• May 9, 2021
• Guarddent
• 0

Guide to import dental supplies from China-Guarddent

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Nowadays a lot of businessmen and companies want to import dental products from China because of the various advantages of “Made in China” that could satisfy their requirements on quality assurance, fast delivery service, affordable price, and good after-sales.

But some dental importers who never imported dental supplies from China or they had a bad experience importing dental supplies from China before. It causes them a lot of time and energy even huge extra “tuition” to learn how to import smoothly and make everything in control.

There are a lot of facts that need consider before making a decision. We’ve been in the dental and medical industries for more than 15 years, here we’d like to share our full experience and help you to purchase dental products/supplies from China companies.

There are 11 tips to guide you step by step to know how to import dental supplies from China.

It is important to ensure that you can import the products to your country which comply with the requirement.

For example US market, All medical devices imported into the United States (U.S.) must meet the regulatory requirements of both the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and FDA. Products that do not meet FDA regulatory requirements may be detained upon entry… An importer or customs broker is required to submit required entry information to CBP through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system.

For example Canadian market, Anyone who imports a medical device into Canada must also meet all applicable requirements of the FDA and associated Regulations. … Class II, III, or IV device: The device must be licensed by having a Medical Device Licence (MDL) and the importer must have a valid MDEL with the activity of import unless exempted.

1.2 Understand the products and packages requirements from your clients

It is also important to ensure the products requirement from your clients, the shape\color\material\packing way\size\weight of material\function\apperance\odor\using experience, and so on. In case of any misunderstanding that your clients dislike before production.

Package requirement is important too, except basic products information, some need mention UDI code\Barcode\UPC code, quality level standard and so on.

This information is helpful for you to discuss the requirement with vendors when placing the orders.

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• 2. Sourcing bellow information before choosing a dental supplies company

It is necessary to make sure that you are placing the orders with a legal, reliable company. The customers will be properly covered and protected by legalities. This helps to certify that the company complies with industry regulations, the proper guideline for the products.

We listed some tips for you to check a qualified supplier.

2.1 Checking the company’s license

The company’s license is marketing access to do business in China, as Chinese Market Supervision and Administration is always field visit and supervise the company’s procedure to ensure that the company is in legal and good standing.

On their license, the registered capital will be mentioned, it shows the competence of a company, it is better to be Millions RMB.

2.2 Checking the company’s registered certificate

The registered certificates are an essential factor for you to check. It is not only utilized to helps importers to make customs clearance when importing but also helps to control the quality standard while production.

For example, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registration is a premarket submission requirement for Class I low-risk medical device dental and medical products sell to the US. A 510(k ) is the technical dossier required by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to sell Class II medium-risk medical devices or IVD in the US.

Learn how to classify your medical device:

Whatmore, regarding the medical device, there are Class I, Class II, and Class III medical device classification & registration requirement in China, especially during the year 2020, The China government updated new exporting regulation condition for PPE items, the exporters should comply with the newest requirement with complete registered certificates.

2.3 Reading the company’s products range

The product range reflects the company’s main products and experience, if they are out of the field, you can not get a professional service.

• 3. Inquiry and products quality comparing

3.1 Inquiry about the price and products you need

Sending an inquiry to discuss for details, it is including products name, size, color, type, package way, quantity, quality, and shipping, etc. After knowing each other, you could figure out if they can meet your product’s requirement.

3.2 Comparing the samples, pictures they supply

Then, you could request samples to compare the quality by yourself to check the function, size, types fit or not. To see the colors and appearance that you like or not. If necessary, the samples can be shared with your clients too.

3.3 Packing ways and private labels they do

Regarding the package and packing way, you can send the package requirements to the company to produce accordingly, or advise the company to send you pictures to check their common package and packing way.

Normally, the private labels are available for all manufacturers, but there is a Minimum Order Quantity requirement, such as the inner box printing MOQ is around 2000 pcs for 4-5 colors, inner plastic bag printing MOQ is around 20000-80000 pcs according to a different size, bag material and the colors qty that you need.

How can you buy smaller quantities with your private label?

There is a way to meet it, the inner package and outside master carton can be stuck with private label stickers. It is available for smaller quantity orders.

Confirming the private label artworks content before production once you placed the order to make sure there will be no mistake.

• 4. What service do they do?

4.1 EXW, FOB, CNF, CIF, DOOR TO DOOR

Some importing companies don’t have a professional broker and logistics agency to help them with shipping, customs formality, and transportation from port to door or warehouse. Make sure that the company could help you with those works at a good price as well as fast shipping way. Nowadays, especially from 2020 to 2021, the shipping schedule is not on time, and shortage of containers because of COVID-19, to book a container and shipping in advance is very important for you to get the goods ASAP and help for the capital turnover as well as sales.

Several common trade terms need to know:

EXW: Ex-works (EXW) is a shipping arrangement in which a seller makes a product available at a specific location, but the buyer has to pay the transport costs. EXW Factory is a common trade term.

FOB: Free on Board (FOB) is a shipment term used to indicate whether the seller or the buyer is liable for goods that are damaged or destroyed during shipping. “FOB shipping point” or “FOB origin” means the buyer is at risk and takes ownership of goods once the seller ships the product. FOB SHANGHAI CHINA, FOB TIANJIN CHINA, FOB WUHAN CHINA, FOB SHENZHEN CHINA are mostly common trade terms.

CNF: Cost Net Freight (CNF) is a shipping agreement where the seller pays for delivering the item to the port closest to the buyer, but it doesn’t include the cost of insurance.

CIF: Cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) is an expense paid by a seller to cover the costs, insurance, and freight of a buyer’s order while it is in transit until the goods are fully loaded onto a transport ship, the seller bears the costs of any loss or damage to the product.

CNF/CIF LONG BEACH USA, CNF/CIF LOS ANGELES the USA, CNF/CIF NEW YORK USA, CNF/CIF BALTIMORE USA, etc is very common trade terms for seller and buyer.

Door-to-door shipping is a service where the freight forwarder guarantees that the goods will be picked up from and delivered to the locations decided by the end customer. It is different from door-to-port or port-to-port because it begins and ends at specific addresses within cities covered by the freight forwarder.

For the beginner who doesn’t know how to import and how to find a broker, then you could require the seller to service at this trade terms. It can be shipped from the China factory to your warehouse directly.

4.2 Can they do a one-stop solution for all items?

There are more than thousands of types of dental supplies made in China, and more than thousands of companies make dental products. It is not easy to compare, visit and select the most suitable one in a shorter time.

Then, the company which could do a one-stop solution for all items you need is very helpful to save your time, energy. And it can be arranged to ship together to save shipping cost and shipping time.

• 5. How to place an order?

If you are interested in our company, we’d like to share steps to work with us.

5.1. INQUIRY: Please kindly send an inquiry to Guarddent.com.

5.2. QUOTATION: Quote and free samples will be provided ASAP.

5.3. NEGOTIATION: Ordering details discussion and solution will be provided accordingly.

5.4. ORDERING: Confirmation and Make contract or invoice each other.

5.5. PRODUCTION: Start production when getting the deposit.

5.6. DELIVERY: Shipment arrangement on time.

5.7. CUSTOMS: Customs documents will be provided on time.

5.8. EXTRA REQUIREMENT: DOOR TO DOOR shipment is available if need. DOOR TO DOOR shipment is available if need.

5.9. EXTRA REQUIREMENT: Shipping Insurance can be arranged to protect the goods in case of any damage during the transportation. Shipping Insurance can be arranged to protect the goods in case of any damage during the transportation.

5.10. AFTER-SALES: Please give us your feedback when receiving the goods.

• 6. Production time they do

Checking with them the production time they need. It could help you to prepare marketing and sales works on your end.

For example, our ready-to-ship items are 7-10 days for common inventory items. 20-35 days for private label items according to different quantities.

• 7. Learn about shipping and logistic

Next, choose a proper shipping way for your dental supplies. Dental supplies are usually consumable items with lower value but larger quantity, it is usually shipped by the sea with the cheaper shipping method.

As you know that dental supplies are small in size, heavy with large quantity, it needs to be packed by a strong master carton and be packed in order in each carton, to avoid any damage during transit.

If loading the whole items in the container by the company, you can expect them to fill as full as possible to save your sea cost. And put each one tight to avoid falling in the container to damage the goods.

• 8. How much for shipping cost and importing cost?

Shipping cost and importing cost is another part of your calculation to know the whole cost. What are the factors you need to know?

The overall cost of delivery from the factory to your destination seaport.

Charges to make customs clearance on your port in your country.

Transportation charges from our seaport to your warehouse.

There is a sample computation below (based on Los Angeles, California seaport custom clearance) for you to base your computation with:

ISF Filing – $50

ISF Bond – $65

Custom Entry – $100

FDA filing for consignee – $100 per shipment

Custom Bond – $50 minimum

Courier Fee – $30

Import Service Fee – $75

Warehouse Fee – $250 minimum

No loading dock – $150

Customs Tariffs – will vary depending on the country of destination.

For the US market, You can check by Harmonized Tariff Schedule Search – USITC for details.

• 9. When can I get the goods after placing the order?

The timing schedule for a purchasing project is important too. You can see the schedule is by several parts as below:

9.1. From sourcing, inquiry, and discussion takes about 1-2 months.

9.2. From samples confirmation and negotiation takes about 15 days.

9.3. From ordering confirmation to finish the production takes about 30-40 days. (for private labels)

9.4. From booking shipment and transit to your seaport takes about 20-60days or more, It depends on different distance and shipping line of each country.

9.5. From your seaport to your warehouse takes about 7-20 days.

It takes more time during 2021 because of COVID-19 affected.

• 10. Select the best and available payment way

Dealing with the international trading business, it comes to a big amount of money. You have to be thorough with the modes of payments that the supplier offers. There are several payment options with advantages and disadvantages to identify.

International Wire Transfer

The most common and traditional payment method. This is an ideal option for those paying for a small to moderate amount of fee. Usually, a 30% deposit payment will be sent to begin production. The balance will be sent after it is finished and ready for shipping.

There are several risks here to both buyer and supplier. For the buyer, unforeseen incidents during production and delivery can cause them to lose money. For the manufacturer, there is always the risk that the buyer might change their mind on product requirements during production.

Escrow Payment

This mode of payment is among the least secure as there is barely any paperwork to be done. Personally, Escrow payments are ideal for small transactions primarily because of the risk involved in using this online payment.

PayPal

Another good online payment option for smaller transactions. PayPal acts as your online credit card without actually giving away your credit card number to the seller. Know that PayPal does include additional fees if you send cash to a bank account.

This mode of payment is one of the most common ones you will find when doing online transactions. It’s relatively safe, but for larger payments, I suggest you look for something more secure that uses paperwork for added safety.

Western Union

Western Union is another easy online payment method that you can choose. Again, similar to PayPal I recommend using this payment method for small purchases only. You will find that a lot of international sellers prefer this payment method due to its convenience.

However, that convenience sacrifices security for the buyer. The reason is that payment is directly given to an individual instead of a company. This increases the risk of being scammed tenfold. For expensive and large payments, I would advise you to avoid using this payment method as there is no real way to safeguard your payment if you get scammed.

Letter of Credit

If you are looking for security, a letter of credit is one of the best ways to go. This mode of payment is often used when making purchases for items that cost $30,000 and above. Keep in mind though that Letter of Credit payments will require a bit more paperwork. Banks also charge extra when applying for a letter of credit. All these extra steps will give you the ease of mind though.

However, the bank needs to invest and guaranty before issuing it for you.

• 11. Finding a reliable broker for importing works

A broker is a person or firm who arranges transactions between a buyer and a seller for a commission when the deal is executed. A broker who also acts as a seller or as a buyer becomes a principal party to the deal.

Without a reliable broker, it may cause you to get an issue when you dealing with importing works. It is important to have them assist you with the tariffs, customs clearance, transit arrangement to door, and so on.

Summary

How to import dental supplies from China might seem a lot of complicated processes, but it shouldn’t. Follow the tips that we guide, and do your research, make a good preparation for those works, you can benefit a lot from importing from China.

Anyway, we wish that you could find a reliable supplier in China to help you with all of these works that you might not familiar with. Please feel free to contact us if you need any help.