{"id":17305,"date":"2025-07-28T19:03:36","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T19:03:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dominatorfireworks.com\/blog\/?p=17305"},"modified":"2026-02-24T15:15:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T15:15:31","slug":"importing-faq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominatorfireworks.com\/blog\/2025\/07\/importing-faq\/","title":{"rendered":"IMPORTING – FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here we want to address frequent questions about importing fireworks to the USA.<\/h2>\n

What is the difference between Wholesale, Drop-Ship, and Direct Import?
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Wholesale<\/strong>: When you start a fireworks business we recommend that you begin buying wholesale from our dealers across the USA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Wholesale is typically purchases above $3,000 (about 100-200 cases) that offer lower bulk prices.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 For wholesale you work with the Dominator Dealer<\/a>, and not with us.<\/p>\n

Drop-ship:<\/strong> is similar to wholesale, because the Dominator dealer<\/a> still handles all of the import formalities with the USA Government agencies (such as CPSC, Customs, DOT, etc.), but the minimum order changes to one Ocean Shipping Container.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The entire container is “drop-shipped” direct to your warehouse from China.\u00a0\u00a0 One container is about 1,000 cartons (So 5-10 times more then the minimum for wholesale).\u00a0 Drop shipping often uses the lower “China factory” price, but the dealer will add a fee to cover their costs of import formalities.\u00a0 For Drop-ship you work with the Dominator Dealer, and not with us.<\/p>\n

Direct Factory Import<\/strong>:\u00a0 This is the lowest cost option, but the most complex for you.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Direct import means that you are the “legal importer of record” and thus you take all responsibility with the USA Government.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Also, for direct import, you will work directly with the Dominator China team, making payment to China, etc.\u00a0\u00a0 Because all product is manufactured after you order, you must order much further in advance (we recommend 12-18 months in advance). \u00a0\u00a0 Finally, you can’t hold your product in China, once it is manufactured for you, we need to ship it to you.\u00a0 Often that means receiving product in winter or at an inconvenient time.\u00a0\u00a0 Payment also needs to be made in advance.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 For all of these reasons, we recommend that companies be operating at least 2-3 years and have sales of at least 2,000 cartons per year before they begin direct importing.<\/p>\n

What do I need to be able to import containers?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You need to make sure you have all local, state, and federal licenses.\u00a0 If you want to import 1.3G items, you will need ATF license.\u00a0 You do not need a FEDERAL license to import consumer 1.4g fireworks.\u00a0 Your company EIN # or your personal Social Security # is needed.\u00a0 You will also need a USA Customs Bond and a USA Customs Broker (for paying the tariffs).<\/p>\n

What’s a Customs Broker?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A Customs Broker processes your paperwork with U.S. Customs and Border Protection<\/span> (CBP) to allow the container to enter the USA.\u00a0 If you do not have a Customs Broker, we can provide you contact information to them that other importers are already using.<\/p>\n

How much can I get on a container?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A container typically holds around 1,000 cases of product.\u00a0 It depends on the type and sizes of the items.\u00a0 The High Cube container holds 68 CBM worth of product.<\/p>\n

How many different items can I get on a single container?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

We try to limit containers to no more than 40 different items.\u00a0 Warehousing in China is limited in space.\u00a0 The government-controlled loading warehouses are not stacked three rows high of pallets on shelving with fork trucks running around.\u00a0 All products can only be stacked on the floor up to about 12 feet high, so that limits the amount of goods that can be at the loading warehouse.\u00a0 The more skus added, the longer it takes to load, and more logistics and paperwork involved.\u00a0 If ordering off the stock list and paying in advance, exceptions can be made to add more variety.<\/p>\n

What is the minimum number of cases per item I can order?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

See above that it is 40 different items is the max per container.\u00a0 You can order 10 cases of a fountain, but overall, you will need to average about 50 cases per SKU to fill the container.<\/p>\n

When will I receive the container?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It typically takes 50-60 days for it to arrive to your door in the USA after it is loaded.\u00a0\u00a0 We ship the container as soon as the products that you ordered are manufactured.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The more items you order on one container, the longer it takes manufacture all items, so this risks your container being delayed.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We occasionally ask customers to be flexible and accept small substitutions\u00a0 to ensure there is no delay for your shipment.<\/p>\n

How much is shipping?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As of March 2026, it is about $20,000 in shipping costs per container.\u00a0 The rates are decided month to month.\u00a0\u00a0 We do not control shipping costs.\u00a0\u00a0 Shipping is controlled by a small group of shipping companies who hold the logistics licenses for international shipping of fireworks.\u00a0 We do handle the “booking” of shipping for you, but you pay the shipping cost directly.\u00a0\u00a0 We can also put you in direct contact with the shipping company if you wish.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here we want to address frequent questions about importing fireworks to the USA. What is the difference between Wholesale, Drop-Ship, and Direct Import? Wholesale: When you start a fireworks business we recommend that you begin buying wholesale from our dealers across the USA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Wholesale is typically purchases above $3,000 (about 100-200 cases) that offer lower […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[131,87],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-buy-direct-from-china","category-chinese-fireworks"],"yoast_head":"\nIMPORTING - FAQ -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to import fireworks to the U.S. Understand consumer vs display categories, licensing requirements & regulations. 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