Help me import iPhones to China to resell for a profit?
October 12, 2011 8:48 AM Subscribe
Help me import iPhones to China to resell for a profit?
I live in China, and want to import and sell used and new iPhones from USA where they are much cheaper than here in China.
I could buy them off ebay and craigslist, for about 300 US dollars, and they sell here in China for about 700 US dollars.
I'd have to jailbreak, and unlock them, probably myself.
Aren't there tariffs, taxes, or customs fees I must pay? (can you provide specifics on these?)
What other potential problems should I be aware of?
Can I make a living do this?
I live in China, and want to import and sell used and new iPhones from USA where they are much cheaper than here in China.
I could buy them off ebay and craigslist, for about 300 US dollars, and they sell here in China for about 700 US dollars.
I'd have to jailbreak, and unlock them, probably myself.
Aren't there tariffs, taxes, or customs fees I must pay? (can you provide specifics on these?)
What other potential problems should I be aware of?
Can I make a living do this?
You can probably get a few to China marked as gift. If you are trying to make a living, it's best if you actually know a customs agent there.
Also, I would be very worried taking online payments from international buyers.
posted by wongcorgi at 9:43 AM on October 12, 2011
Also, I would be very worried taking online payments from international buyers.
posted by wongcorgi at 9:43 AM on October 12, 2011
If I were thinking about selling my iPhone 4 in order to upgrade to the 4s, I wouldn't accept an offer from an overseas buyer: shipping and customs forms are a hassle, and international electronics sales are rife with scams. Not saying you'd be a scammer, but you'd be surrounded by them, and why should any semi-savvy person assume that you're the one good apple (ha ha)?
Customs fees, and the risk of theft, are also things you need to factor in. I don't know how you'd make a living at this, unless your living expenses are very, very low.
posted by rtha at 10:32 AM on October 12, 2011
Customs fees, and the risk of theft, are also things you need to factor in. I don't know how you'd make a living at this, unless your living expenses are very, very low.
posted by rtha at 10:32 AM on October 12, 2011
Since you mention buying them on craigslist, presumably you are going back and forth between America/Canada and China? If so, you would need to declare the cost of your merchandise or risk running into problems at customs. Two or three iphones might plausibly be gifts, but more than that would be suspicious, I'd think.
One thing you may or may not be aware of, jailbreaking is still pretty easy with the current iOS, but unlocking is definitely not. Basically, if you have iphones with a recent version of the operating system (about 4.2 or later, if I recall correctly), they cannot be unlocked via software (possibly with a gevey sim card). Search for "iPhone baseband" to learn more about this. So you'd have to be careful which iphones you buy, to make sure they are unlockable. This all will change in a few days with the new iOS due out, nobody really knows if they'll be unlockable or jailbreakable. although probably the latter will be doable. An iphone locked to AT&T is pretty much worthless in China though.
posted by skewed at 1:02 PM on October 12, 2011
One thing you may or may not be aware of, jailbreaking is still pretty easy with the current iOS, but unlocking is definitely not. Basically, if you have iphones with a recent version of the operating system (about 4.2 or later, if I recall correctly), they cannot be unlocked via software (possibly with a gevey sim card). Search for "iPhone baseband" to learn more about this. So you'd have to be careful which iphones you buy, to make sure they are unlockable. This all will change in a few days with the new iOS due out, nobody really knows if they'll be unlockable or jailbreakable. although probably the latter will be doable. An iphone locked to AT&T is pretty much worthless in China though.
posted by skewed at 1:02 PM on October 12, 2011
Remember this: if you import iPhones into China to sell for a profit, you are competing with an enormous grey market selling iPhone knockoffs.
posted by 4ster at 3:47 PM on October 12, 2011
posted by 4ster at 3:47 PM on October 12, 2011
The US iPhones are not compatible with Chinese networks. On GSM, the frequencies are different for 3G data. On CDMA, the Chinese CDMA system is completely different from the US system. So, um, try importing one before you buy 100.
posted by miyabo at 5:53 PM on October 12, 2011
posted by miyabo at 5:53 PM on October 12, 2011
Response by poster: On ebay I wouldn't be shipping internationally, I would be going back and forth between USA and China several times a year, and bringing them in suitcases.
The US iPhones are compatible with Chinese networks, I use one myself, and several American friends also do.
I would be checking basebands before I bring them over.
The main problem I'm worried about is the legality of this.
posted by crawltopslow at 6:11 PM on October 12, 2011
The US iPhones are compatible with Chinese networks, I use one myself, and several American friends also do.
I would be checking basebands before I bring them over.
The main problem I'm worried about is the legality of this.
posted by crawltopslow at 6:11 PM on October 12, 2011
There are already thousands of people doing this in China -- people with customs connections, people with brick-and-mortar retail stores, and people with high "trust" levels on taobao -- all operating on razor thin margins. Even if you're able to get a suitcase full of iPhones through customs, you won't be able to compete on price or convenience.
In order to do this legally, you will have to: Declare and pay duty on every phone you bring into China (20% of full MSRP), issue tax receipts (fa piao) to every customer, then pay personal income taxes in China and the US (if you're a US citizen/resident). Your competition will not be doing any of these things.
posted by twisted mister at 9:01 PM on October 13, 2011
In order to do this legally, you will have to: Declare and pay duty on every phone you bring into China (20% of full MSRP), issue tax receipts (fa piao) to every customer, then pay personal income taxes in China and the US (if you're a US citizen/resident). Your competition will not be doing any of these things.
posted by twisted mister at 9:01 PM on October 13, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
I recently did some research regarding the possibility of shipping an iPhone as a present to my cousin in Vietnam. In the end I ended up not shipping it because several people online reported their expensive items being stolen by customs. Legally, you must declare the item and its worth so I imagine it would be very tempting for a customs agent to swipe a package that's declared as "iPhone - $600".
The shipping costs are also quite high. From what I've seen, USPS is cheaper than UPS or Fedex. You can see their rates here:
http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/ce_009.htm
That page also contains info regarding restrictions and fees.
posted by yodangson at 9:17 AM on October 12, 2011