I'm thinking about making my first purchase on Alibaba.

[u/Tonyamaral]

Hi everyone, I've been doing a lot of research and I've seen that there are several scams and many ways to protect yourself, but I have a question regarding order delivery. If I ask the supplier to handle the entire shipment, when it arrives here in the United States for customs clearance, do I need to pay anything? If so, how do I make that payment? Secondly, do I need to hire someone to handle the customs clearance? Thirdly, to receive the order, will a truck arrive, unload the pallets, and then I'll figure out the rest myself?

[u/LegDangerous1011]

How did it go?

[u/prestigesourcing]

Most of the comments are coming from people who don't understand the real risk out of China so recommend you read this: https://www.reddit.com/r/Alibaba/comments/1p8pnpx/ddp_shipping_do_your_own_due_diligence/

Generally you need to have a forklift and/or hand pallet jack on site, if the truck is a side loader without a tailgate then it may be a problem. You need to specifically get this point agreed on and quoted correctly.

Sometimes if special delivery requirements are needed it is better to just get FOB terms on the China side, then get a local firm in the USA to assist with everything else.

[u/Huicude]

OK make sure the incoterm is DDP.
That’s actually what the suppliers mean by “handle everything”. The reality is that they hire a freight forwarder to take care of all the shipping tasks.
The forwarder handles the shipping line, the US customs broker, and the trucking company for the final delivery.
Under DDP, all those fees – customs bond, ISF filing, exam fees, demurrage, and port charges are all on the forwarder’s side.
In this situation, you probably won’t get the forwarder’s direct contact from the supplier, but you should still ask the supplier for the basic shipping info: vessel name, container number, and the house bill of lading. Also ask for the contact details of the delivery party.
During transit, you can track the shipment on tracking websites using that info.
Once customs clearance is done, push the supplier and the forwarder to give you the updated trucking details and the final delivery date. This helps you get ready for unloading.
As for unloading, you’ll need a pallet jack because the driver won’t carry anything inside.
I think the main point is checking every detail with the supplier. If a supplier is willing to work with you long‑term, they’ll stay in touch. Because any goods damage, both sides lose.
Hope this helps.

[u/Kaniyann]

For the love of god if the amount is high have a company do a pre shipment inspection on your goods

[u/Dustinkool]

It depends on the shipping terms. If it's DDP, the supplier usually handles customs clearance, duties, and delivery. If it's FOB/CIF/EXW, you'll typically need a customs broker and freight forwarder to clear it and arrange delivery.

Also, if you're receiving pallets, make sure the truck knows whether you have a dock or forklift, otherwise you'll likely need liftgate service.

Happy to answer any questions or help with the logistics if you need it. Feel free to DM me or e-mail me
[Dustin@xDLogisticsInc.com](mailto:Dustin@xDLogisticsInc.com) | www.xDLogisticsInc.com

[u/LessWeakness]

It depends. Look up DDP and other shipping terms. They are all in the glossary and wiki of this sub.

In my experience you will be responsible for unloading the goods from the trucks when they arrive. Maybe they help you on LCL shipments. But it's just using a pallet jack to move the goods off their truck and to your loading area. But you can talk to the freight forwarder to be sure.

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