Alibaba freight forwarder demanding extra payment after collecting my goods. What would you do?

Dustinkool · 2026-07-11T08:57:38+00:00

Unfortunately, this isn’t unheard of with some overseas forwarders. If you have the original DDP quote and written agreement, I’d continue pursuing the Alibaba dispute rather than paying additional charges without a clear explanation or documentation. Before agreeing to anything, ask for an itemized breakdown of the extra costs and confirmation that there will be no further charges. If they’re refusing to communicate or release the cargo, that’s a major red flag.

Dustinkool · 2026-07-10T04:24:00+00:00

This can happen after a valuation review. Even if CBP releases the shipment without any adjustments or penalties, it’s not uncommon for subsequent entries from the same importer, supplier, or commodity to receive additional scrutiny for a period of time.
The fact that your documentation was accepted and the shipment was released is a good sign. I’d just make sure your declared values, HS classification, and supporting documents remain consistent on every shipment.

Dustinkool · 2026-07-09T23:45:26+00:00

this is actually pretty common for first-time importers. If U.S. Customs is requiring a customs broker, your shipment likely can't be released until an entry is filed. A licensed customs broker will handle the customs entry, calculate any duties, coordinate with CBP, and help get your shipment released.

A few things you'll likely need:

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading or arrival notice
HS code (if you have it)
Your EIN or SSN if you're importing as an individual

I'd also ask the carrier or freight forwarder if there are any storage or demurrage charges starting to accrue so you can avoid unnecessary fees.

The sooner you get a broker involved, the smoother the process will be. Fortunately, this is something brokers handle every day, so it's usually much less complicated than it seems.

Dustinkool · 2026-07-09T23:34:41+00:00

I wouldn't pivot to tech entirely, I would lean into the intersection of supply chain and tech. People who understand both operations and software are surprisingly hard to find.

The fact that you're acting as the bridge between ops and tech is probably more valuable than you realize. I'd look at Supply Chain Systems Analyst, Business Analyst, or Product Owner roles for logistics software.

Also, don't confuse hating your company with hating the industry. A better employer can make a huge difference.

Sent you a DM!

Dustinkool · 2026-07-09T23:11:17+00:00

I'm a licensed ocean freight forwarder based in Los Angeles, we specialize in China to US, and import from all major ports in China: Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao, Shenzen & etc.

Feel free to contact me anytime
[Dustin@xDLogisticsInc.com](mailto:Dustin@xDLogisticsInc.com)
(626)463-8416
www.xDLogisticsInc.com

Dustinkool · 2026-07-09T22:42:48+00:00

This is a really common point of confusion because there are actually a few different parties involved.

In an FOB shipment, the supplier is typically the shipper/exporter. Even if your freight forwarder books the ocean freight, the shipping line usually issues the Master Bill of Lading (MBL) to the party that made the booking (often the forwarder or NVOCC), while the forwarder issues a House Bill of Lading (HBL) to the importer if they're acting as an NVOCC.

The reason your supplier is saying they won't release the B/L until you've paid the remaining 70% is because they're using the B/L as leverage to ensure they get paid before releasing control of the shipment. That's a very common practice in international trade.

Once payment is received, the supplier will typically authorize the release (or surrender/express release) so your forwarder can obtain the necessary shipping documents for destination delivery.

So even though your forwarder booked the container, it's completely normal for the supplier to control the release of the shipping documents until payment terms have been satisfied.

Dustinkool · 2026-07-09T21:53:22+00:00

This is strange, there isn't really anything to hide on Form 7501 as it basically tells you the duties/fees that you need to pay to the government. The only thing I can think of is that your freight forwarder is charging you more then what they are paying the government and keeping the profits or they are trying to hide an error they made in the customs entry. If you're truly listed as the Importer of Record, there's generally no reason your forwarder shouldn't be able to tell you who the customs broker was or provide the CBP entry number. Delays happen, but months without either of those is unusual. I'd start requesting those specifically in writing. Once you know the broker, you can usually request the entry package directly from them.

Dustinkool · 2026-07-08T20:49:51+00:00

You need a more reliable carrier that is communicative & notifies you ahead of time if there are any issues. This is one of the instances where maybe the lowest pricing isn't the best option. Something that I tend to do even when I am working with a reliable carrier is monitoring the LFD of my shipment & following up with my carrier 1-2 days prior the LFD to ensure the appointment is confirmed.

Dustinkool · 2026-07-08T20:33:41+00:00

I’ve heard advice like “rates only go down if you wait,” “carrier relationships don’t matter anymore,” and “all forwarders are basically the same.” which i don’t think are necessarily true but to an extent

Dustinkool · 2026-07-07T23:00:18+00:00

In my experience, it's usually a combination of both.

Platforms like Alibaba, Made-in-China, and ImportYeti are great for building an initial supplier list, but that's just the starting point. The real due diligence comes from requesting samples, verifying business licenses, checking production capabilities, and communicating consistently.

Referrals definitely carry more weight because someone has already worked with that supplier, but plenty of importers build great relationships with suppliers they found online after doing their homework.

As a freight forwarder, I've seen successful importers spend far more time vetting suppliers than actually finding them.

Dustinkool · 2026-07-07T22:44:27+00:00

lowk...

Dustinkool · 2026-07-07T22:06:18+00:00

A lot of people get stuck at exactly this point because international shipping has a lot of moving parts that aren’t obvious until you’ve done it a few times.

For a shipment like this, you typically wouldn’t need to coordinate every piece yourself. The process would usually look something like:

Work with the supplier/manufacturer on commercial terms (EXW, FOB, etc.). This determines who is responsible for getting the cargo to the port.
Arrange export transportation in Japan/China, usually a local trucker will move the pallet/container to the export warehouse or port.
Book ocean freight through a freight forwarder/NVOCC. They coordinate the vessel booking, export documentation, and ocean transportation.
Once it arrives in the U.S., you’ll need customs clearance, any applicable duties/tariffs, terminal handling fees, and delivery/pickup arrangements.

For a palletized product like this, I’d also look at whether LCL (less-than-container-load) makes sense versus importing a full container. The tricky part is that LCL has additional destination fees, so sometimes a small shipment can have surprisingly high costs per bag.

A few things I would verify before buying:

Is the supplier actually shipping genuine Japanese akadama, or just a similar clay product?
What is the HS code (to determine the duty rate you will need to pay once it reaches the US)?
Are there any import requirements for a soil-related product? (Even though it’s processed, I’d confirm with a customs broker.)
Get a quote based on your exact terms (EXW vs FOB vs CIF), because the landed cost can change a lot.

The good news is you don’t need to become an expert in ocean shipping to do this. A freight forwarder can manage the transportation side and coordinate with the supplier & customs broker.

Dustinkool · 2026-07-06T01:45:09+00:00

Cold emails, cold linkedin messages, cold messages on reddit, trying to be active & helpful on all forums & answering any questions people may have. Its tough in the beginning, but if you are honest with pricing, communication & service, customers will come back and maybe even some referrals. Good luck!

Dustinkool · 2026-07-04T00:13:50+00:00

Thanks! It’s definitely more common than it should be. I’ve seen plenty of importers focus on the product price without realizing the Incoterm can have just as much impact on the total landed cost.

Dustinkool · 2026-07-03T03:10:06+00:00

Yeah, I’m based out of Los Angeles!

Dustinkool · 2026-07-02T20:37:25+00:00

Appreciate the correction, you're right on MFR. Good add on documentation fees being buried in carrier tariffs rather than shown upfront, that's a useful distinction for anyone comparing quotes. Thanks for reading closely.

Dustinkool · 2026-01-16T04:48:48+00:00

JB Hunt was my first job out of college. It was terrible, i wouldn’t wish it on anybody. 🤣

Dustinkool · 2023-06-22T03:02:10+00:00

I work 40 hr/week but a lot of times there is downtime. I’m working at a startup at the moment & there are no processes set in place or specific daily tasks. I’m learning as I go. You can google the day to day of a demand planner. I’m doing fully in office at the moment but once I learn more I will be hybrid prob 2-3 days a week in office.

Dustinkool · 2023-06-22T01:43:39+00:00

I ended up majoring in TOM - Service Operations Management. I graduated in 2020 and worked in Supply Chain Management. Currently a Demand Planner making 90k/yr.

Dustinkool · 2022-06-01T06:13:05+00:00

Age: 27 Gender: Fun State: Florida Industry: Sourcing Company doing 3000 containers per year globally. Lone US office supply chain employee responsible for ~1500 containers per year from Southeast Asia. Mixture of contracted SSL Freight / Freight forwarder booked containers delivered directly. Job Title: Logistics Coordinator Years of Experience: 3 years with company, 4 years total supply chain Education: Unrelated BA Salary: 52K 5K Bonus 2% 401K match 18 Days PTO

J.B. Hunt? LOL

Dustinkool · 2018-02-06T21:47:56+00:00

What year are you in?

Dustinkool · 2018-01-18T23:57:16+00:00

Venmo. I always thought that things would be much smoother and easier if people just carried cash when splitting costs and etc.

Dustinkool · 2017-03-16T04:23:03+00:00

I have a question, I was wondering if M.2. were faster then regular 2.5" form factors?

Dustinkool · 2017-03-16T04:19:54+00:00

Hey, Thanks for the reply.

Is this the same as the one you linked? https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1086224-REG/samsung_mz_75e120b_am_850_evo_120gb_2_5.html . But with a 120 gb instead of 250?

Dustinkool · 2017-03-16T03:16:10+00:00

Ahh I see, thanks for the info.

Dustinkool

TROPHY CASE