How to choose a freight forwarder for China imports

Know what you are actually buying

A freight quote can mean many things. Before comparing prices, confirm what each quote includes.

• Origin charges: does the price include China pickup, or does it start at the port?
• Export customs: who handles export formalities in China?
• Freight: air or sea, which carrier, which service level?
• US import customs: does the forwarder include brokerage, or do you arrange a broker separately?
• Duties: are duties included (DDP) or billed separately after clearance?
• Last-mile delivery: does the price end at a US port, at a warehouse, or at your door?

Two quotes with the same headline number can differ by $400 or more in total landed cost once you account for what each one excludes. Always ask for a complete scope in writing before approving.

Questions to ask before you commit

A good forwarder will answer these clearly. Vague or defensive answers are the answer.

• Do you include US customs brokerage, or do I need to arrange that separately?
• Is your quote DDP (duties paid) or do I receive a customs bill at delivery?
• What happens if my shipment is held for customs examination?
• Who is my contact if something goes wrong, and how quickly do you respond?
• Do you have experience with my product category and its HS classification?
• Can you handle FBA prep and labeling before delivery to the warehouse?

Red flags that end the conversation

These patterns consistently lead to expensive surprises.

• No written scope of what is included. If a forwarder will not confirm in writing what their quote covers, assume it covers very little.
• No customs brokerage included. If the forwarder handles freight but not clearance, you will receive a separate broker invoice after the goods land, often for more than you expected.
• Duties billed on delivery. A legitimate all-in DDP quote means no surprise at the door. If duties are not included, you are not getting an all-in price.
• No clear escalation contact. Freight problems happen at odd hours. If there is no named person to call, you are on your own when something goes wrong.
• Cannot provide the HS code for your product. A forwarder who cannot or will not discuss classification is likely to let a mistake through that costs you.
• Very low quote with no explanation. A price that is significantly below market usually means something is excluded, not that the forwarder is more efficient.

What a good forwarder actually looks like

The forwarder worth using gives you a single all-in price that covers freight, customs, broker coordination, duties, and delivery to your door or FBA warehouse, before anything moves. They name what they include, they explain what they exclude, and they have someone on call when the shipment hits a snag.

For small importers, working with one party who owns the whole chain removes the finger-pointing that happens when freight, customs, and delivery are managed by three different vendors who each blame the others when something stalls.