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Good question Danny. The short answer is yes, but it depends heavily on state laws. Ohio allows consumer fireworks (1.4G) including aerials since they updated the law a few years back. Most reputable online retailers will check your shipping address and only ship what’s legal in your state. We actually covered some of this in the Fireworks Guide section on the site — there’s a breakdown of state-by-state regs that might help. Definitely worth reading before you place an order. And like Steve said, make sure the site you’re buying from is legit. Lots of fly-by-night operations out there.
Good question Danny. Most Chinese manufacturers include FOB (Free On Board) pricing which covers getting the container to the port of departure. So they handle inland trucking from the factory to whatever port you’re shipping from – usually Shanghai, Ningbo, or Yantian.
But you gotta confirm that in your quote. Some smaller factories will quote you EXW (Ex Works) which means you’re on the hook for pickup and delivery to the port yourself. That can get complicated if you don’t have a freight forwarder set up over there.
From what I know of the suppliers that work with US importers, most of the established ones include FOB in their pricing. There’s been discussion in the forums about sourcing from China if you search around – some good info buried in the older threads.
in reply to: July 4th packaging this year – who went all out? #5547Good topic Mike. The packaging game has definitely stepped up the last couple years. I think brands realized that when people are spending -100 on a cake, the box experience matters too.
One thing Ive noticed is the shift toward more realistic effect photography on boxes instead of the old generic fireball photos. Brands like Brothers and World Class have been putting actual shot sequences on their packaging and its way more helpful when youre trying to decide what to buy. Theres actually a post in the Fireworks Guide that talks about how to read firework labels and packaging if anyone wants to go deeper.
As for Phantom – I drove past one of their tents yesterday and it looked like the same branding as last year. Red white and blue stripes, nothing new. Kinda disappointing honestly when everyone else is innovating.
FedEx and UPS both technically prohibit shipping consumer fireworks through their regular ground services. They’re classified as hazardous materials (UN0336 for 1.4G) and neither carrier accepts them for standard ground shipment. If you get caught they’ll either refuse the package or blacklist you.
For 1.4G you need to use a hazmat-certified freight carrier. There’s actually a good breakdown in the Transport section here on the site that goes through carrier options. Might save you some trial and error.
1.3G is a whole other ballgame – that requires DOT hazmat endorsement, proper placarding, the whole thing. Stick with 1.4G unless youve got the licensing sorted.
If your buddy is close enough driving might honestly be easier than dealing with shipping headaches lol.
One more thing I’d add to this – if you’re driving through a state where fireworks are illegal to possess at all (like MA, NJ, DE) even just having them in your trunk while passing through can get you in trouble. The laws usually say something like ” no person shall possess
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.
I usually just save mine for New Year’s. Works out nicely since by then I’ve forgotten what I had, so it’s like a surprise show lol. But yeah, storing them properly is key – keep them in a cool dry place, not in a hot garage or shed. Had a batch lose some pop after sitting in a hot storage locker for a couple months.
in reply to: Best packaging you’ve seen this season? #5488The holographic stuff is nice but I actually prefer when brands show real photos of the effects on the box. Had too many disappointments with generic packaging that didn’t match what came out. Show me what I’m buying!
Those Brothers cakes are solid for the price. I picked up their “Red, White & Boom” assortment and was pleasantly surprised. The finale cake in that pack hits harder than you’d expect for a consumer item.
in reply to: How do you store your fireworks between shows? #5484Ammo can is actually a solid choice. I use a couple of military surplus .50 cal cans myself. Just make sure you crack them open every couple months to let any trapped moisture air out. I learned that one the hard way.
We’ve had good luck with R+L Carriers for ground freight. They seem to understand hazmat protocol better than some of the bigger guys. FedEx Freight has been hit or miss for us.
in reply to: Custom box printing – small batch options? #5501We use a local supplier here in Hunan for our custom boxes at Skysong and they do runs as low as 1000. Shipping might be expensive depending where you are but the per-unit cost is reasonable. Happy to share their contact info if you want to compare pricing. Also check out Packlane for digital short runs – not fireworks specific but they do decent work for smaller quantities.
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