My first time to handle import business, is to help a client for deal it with a shipment which was sent back from overseas due to its quality problem.
At that time, my thinking was contacting the oversea agent to arrange picking up the container, booking and transporting. When the cargo arrived at the port of destination, we would clear custom. That is all!
In the real operation, all were very smooth, including advised the agent to pick up the container, made booking, transported and made the bill of lading. However, when the cargo arrived at the port of destination, and we took the sea way bill to clear customs, we were noted that as the return cargo, we should show the quality report from the shipper, and the verification form of export & the declared receipt etc.. The most troublesome problem is that we need to show the document from the Revenue & SAFE-STATE Administration of Foreign Exchange to prove that the cargo has/hasn't been drawback & cancel after verification.
We applied for 14 days free D & D as the cargo had arrived at the port of destination. When all the documents were ready, we arranged the commercial inspection and declaration. When the customs released the goods, it had been over the free time.
It was a misplay due to lacking of experience. Though finally the client could pick up the cargo and didn抰 have to pay the tax, it was a truth that we made a detour.
After this case, I began to pay attention to import information, including the trading, the transportation item, the requirement of custom & commodity inspection bureau at the port of destination, the documents needed in different importing ways & different cargo, etc..
To handle the imporing business, knowing the industry information is very important, such as the shipper (airways), oversea agent, price, importing operational flow, port, law for custom & commodity inspection, trade items, etc.. The most important one is giving a professional reply to the client's question, giving an appropriate suggestion to the client's nuisance. When you and the client are face-to-face, you should play to the score, or when you are irresolute, the client will lose the confidence for you at the same time.
To handle the imporing business, you also have to apperceive the change of the market all the time, such as the price contrast between forwarders, the price contrast between different agents in the same area, the information of shipper and shipping schedule that the client needed and the supervisory condition of the import cargo, etc.. Some clients?contracts relate to detail delivery date. Under this circumstance, it requires the operators to accurately handle the time needed to transport & clear custom.
Before cooperating, the client usually will ask about the price and the clearance service first.
When the client inquiring, we should confirm the below questions first:
1.The means of transportation. By air or by sea?
2.If by sea, we should know that the cargo is FCL or LCL, port of loading & port of destination, FOB or EX-WORK. If it is EX-WORK, the client should provide the detail pick up address & contact information.
3.If by air, we should know the weight of the cargo and the transport item.
After getting the above information, we can inquire from the oversea agent/shipper and feedback to the client.
If the client ask about the clearance service, we should confirm the below questions first:
1.The detailed name and code of the import cargo, in order to check its supervisory condition. For example, some cargos need the customs clearance document, that is the cargos need to making commercial inspection; some cargos need the 3C authentication, machine & electronic authentication, etc..
2.The packing types of the cargo. If in wood box, it should have the IPPC label.
3.Whether the client has the right to handle import & export business? Could he provide the related import & export documents.
If the client doesn't have the right to handle import & export business and cannot provide the related import & export documents, we can entrust the import & export company to provide the documents. But we should note that, if it requires the approved document or licence, we will not pay for it.
4.If we accept the client's commission, we shouls ask the client to provide the material, size, type, use of the cargo, etc., in order to release from the custom asap.
Because the style of the Chinese customs and the commodity inspection bureau is very religious, when confirm the information with the client should be very very careful, in order to avoid failing in custom release due to lacking of documents or documents?mistakes. At the same time, due to the law of custom and the other uncontrollable factors, usually, the operators cannot promises to the client that it takes how many days to finish the clearance.
The freight and forwarding agent should consider the client and give counsel to them for better. Before the freight and forwarding agent canvass for clients, they should make a survey first to know the demand of the client and the difference they meet. It is better that they could prepare a canonical and valuable propositional project for the client. Sometimes, the client are interested in some constructive ideas.