Chinses Phones and Customs

welshman

Senior Member
Joined
May 9, 2009
Messages
1,103
Reaction score
540
Ok, this is the first time I'm actually doing this, I ordered a phone from china and have sold it on ebay. It's just arrived at customs according to EMS. (UK customs) Apparently package marked as gift...

How do they treat these parcels from China?

It's a 1:1 copy phone.
 
I only have experience with US customs, which I think is a bit stricter? Anyway, as long as you aren't getting huge packages, you should be fine. The Chinese distributors i've worked with know how to label the packages, etc., to minimize risk of being held. Customs will release it in a couple of days for shipment.

Ok, this is the first time I'm actually doing this, I ordered a phone from china and have sold it on ebay. It's just arrived at customs according to EMS. (UK customs) Apparently package marked as gift...

How do they treat these parcels from China?

It's a 1:1 copy phone.
 
I'm only ever planning on sending up to 4 phones at a time, have you sent more?
 
I always kept it under 10. If you're unsure and your supplier is good, ask him how many to have sent to keep it under the radar. The suppliers want to keep your business, so it's in their best interest to know how to play the game.

I'm only ever planning on sending up to 4 phones at a time, have you sent more?
 
Yeah, I used a supplier, sent it via EMS, he has suggested using another service that has more clearance capacity here in the UK.

Phone has been almost 48 hours in customs, unless EMS doesn't track beyond customs. Don't know, never used them before.
 
Number of days stuck in customs isn't an indication of any problems in my experience. Probably just backlog. In the US, EMS ended at the point of customs, and the packages were sent via US postal service.

Yeah, I used a supplier, sent it via EMS, he has suggested using another service that has more clearance capacity here in the UK.

Phone has been almost 48 hours in customs, unless EMS doesn't track beyond customs. Don't know, never used them before.
 
Thanks, that's what I thought might happen. I'm just being a nervous sod. lol
 
I dont know how UK works, but dont you need an 'import license' for these things?

They might find it suspicious to see 4 phones as a gift? (I am not too familiar with importing stuff, so its more like a question, dont mean to make you nervous at all)
 
I dunno, I think if it's below a certain value you don't need import licence.
 
Well, it looks like it's left customs :)

25-05-2010 19:14 National Hub Scanned at Hub 23-05-2010 20:00 International Hub AWAITING CUSTOMS CHARGING 23-05-2010 20:00 International Hub Arrived in destination country 21-05-2010 17:43 MISMATCH TIANJIN EMS Left origin country
 
Only if they know there are 4 phones in a package ;). Also, once you get a good supplier, you can get them dropshipped.

I dont know how UK works, but dont you need an 'import license' for these things?

They might find it suspicious to see 4 phones as a gift? (I am not too familiar with importing stuff, so its more like a question, dont mean to make you nervous at all)
 
Since you're not ordering huge bulk packages, customs shouldn't give you alot of problem. Alot of my suppliers will declare them as gift and toys...especially electronic stuff
 
Ok, this is the first time I'm actually doing this, I ordered a phone from china and have sold it on ebay. It's just arrived at customs according to EMS. (UK customs) Apparently package marked as gift...

How do they treat these parcels from China?

It's a 1:1 copy phone.

When you mention is 1:1 copy phone, does it work well?
I have bought electronics from China before, but there is quite a big difference in terms of quality. However, the 'appearance' of it no doubt looks quite the same. It was re-branded into something else (ex. Nokia to NoKiq)
 
looks exactly the same except doesn't have the brand name on.
 
looks exactly the same except doesn't have the brand name on.

If its possible for you to show us some images of those 'non-branded' phone,
that will be nice :)

I am just curious how it actually looks like, even though you've already mentioned its 'exactly' the same. If not, thats fine. I understand well.

P.S: Even the quality is the exact same? The reason I asked is because I bought one many years ago, and the quality was so disappointing that I buried it after one-time use.
 
I am also curious as to the quality of the product. I saw recently that they already have Ipeds for sale. Some of the stuff they make is rubber dog shit while I have seen some other chinese knock offs that might fool the oem.
 
ems usually isnt a problem. quality of the product is what ive always had problems with...
 
EMS is great, other than the price (even with my 50% off discount) but I still prefer H.K. Little Goods Mail, which only takes a couple days longer than EMS for Smaller Packages, and China Post for slightly bulkier packages.

Also, anything going out of China isn't the problem, they obviously don't care. It's things coming into the U.S. and especially the U.K. - The U.S. is more strict and will open more packages for inspection especially coming from China, however things are not usually held up in customs for very long in comparison to the U.K. which has held my packages for months.
 
Back
Top