As the DIY industry becomes more and more popular, more and more novice Chinese sellers are entering the market, but the reality is always harsh. Unfamiliar with the export process, some sellers have encountered a succession of scams in the China sea freight chain.
How to protect yourself
Because it is difficult for the government or private companies to stop scams before they occur in such a large market, it is not enough to rely on Chinese law or Alibaba’s terms of service to protect you. Buyers should avoid using smaller freight forwarders and unusually low offers should also be a cause for concern. Verify the Chinese business license of any freight forwarder you use and get a reference if possible.
Scam cases
Scammers will masquerade as freight forwarders on Alibaba or other business-to-business directories. Their advertised rates are usually significantly lower than other legitimate freight forwarders to lure unsuspecting buyers into their trap.
Once the goods have been packed for shipment from the port of loading, it is normally the freight forwarder who should issue the bill of lading. This is a mandatory legal document issued by the freight forwarder after shipment, specifying the buyer, the seller, the port of destination and the type and quantity of product to be shipped. Without a bill of lading, the port of destination will not allow you to take possession of the goods.
You guessed it. Importers who fall victim to this scam will never receive a bill of lading from their freight forwarder. Instead, they will receive an email ransom letter telling them to pay or never receive their product. If the supplier does not pay, many things can happen, none of which will involve the buyer receiving their product: the
The buyer may be responsible for storage costs after the goods have been unclaimed at the port for several days. Thus, every day of inaction ends up costing the buyer more money.
Customs may take possession of the goods and auction them off. Or, in the case of dangerous goods, customs officials will simply destroy them.
Also, remember that overseas suppliers are usually not responsible for anything that happens after the product has been shipped from the factory. Therefore, even if the buyer’s goods are held hostage by a stolen freight forwarder, the buyer is still liable to pay the supplier to stop their bargain – i.e. to produce the goods and ship them away.
Reliable China freight forwarders
TJ CHINA FREIGHT is a renowned logistics company in China. We specialize in FCL, LCL, and air freight services from major ports in China to other countries. Door to door service is one of our specialties. We are famous for our service with the aim of faster, safer and more convenient delivery. Our account managers are on standby to provide you with the best shipping quote in as little as 24 hours.
