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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Posts
    66

    Importing a machine

    Hi.
    I am considering importing a machine from US or China.

    What's the process like?

    Place the order and wait for the truck or are there ****loads of bureaucratic obstacles to overcome?

    All advice appreciated.

    Thanks,
    Rob.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Posts
    37

    Re: Importing a machine

    Enlisting a customs broker would be a good bet.

    doing a search for posts of those who have done it before is my suggestion for starters.

    dare I say try searching on "Metalwork Forums", because I have read a few quite detailed posts there on the subject.
    Just some random canvas guy

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    84

    Re: Importing a machine

    You'll need a freight forwarder to arrange shipping. Most, if not all, Chinese CNC suppliers quote their price as FOB which means shipping to the nearest Chinese port only.
    A freight forwarder will arrange the necessary ship selection, container packing (or part container), unloading at your specified destination as well as any customer/quarantine inspections.

    There was a user here rocket67 who imported several Chinese CNC routers and documented the process. The thread is quite old though and rocket67 hasn't been online for a couple of years.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Posts
    684

    Re: Importing a machine

    When you find your machine, contact Michael at Freight-World and tell him Rod from Brisbane sent you. See Freight Company Melbourne Forwarders Melbourne International VIC. It does not matter if China or US. We get them to bring stuff in from the US mainly. He says he has weekly sailings from the US and a 28 day voyage but most of our stuff is air freight. You need a forwarder in the loop in case the documentation is prepared incorrectly. You can end up with stuff quarantined accruing daily charges which can mount up to thousands very quickly.

    The customs stuff is pretty simple really. Generally with US and China stuff free trade agreements apply so there is usually no duties (but if your US supplier imports goods from China and onsells them to you, duties will apply. Customs charge about $86 plus GST and applicable duties.
    Rod Webster
    www.vehiclemods.net.au

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Posts
    432

    Re: Importing a machine

    Rodw good Info there ,I think a lot get wrapped up in the buying a product part but forget the other details ,duties in every thousand when I bought an Item for just over a grand .Customs have a pretty good website reasonable easy to navigate and understand ,research is the key.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    178

    Re: Importing a machine

    What sort of machine and what value? In my opinion based on my experience if your looking at something over $16K your crazy to be thinking about this. Better to have the importer bring it in, commission it and make sure its working to spec rather than you saving a dollar in the short term and then paying someone (like me) to fix it all up.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Posts
    66

    Re: Importing a machine

    benchtop 6090 $3-5k

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    178

    Re: Importing a machine

    Quote Originally Posted by RobSm View Post
    benchtop 6090 $3-5k
    Oh... Lol. Sorry I'm way of tangent... I forgot lots of hobby people here.

    You can just buy that on ebay or aliexpress and pay duty. Make shipping the sellers problem and I'm sure most will help with duty and even devalue it for customs. If you want to save even more money build it yourself or get it shipped in parts.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Posts
    66

    Re: Importing a machine

    I looked at the kits recommended elsewhere on this site, and the idea of constructing was appealing but the basic frame itself was more than the machine I'm almost sure to buy at this point.

    I have seen two machines of this model and had a bit of a play and it is a 250kg cast iron framed animal. )

    I will probably get Quanterm to look after the freight and clearance etc but I haven't got the estimate yet.

    well...."many a slip twixt cup and lip"...but if it is just like the two I've seen it will be worth the exercise.

    Thanks for your interest everyone,
    Regards,
    Rob.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Posts
    1422

    Re: Importing a machine

    In that 6090 kinda space my chinese router was sent DHL or something like that, they charged an extra hundred bucks or so to deal with the customs clearance on top of the $250 shipping and then GST on top. I think it ended up about an extra $600 or so to get the unit here from china.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Posts
    432

    Re: Importing a machine

    Yep you got it fast farmer 99% of us are in the hobby majority build or buy on a budget that's us.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Posts
    66

    Re: Importing a machine

    Quote Originally Posted by InMesh View Post
    Yep you got it fast farmer 99% of us are in the hobby majority build or buy on a budget that's us.
    yeah - we're nice guys but cheap! )

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Posts
    432

    Re: Importing a machine

    Rob I was lucky in a sense I have all the gear in house so I made the lot except for a little surface grinding for the Lyn rails ,If you go for a fame build buy some nice electrics .I have piece of mind on that side have heard some horror stories .5 k for my 2x 1 meter.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    2134

    Re: Importing a machine

    I would have thought the benchtop 6090 would be sent by heavy parcel courier?

    I imported a full size 6090, and boy was that stressful first time around, loads of paperwork, and I still got screwed at the end with the freight handler and delivery, but even so it worked out an order of magnitude cheaper than anything else, so it worked out in the end.

    As others have pointed out, you need all the declarations and paperwork to avoid port storage fees and possible impound. One paper that fell foul for me was the material quarantine (or something like that) form that is required because it came from overseas in a wooden crate that had to certify it had been bug sprayed, and it was a mad scramble to get that one sent last minute to avoid impound and storage costs.

    cheers, Ian
    It's rumoured that everytime someone buys a TB6560 based board, an engineer cries!

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Posts
    37

    Re: Importing a machine

    Did the same as many before purchasing my unit, looked at the offerings from abroad. The pricing compared to something from oz was vastly different, as I'm sure you all are aware.

    Then it dawned on me that if I had probs with it, what do I do then? Its a fairly specialised unit, so finding folk in oz that know their stuff to help me would prove difficult. Then of course I'm not in a metro area, so who is going to pop out here.... and so on.
    The main difference of course is its used as a commercial machine. I can ring the help dept from Sydney and in most cases get someone straight up that can talk me through the problem. If I want it an annual service call.
    Just some random canvas guy

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    2134

    Re: Importing a machine

    Quote Originally Posted by jatt View Post
    Did the same as many before purchasing my unit, looked at the offerings from abroad. The pricing compared to something from oz was vastly different, as I'm sure you all are aware.

    Then it dawned on me that if I had probs with it, what do I do then? Its a fairly specialised unit, so finding folk in oz that know their stuff to help me would prove difficult. Then of course I'm not in a metro area, so who is going to pop out here.... and so on.
    The main difference of course is its used as a commercial machine. I can ring the help dept from Sydney and in most cases get someone straight up that can talk me through the problem. If I want it an annual service call.
    I think that's fine for a business that can claim it and afford the extra cost to reduce the risk, but for most backyard hobbyists the extra cost would be a deal breaker and unjustifiable. At the same time the backyarders can afford downtime due to a failure that a business can't, and they can repair at their own pace and cost. Although for any of the 6090's and smaller machines, it usually really comes down to troubleshooting a simple mechanical issue, or just swapping out electronics. So a bit of time and/or cost and effort.

    Of course what doesn't help is that not all machines or suppliers are equal, even though the machines are all pretty much identical, I think I really got lucky with my machine, it's easily been the best purchase I've ever made.

    cheers, Ian
    It's rumoured that everytime someone buys a TB6560 based board, an engineer cries!

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Posts
    66

    Re: Importing a machine

    hi..an update...

    I have ordered a chinese machine using a customs/shipping agent recommended in a pm.

    It should be ready early April.

    I'll post pictures of it coming over the fence - or through it - and a run down of the expenses and processes in getting it up and running - well assuming all goes at least reasonably well.

    Regards,
    Rob.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Posts
    432

    Re: Importing a machine

    I wish you luck ,It will be a good journey either way.

  19. #19

    Re: Importing a machine

    Quote Originally Posted by RobSm View Post
    Hi.
    I am considering importing a machine from US or China.

    What's the process like?

    Place the order and wait for the truck or are there ****loads of bureaucratic obstacles to overcome?

    All advice appreciated.

    Thanks,
    Rob.
    If it is the first time to import cnc router, it is necessary to get more quotations to compare. Selecting specialized one but not the lowest price one.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    265

    Re: Importing a machine

    Hi RobSm, how did it all go? I was nearly going to do this 6 years ago but ended up buying local for an extra $600aud.
    I was told of horror stories about freight handlers all wanting their palms greased, basically people holding their hands out for cash.
    Is it going well? I might do it for my next machine if your experience is a positive one, let us know please.

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