Fireworks.org – The World’s Fireworks Community › Forums › General Discussion › How long does it actually take to ship fireworks from China to the US?
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Hey all – looking at ordering a container from a Chinese supplier for the first time. I keep hearing totally different timelines from different people. Some say 4 weeks from order to delivery, others say 3 months minimum. Hard to know who to believe.
For anyone whos actually done it – how long from placing the order to it hitting your warehouse? And does it matter what port? West coast vs east coast seems like itd be a big difference but Ive heard the customs clearance is the real bottleneck regardless of port.
Also any tips on what time of year to order? Like if I order now (late June) when would it realistically show up?
Danny Ive done about 6 containers over the last 4 years. Realistic timeline if everything goes smooth is about 8-10 weeks from order. But you gotta factor in:
– Production time: 2-4 weeks (depends if they have stock or gotta make it)
– Ocean freight: 3-4 weeks (longer if east coast)
– Customs: 1-2 weeks (could be longer if they flag it)Ordering now in June? Id expect early September at best. Maybe August if youre lucky and they have stock ready.
West coast is faster on the water but LA customs can be a pain. Some guys prefer Houston or even Savannah.
Yeah what Jim said is pretty accurate. One thing Id add – if youre ordering for July 4th next year, order in like January or February. June is way too late for anything this year.
Also make sure the supplier actually has the stuff in stock. Some of them will say yes then take 6 weeks to manufacture. I had one incident where they said 2 weeks and it turned into 7. Tbf most are honest but you gotta ask the right questions upfront.
Danny if youre new to this, theres a lot of threads in the forum here about vetting Chinese suppliers. Worth digging through those before you wire any money.
Good thread. Danny – we actually covered a lot of the importing basics over in the Fireworks Guide section of the site. Theres a breakdown on shipping timelines and customs stuff that might help you get a clearer picture.
Jim and Mike are both right on the timelines. One thing Id emphasize – make sure you have your ATF paperwork in order before the container arrives. Nothing worse than having a container stuck at the port because your license renewal is pending.
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