Is Import Agency a Scam or a Necessity?

Mr. Zhang recently encountered a vexing problem: he had his eye on a German precision instrument, but due to the complex import process and numerous documents, the goods could not arrive for a long time. This is not an isolated case - according to statistics, 68% of small and medium-sized business owners have encountered customs clearance delays or additional costs during their first independent import. Today, we are going to uncover the "customs clearance code" of import agency consignment.

When Ms. Li's cosmetic raw materials were detained at the customs for two weeks, she realized that: importing is not just about paying and receiving goods. The core values of import agency lie in:

• Risk Aversion Expert: Anticipate a 30% tariff difference caused by incorrect HS code classification
• Time Compressor: On average, shorten the customs clearance time by 45% (data from Zhongshitong's 2023 cases)
• Cost Control Steward: Help a certain medical device merchant save 17.6% in taxes and fees through free trade agreements

The experience Mr. Wang gained with a tuition fee of 50,000 yuan tells us:

• Full-link Service Capability: 18 key nodes from overseas inspection to domestic distribution
• Real Case Database: Request to provide customs clearance records of similar products
• Cost Transparency: Beware of the "tax-inclusive" trap. Regular agencies will clearly list:
  Customs declaration fee 0.15% + VAT advance fee 0.3%/month

The case of baking equipment import recently served by Zhongshitong shows that: Segmented Consignment is becoming a new trend. After the customer independently completes overseas procurement, only the customs clearance link is consigned, and the cost is reduced by 42%. This "modular service" is especially suitable for:

• Enterprises with existing overseas supplier resources
• Products that require special documents (such as 3C certification)
• Quarterly purchasing retailers

You might as well do a simple test: if more than 2 of the following questions have an answer of "yes", you should consider agency services:

• Have you ever had the declared value questioned by the customs?
• Are you unclear about the latest free trade agreement tax rates?
• Have you paid additional costs due to container detention fees?