LED Light Strings: Direct from China

[wbe12345]

Larry

I have imported from China last year. Shipping really is not the big item it's finding a company that will sell to you in small quantities.  I will look back in my records for what I imported along with shipping costs and post all data later.

You get alot of strings on lights in 1 CM.

Wallace

[vairmoose]

Adam

    Those prices definitely are attractive.    Any discussion on 12V DC lights or rope light?

Larry

[rmonty]

This is the pricing he sent me on C9 bulbs - all are FWR.  I will let you know when I get the samples and how they look.  Of course I can only test with a D-Light board right now, but I assume if it works okay with it, then it will work with my future LE boards.

LED-C9RD led C9 bulb (red) $0.595
LED-C9GR led C9 bulb (green) $0.73
LED-C9BL led C9 bulb (blue) $0.67
LED-C9GD led C9 bulb(gold) $0.595
LED-C9WH led C9 bulb(white) $0.73
LED-C9WW led C9 bulb (warm white) $0.73

[rmonty]

Here is his price sheet.

Are those prices per carton or per string?  If they are per carton, then wow!

[abell]

Per string...

[wbe12345]

OK here is the data.

I imported from China Christmas decorations totaling 310kgs or 2.406 CBM.

First the shipper rounds up so therefore I paid for 3 CBM. Or I imported 0.594 CBM of air from China. Let the buyer be ware.

Freight cost: USD 90 / CBM * 3 = USD 270
DDC :            USD31/CBM * 3   = USD93   
AMS :            USD 25/bill
DOC:              USD15
Clearance fee: USD 110
Car fee from factory to port: USD 100

Therefore shipping cost to get from China to port of Newark is USD613.

Ok there are a couple of costs state side.

                          First is customs documents = USD 120
                          Break down and storage fee= USD180

So the total to the loading dock of the shipper was USD913.



First a lesson in terminology and figures in USA measurements  on shipping from China.

International shipping uses a term CBM. This stands for Cubic Meters.

One CBM = 1 meter x 1meter x 1 meter
 One meter = 39.3 inches
 
therefore  1 CBM= 39.3 inches x 39.3 inches x 39.3 inches
                  1 CBM= 60,698 cubic inches

Well 60,000 cubic inches sounds like a lot???

1 cubic foot = 12 inches x 12 inches x 12inches
 1 cubic foot = 1,728 cubic inches

Therefore  1 CBM = 60,698 cubic inches  /   1,728 cubic inches
                  1 CBM =  35 cubic feet

This is a little better for us here in the USA to comprehend.
 

Some figures from manufacturers in China are about 25 strings of C6 style 100 lights fit
 into what they call a “master carton”.


One “master carton”  =   38 x 38 x 30 cms

In English:
                     1 “master carton” = 15 inches x 15 inches x 12 inches
                     1 “master carton = 1.5 cubic feet
                     1 CBM =   35/ 1.5 cubic feet
                     1 CBM = 23 “master cartons”
                     1 CBM = 23(master cartons) x 25 strings of C6 style 100 light strings
                     1 CBM = 575 strings of lights


Using my figures from above:

                      3 CBM =  1,725 strings of 100 light C6 style lights

 
Using average of about $8 per string:
                      3 CBM = $13,800
                       Shipping= $913

Cost per string about $8.50

When dealing with a company in China payment is T/T 30% deposit, 70% against the copy of the B/L.

What that means is you wirer 30% of order when the order is placed.
Then when the goods are ship side you pay the remaining 70% and then receive a copy of the B/L(bill of lading). Shipping usually takes about 30 days to east coast and less to the west coast.  Most banks will gladly wire transfer money to any bank in the world for USD35.


Any question I will be happy to answer or clarify any data.




Wallace
 wbe12345

[PJNMCT]

Wallace,

Excellent info. Don't know if I'll ever use it but THANKS just in case. That's a lot of work to boil it all down.

-Paul

[abell]

Yeah, I think I am stupid or something... after reading all of that.

I want to order like maybe 50 strings of light from the guy. Different colors and what not, the mini-lights also not the big lights.

Am I wasting my time with this guy from China?

Adam

[RJ]

Don't know yet. He is suppost to have some coming to me to check over. I will let you know when I get them.

RJ

[claytor1999]

Great information Wallace. Sounds like an individual buyer would reach the point of diminishing returns pretty quick. It'll be interesting to see RJ's comments on the product he gets. I still need to buy a substantial amount of Christmas lights now that I have RJ's Lynx gear - was hoping a coop for these lights might emerge in the future.

Thanks,
Robb

[abell]

I agree, if we could have a coop from these lights that would be nice.

Adam

[Bumble Yeti]

Any updates on this? I would get in if the price is right.  The price per string seems good but adding $8 per string sort of kills the bargain idea.  Heck if I could learn 25.7826% (I used this number to seem  smarter) of all the knowledge members  have I probably could keep a decent bank balance and be decorating my mansion during the holidays.

[RJ]

I'm afraid I never received anything from the company. I did get an additional email saying that he had been busy but was fedexing the stuff to get to me in a hurry.

Not looking like something I would want to run a coop for large money for with that kind of track record before the purchase.

RJ

[rmonty]

Received and e-mail from David stating that his C9 LEDs will not work with LOR like equipment.  I'm inferring that this means they will not fade properly or perform the different effects properly.  Bummer.

[abell]

Could we get in on a group discount at a Christmas Light Store here in the states?

Adam