of loading to arrival at your warehouse.

It will increase your shipping cost, but the equipment will arrive undamaged.

Mike Godwin · Dec 19, 2019

You have 2 options to ship by sea which is slower but a lot cheaper than airfreight of course. There is also a rail option but that sits somewhere between the options already mentioned but I wouldn't recommend this in this case.
Option 1. Ship as LCL (Less than container load) cargo
Option 2. Ship as FCL (Full container load) cargo
A UK freight forwarder will be able to give you prices for both from collected in China to delivered your UK address via Felixstowe, including customs clearance. The only extra you will pay will be for duty and VAT as part of the import clearance process.
Hope this helps.

paulears · Dec 19, 2019

Cheers Mike - I figured the shipment value would be too low to make freight forwarders an option? Thanks you and MOIC for the info.

GraemeL · Dec 19, 2019

paulears said:
They are suggesting sea freight, and while time is not critical, I hear all sorts of problems with collecting individual orders from the port - in my case, Felixstowe is closest.

Anything important I should know? VAT and duty are fine and I have the necessary import registration number.

EDIT
HMMM They just came back and said the product is not CE marked or approved. My understanding is that the only possible requirement could be the Low Voltage ones, and that can be covered by self-certification as I'd be using them myself?

Dont try to deal with clearance and collection at the port. Ask a UK based FF to quote you for entire journey to your premises, it definitely within their scope. Incidentally, while the inbound port will probably be Felixstowe, you wont have a choice. The ship will go where it goes! So avoid hassle wand worry by using an FF to deal with the entire journey.

In practical terms I agree with you about CE if you are using yourself, however be very careful as your own business insurance cover might be invalidated if you knowingly use 'untested' electrical products.

Mike Foulds · Dec 19, 2019

Hi.

For these, would definitely be careful if the products aren't CE marked. The whole point of the markings and standards, is to prevent sub-standard products entering the EEC. If they aren't tested and can't be marked, they may not be safe to use.

From the shipping point of view, as has been mentioned, you will definitely need to make sure they are well packed, to prevent any damage.

Sea freight as an LCL should be fine, if protected, depending on where in China they are being shipped from, you should allow roughly 30 days from port to port (Some ports are faster, some are slower). On arrival in the UK, the goods would be moved to a warehouse near the dock to be unpacked. From there you could definitely collect, if organised in advance.

As has been mentioned, it would definitely be worth you employing a forwarder to handle the clearance and arrange the UK charges with the line, meaning you will pay charges to 1 person (Including and Duty/Vat as you mention), rather than to multiple companies, and then have someone who does this every day handle it for you.

For reference, if this cargo was to be shipped via air freight, it would be shipped and charged based on the volumetric weight, which is 655kg.

Hope that all helps and is of use.

The Byre · Dec 19, 2019

Even assuming these are passive speakers, they will still be subjected to voltages above 50V so are not within the low-voltage CE regs.

Chinese line arrays? If these are OEMs of known stuff, they might be sort of OK, but I doubt it somehow. A giant Chinese line array is probably less effective than a couple of active D&B speakers. Their output volumes and effectivity ratings are based usually on the scientific principle of "Think of a number - now double it!" Even with a reasonable SPL at 1m of say 130dBA, they usually distort like F.

I had some of these and they claimed 1W/1m - 106dBA - tested to be 92dBA - much less than HALF the volume! You would need FIFTEEN of them to achieve the same volume or drive one with 15 times the power. Cheap speakers are always a false economy!

Line arrays are for very large outdoor gigs - unless you are doing the UK leg of the Rammstein tour, I would be looking at a dual-purpose and point-source speaker like the D&B V-series.

Remember that line arrays also require matching sub-woofers!

paulears · Dec 19, 2019

Oh I realise the issues, and that's not even getting into the "is it really a line array, or not" question. The product I'm looking for is very similar to the old Citronic CLA300 Active Line Array system. Never popular and a bit strange sounding - but for the job in mind, perfect. I used a pair of flown ones about 8 yrs ago and the trouble was they were vastly underpowered for the venue they were in - but this won't matter for this job. The tilting hardware is very, very similar - so apart from having more output - 650+650W, most of the attributes of the Citronic are there. No mega bass end required either. The key feature being a smallish footprint and easy rigging.

The supplier has offered a good deal on airfreight (DHL) as long as I don't mind a lot of individual parcels as they will break down to <18Kg each, bar one. They've also offered to start with just two units so I can assess the build quality and then if I like them, send on the rest. Not done business with them before, but this is encouraging.

The Byre · Dec 19, 2019

paulears said:
so apart from having more output - 650+650W,

If I were @Clinton, I would be getting rude at this point! You do not know the fundamentals - that is the power consumption and NOT the output! Talk to someone who knows what they are doing. That someone ain't you by a massive margin!

paulears said:
They've also offered to start with just two units so I can assess the build quality.

Measure them for actual output and do an A/B comparison with a proper system. The likes of JBL, D&B and umpteen others are where they are because they have decades of experience. The line-array was invented at JBL. They know stuff. Just copying their designs and putting in inferior speaker-drivers misses the mark by a country mile!

Measure them for frequency response, overall effectivity, distortion and do the old waterfall test to measure response rates. Then and only then can you come to a sensible decision!

Do you even know how to do these tests???

paulears said:
Citronic CLA300 Active Line Array system.

Holy kneecaps Batman! They were line arrays in name only!!! And Citronic was infamous for providing absolute crap at the very lowest prices! It made Behringer in the 90s look like Rolls Royce! (At least Behringer worked for a few days before it went up in flames!)

Subwoofer 300 watts (rms) power handling
Speakers 4 x 75 watts (rms) power handling
Speakers feature:
Dual 4" woofers
Ribbon tweeters
Subwoofer feature:
Dual 8" woofers

Yes, those are the actual sizes! I kid you not! Below hi-fi specs! I hate to think what the actual quality tests would be!

Buy cheap - buy often!

P.S. Line arrays only become an issue after about 3,000 people outdoors. Fly a couple of quality point-source boxes with oodles of power reserve and all talk of line-arrays goes away!

paulears · Dec 19, 2019

I never expected that! I'm quite aware of the fundamentals thanks, and didn't need or appreciate the lecture on a subject I am quite comfortable with. Far too many assumptions and no idea where you got the impression I thought that output power was the power consumption - I do appreciate the difference thanks. Insults and rudeness really were not needed here. I wanted help with freight on heavy items not an incomplete history of line arrays.

JEREMY HAWKE · Dec 20, 2019

Paul I would give Glen at Wavecrest a bell or email he is a member (Full Paying Member) on here . He deals with small freight . I have been to his place a couple of times and there may even be a chance that he could get your goods into his place

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/members/wavecrest-ltd.18347/

JEREMY HAWKE · Dec 20, 2019

I am laughing at this thread a lot it is the same old line that always happens on here

Where can I buy a red felt tip pen near Heathrow airport ?

By the end of the day you will have 100 reply's telling you that your business is unviable and you should shut down

paulears · Dec 20, 2019

Thanks Jeremy!

The Byre · Dec 20, 2019

I have apologised via PM and Paul has stated that in matters audio, he knows what he is doing - in my defense, one must admit that if someone came to you and said "I am going to buy cheap copies of the cheapest and nastiest speakers on the market from a manufacturer with a reputation for shoddy goods!" you would doubt his or her sanity!

In this case, Paul has pointed out that other criteria exist.

Import Expert · Dec 31, 2019

I went slightly blind going through the thread replies, but in short if you decide to go ahead then sea freight is certainly viable. Supplier just needs to make sure the goods are sufficiently packed. Buy on FOB terms, use a UK forwarder and get a rate through to delivered door.

Faizan Shaikh · Jan 4, 2020

China is the manufacturing hub of the world and they export goods to the entire world.Getting it from china you get good quality plus the price factor is affordable.

paulears · Jan 4, 2020

Indeed - a useful source of products, but my point was that it's a very long way, and heavy items are considerably difficult to make pay when the shipping is so expensive. They can also be quite tardy getting products together before they get shipped. Quite often, I suspect, they actually don't have any actual stock and it's only produced when you order.

Cookie Consent

Essential

Analytics

Marketing

Importing larger and heavier items from China

The Byre

The Byre

The Byre