Buying in Bulk from China

[Kartik J.]

I am in the process of building my home from scratch. We bought land several years ago and are ready for construction. I have heard that making a trip to China to purchase myriad of products that you would buy here (that are already from China) can save you a bundle. I am thinking Tiles, Cabinets, Doors, Porcelain Sinks, Toilets, Lighting fixtures, LED fixtures etc. Does anyone have experience in this? Please do not sermonize about China the evil and how this is going to ruin our economy. We knowingly and unknowingly buy hundreds of items that are made in China everyday. I am purchasing almost everything else locally.

[Rob K.]

So let me get this straight. You're going to fly halfway around the world at your own expense. Change your American money for Chinese currency. Arrange for transportation to take you to the Chinese equivalent of Home Depot or a third world flea market. Barter for all of your materials. Spend money on hotel stays. Eat a bunch of rice and poodle. Arrange transportation to get all of your merchandise to the port. Charter a ship to haul your wares across the ocean. Hope that said ship doesn't sink or damage your products in any way. Go through customs in California. Arrange for transportation to get your goods from the port to the property. Then hope that everything fits considering that we are about the only country that doesn't use the metric system.

Does this sum up your plan? What if you need to return something?

This reminds me of that episode of the Jeffersons when George gets scammed out of $15,000 and goes through an elaborate plan to get his money back only to end up having it cost him a little over $15K to get his 15K back.