Frequently Asked Questions

General

Do you guarantee that the process is risk-free if we use your platform?

No, we do not offer any form of guarantee or insurance in case of losses caused by suppliers, third-party service providers, or other parties involved in the process. Further, we don’t offer legal advice as part of our support.

That said, one aim of the Asia Import Platform is to help importers better manage risks involved in the process. However, importing products comes with certain risks – and the Asia Import Platform and the support alone don’t guarantee a successful outcome.

What kind of risks should we be aware of?

Here are a few risks to take into consideration:

• Quality issues
• Unforeseen costs and expenses
• Payment fraud
• Product safety and compliance issues
• Supplier bankruptcy
• Trade barriers and tariffs
• Natural disasters, war, and pandemics affecting the supply chains

Can you help even if we’ve already found suppliers and started the process on our own?

Yes, you don’t necessarily need to start from zero. Almost half of our customers have already identified suppliers on their own, and sometimes even ordered a sample, by the time they sign up with us.

Which product category should I get?

You should select the product category matching the type of product you intend to import. For example, if you intend to import power banks, you should select the Electronics version. If you intend to import t-shirts, you should select the Apparel & Textiles version.

How do I get lifetime access to all 10 product categories?

By purchasing the Business version of the Asia Import Platform, you will get lifetime access to all 10 product categories:

• All Categories
• Watches
• Apparel & Textiles
• Jewelry & Accessories
• Electronics
• Sports & Fitness
• Beauty Accessories
• Kitchen Utensils
• Home & Furniture
• Children’s Products

What is the All Categories version for?

The All Categories version can be broadly applied to any product category. It is the right choice for you if none of the other product categories are suitable.

What does it mean that I’ll get lifetime access?

It means that you’ll get permanent access to the platform, including all future updates, even after the process is completed. In case we will suspend the service on the website, we will provide a downloadable version of the Asia Import Platform.

Do you have a Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) requirement?

No, we don’t set any MOQ. However, each supplier sets its own MOQ requirement, which is beyond our control.

Do you offer any warranties or money-back guarantees?

No, we don’t offer any insurance or warranty due to losses caused by delays or defective products.

Do you get kickbacks or other payments from manufacturers?

No, we don’t get any kickback from manufacturers. We only charge upfront for our Asia Import Platform.

Do you charge order commission?

No, we don’t charge any order commission.

Do you guarantee that my product designs and/or brand name will not be used by suppliers or service providers?

We cannot guarantee that a supplier or other company/individual involved in your supply chain will not use your product designs or brand name. As such, it’s critical that you obtain the necessary patents and/or trademarks in all relevant markets when possible. We don’t offer any insurance or compensation due to IP theft by suppliers or other service providers involved in the supply chain.

Do you sign NDAs with your customers?

We generally don’t sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) with customers for the following reasons:

1. We don’t require that you submit or upload sensitive product and/or brand information to be shared with us. You should only share information on the platform that you agree may be shared with partners (e.g. quality control companies) or suppliers.

2. A legal review of an NDA generally costs more than we earn per customer. As such, signing an NDA would incur a loss.

That said, we will not (knowingly) share your product information with outside parties that are not involved in your project.

How do you protect design files and product data shared on your platform?

Our platform is protected by SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption. However, we don’t offer any insurance or compensation due to delays or losses caused by IP theft. In addition, we don’t offer any insurance or compensation due to IP theft by suppliers or other service providers involved in the supply chain. We strongly recommend that you register a trademark, and file patents when applicable.

Should I be aware of any extra costs?

Yes, the following may apply:

• Quality control (if required)
• Lab testing (if required)
• Shipping costs (depending on the weight and volume)
• Import duties and other taxes

Note that none of the costs listed above are included in our prices.

Will I be able to launch a product after applying the process?

The concept of the Asia Import Platform is to provide a platform that guides you through the import process step by step, to the point where you have a product that can be legally sold in your market. While there are no guarantees for this outcome, this is the intended result.

Here you can read the opinion of our past clients.

Do you guarantee that I will succeed if we follow the process?

No, each product and situation is different. We provide a framework that simplifies a relatively complex procedure, but we don’t offer any insurance or guarantee for success. This also applies to product regulations, customs processes, and tax rules that can change at any given time. We cannot guarantee that the information is kept up to date in real-time. As such, we advise our customers to consult local authorities, and lawyers, in addition to applying the process covered in the Asia Import Platform.

Do I need any previous experience or skills before using the Asia Import Platform?

No. As a beginner, you can rely on the tutorials and task lists to get through the process.

How long does it normally take to launch a product?

While it depends on the product, it normally takes somewhere between 4 to 8 months. We are not here to offer shortcuts but to help you manage the process correctly from the beginning.

What software or equipment do I need to use the Asia Import Platform?

All you need is access to a computer, phone, or tablet. Everything is managed online, from your account on Chinaimportal.com.

How long will I have access to the Asia Import Platform?

You will have lifetime access to the Asia Import Platform.

Do you have testimonials from other customers?

Click here for testimonials.

What kind of customers are you working with?

Most of our customers are small to medium-sized businesses, based in Europe, the United States, and the Asia Pacific region.

Online Support

What is a support ticket?

We are not actively managing the process on behalf of our customers. Instead, you must submit a support ticket when you have questions or need help during the importing process. Support is limited based on the number of tickets included in the Asia Import Platform.

What kind of questions can we ask?

We can answer your questions related to import products from Asia, including those about:

• Private labeling and branding
• Product development
• Supplier sourcing
• Product regulations, document and labeling requirements
• Payments and fraud prevention
• Quality control and lab testing
• Shipping, customs, and taxes

Can you manage all communications with the suppliers for me?

We don’t actively manage the project for our customers, including supplier communication. It’s up to the user to follow the project plan and ask questions or request assistance when the need arises.

Do you help me get prices and other information from suppliers or other parties involved?

We don’t contact suppliers or other third-parties during any stage of the process, as part of the Asia Import Platform. Here are some examples:

• Calling or emailing suppliers
• Requesting quotations
• Price negotiation
• Ask questions
• Resolve disputes
• Contact government agencies
• Customs/HS code classifications

Asia Import Platform users must self-manage the process using the tutorials, and other tools provided. You can contact us to ask questions, or request help using the Asia Import Platform platform (e.g. document templates and service booking) – but we are not actively managing the project for our users. Keep in mind that the platform itself gives you the tools you need to self-manage the process.

Note: We do offer optional Add-on Services* in case you need additional assistance from us:

• Price Research (Link)
• Supplier Screening (Link)

*Sold separately and not included in the Asia Import Platform

How long does it take to get a reply?

We normally reply within 24 hours, excluding holidays and weekends (Saturday and Sunday).

Can I buy more tickets if I run out?

Yes, you can buy more tickets here.

Import Manual

What is included in the Import Manual?

The Import Manual is a set of tutorials, videos and task lists covering the entire importing process:

• 1. Prepare Product Specification
• 2. Supplier Sourcing
• 3. Product Sample Order
• 4. Placing Your Order
• 5. Shipping, Customs & Taxes (US, EU & Australia)

Can I track my progress as I go through this process?

Yes, you can mark tutorials as completed.

Where can I find a complete list of tutorials and videos?

Click here to download a PDF overview.

Supplier Lists

Based on what criteria do you source suppliers?

Supplier selection is based on publicly available company information. This includes registered capital, certification, test reports, and product scope. We also apply different criteria depending on the product category and industry.

Note that we can only reflect actual market conditions. We cannot bend reality and source manufacturers that don’t exist or identify suppliers offering below market prices or MOQ requirements.

How does your sourcing process work?

Step 1: Determine supplier type

Once we receive your sourcing request we determine which type of supplier we should target. We also set our selection criteria:

• Product Scope
• ISO 9001: Yes / No / Preferred
• BSCI or Sedex: Yes / No / Preferred
• Test Reports: Yes / No / Preferred
• Registered Capital: Min XXX,XXX
• Location: City, Province, Country

Step 2: Supplier shortlist

We review suppliers on B2B supplier directories to identify 6 to 8 suppliers matching our criteria.

We cannot select suppliers based on the following criteria:

• Product design
• Price
• MOQ

Step 3: Supplier List (PDF) Delivered

We normally deliver the Supplier List (PDF) via email within 3 to 5 days.

What kind of information is provided in the Sourcing Report?

• Company name
• Product scope
• Registered capital
• Quality Management System (ISO 9001)
• Social Compliance (BSCI or Sedex)
• Website / Contact Page

Do you guarantee that the suppliers in the report are reliable?

Suppliers cannot be classified as consistently ‘reliable’ or ‘unreliable’. While we filter suppliers based on the selection criteria to find the most qualified companies, the outcome depends entirely on how the process as a whole is managed. There are also other supplier-related risks to be taken into consideration that can never be eliminated by our selection criteria. Here are a few examples:

• Failure to produce a satisfying product sample
• Quality issues during production
• Failure to adhere to initial quotations
• Frauds perpetrated by individual employees (e.g. payment scams)
• Supplier bankruptcy
• IP theft

Our selection is based on an assessment – which cannot reasonably predict every single outcome. Do not assume that the suppliers listed in this report are by default and in every situation ‘reliable’ or ‘quality’ suppliers.

Do you have a sample report available?

Yes, click here to download a sample report.

How many suppliers are listed in the report?

Normally 6 to 8 suppliers.

How long does it take to process the supplier list?

3 to 5 days (not including weekends and public holidays in Hong Kong)

Do you contact the supplier and/or manage our order?

No, we don’t contact any of the suppliers. You must contact the suppliers directly and follow the process outlined in the tutorials.

Supplier Rating Tool

Why do I need the Supplier Rating Tool?

The Supplier Rating Tool can help you to categorize suppliers into the following categories:

• Excellent
• Qualified
• Average
• Not Qualified

The system is tweaked according to the industry. Hence, a supplier that may be classified as Excellent in one industry (or product category) may be only Average in another.

The Supplier Rating Tool shall be used together with the sourcing process explained in the 4 Part Import Manual.

How do I use the system?

The system is based on data entered by the user, which includes, for example, the registered capital and the year of registration. This information can be found for free on various company websites.

In addition, the user is requested to answer a few questions about the supplier and the information they present.

Based on the answers and information provided by the user, the system then makes a points assessment.

A Supplier Assessment Report is then automatically generated and delivered by email to the customer (the report will be delivered to the email address provided during the purchase of the Asia Import Platform).

Document Templates

What kind of Document Templates are included?

• 1A: Product Specification Document
• 2A: Supplier RFQ
• 3A: Product Sample Terms
• 3B: Product Sample Revision
• 4A: Production Manual
• 4B: Quality Control Checklist
• 4C: Purchase Order

Booking System

What kind of services can I book?

The booking system gives you permanent access to our network of service providers, offering the following:

• Sea and air freight
• Lab testing
• Quality inspections
• Factory audits
• Social compliance audits

You can get a free quotation and order these services within our platform.

Which companies provide these services?

We are currently offering services provided by the following companies:

• Sofeast Ltd
• QIMA (formerly AsiaInspection)

How do I know which Extra Services to order?

You are not required to order any of the services listed on the Dashboard. That said, you will likely need shipping, quality control, and make payments to your suppliers.

The purpose of the Extra Service Dashboard is to give you access to a set of verified and reliable service providers, many of which are leaders in their respective industries.

How do I pay for the extra services provided by Chinaimportal?

The services sold on this Dashboard use the same checkout system that you used to pay for the Asia Import Platform. Hence, as an existing customer, you are already familiar with the process. You can either pay via PayPal or Credit Card (Stripe Checkout).

How do I pay for the extra services provided by Chinaimportal’s partners?

You shall pay via the partner’s payment gateway, not to us. Most partners offer PayPal, Credit Card, and Wire Transfer as payment methods.

Which terms of services apply for services sold by third parties?

The terms of service and privacy policy of each respective service provider always apply. Notice that we do not offer any type of compensation or insurance, due to losses, delays, or other issues caused by a third-party service provider. Notice that this is also the case for the services we provide by ourselves.

Payment Methods

Can I pay with my Visa or MasterCard?

Yes, we offer credit card payments through PayPal or Stripe. Customers based in certain countries may be required to create a PayPal account in order to make a Credit Card transaction. This is free and only takes a moment. You just need to add your email address and agree with the Paypal Terms of Service. With Stripe, you don’t need to create an account.

Can I pay with PayPal?

Yes, you can pay with your balance, bank account, or credit card through PayPal.

Do you have a refund policy?

The client has the right to cancel the purchase up to, but no later than, 14 days from the order date. However, this only applies if the client has not yet used the platform and/or consulting services.

Examples:

• Submit support ticket
• Submit supplier sourcing ticket
• Request service quotation
• Download or copy document templates
• Starting a new project

Do you offer a safe payment method?

Yes, all payments are processed by PayPal or Stripe, which uses an SSL certificate to encrypt your data.

Will I receive an invoice for my company?

Yes, it’s delivered together with the payment confirmation email.

Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Where can I find your Terms of Service?

Follow this link to read our Terms of Service.

Where can I find your Privacy Policy?

Follow this link to read our Privacy Policy.

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