#international-trade
90 episodes · Page 2 of 4
#4203: Your Alibaba Shipment Is Stuck at Customs — Here’s Why
Why letting your supplier handle customs clearance can cost you more than the markup — and how to fix it.
#4202: EXW vs FOB: The Hidden Cost Trap on Alibaba
EXW looks cheap but can cost 85% more. When to use it, when to run, and how FOB saves money.
#4201: What Alibaba's Inspection Actually Covers (and Doesn't)
Alibaba's inspection service costs $200-$500 but offers zero liability. Here's how to actually protect your orders.
#4200: Alibaba DAP vs DDP: Should You Use Your Own Customs Broker?
Why Alibaba's DAP default is a fork in the road — and what it really costs you to let the supplier handle customs.
#4193: How to Source Custom Furniture from China (Without Getting Burned)
A practical guide to the professional process Israeli designers use to save 40-60% on custom furniture from Chinese factories.
#4187: The Cage That Thinks It's a Border
Bonded warehouses aren't always giant portside buildings. Sometimes they're 200-square-foot cages at airports.
#4186: Alibaba’s B2B Engine: The $200B Trade You’ve Never Heard Of
Alibaba.com moves 2-3x more value than AliExpress, quietly becoming global trade’s operating system.
#4177: HS Codes: The Hidden Trap in Global Trade
Why "plastic widget" isn't enough — how HS code classification can make or break your import margins.
#4175: What a Procurement Agent Actually Does for Small Importers
Why Daniel's two pallets of boxes can't be handled by a 3PL — and the service category that fills the gap.
#4174: DAP vs DDP: The Real Cost of Customs Risk
DAP looks cheaper, but hidden fees can erase your savings. Here's what actually changes hands at the border.
#4173: DDP Doesn't Mean Doorstep Delivery
Why your DDP pallet won't arrive at your house — and how fulfillment centers fix it.
#4171: What a $30 Box Teaches Us About Supply Chains
Why a plastic tote costs $0.50 at the factory but $30 at the store — and no one is ripping you off.
#3948: How to Write an RFQ That Actually Works on Alibaba
Most RFQs attract garbage bids. Here's how to write one that filters for the right suppliers.
#3908: Why Napkins and Steel Cost the Same to Ship
Discover why carriers charge by volume, not weight, and how dim weight can triple your shipping costs.
#3648: Amazon's Hidden Fiefdoms: How to Hack Cross-Border Shopping
Amazon isn't one company—it's 20 warring marketplaces. Here's how to exploit that.
#3602: Can You Clear Customs Yourself?
Do you need a customs broker license to clear your own imports? It depends entirely on which country you're in.
#3551: What Happens to Your Stuff After the Moving Van Leaves
The hidden world of container consolidation, freight forwarding, and customs that most international movers never tell you about.
#3492: Importing Furniture from China to Israel: A First-Timer's Guide
How first-time importers can work with freight forwarders, get fair quotes, and avoid getting ripped off.
#3486: How Freight Forwarders Really Work
The quiet backbone of global trade. What freight forwarders actually do, and why they matter.
#3485: How a Kitchen Shipment Travels from Connecticut to Jerusalem
A step-by-step breakdown of how goods move from a Storrs warehouse to Jerusalem via air and sea.
#3382: Ireland's Sanctions Loophole: Steel, Alumina, and Iran Parts
Irish iron and steel exports to Russia surged 340% since the invasion. How loopholes keep trade flowing.
#3167: DeFi vs Microlending: What Actually Works?
DeFi's $180B locked vs 1.7B unbanked. Where does credit actually help?
#3109: The Shekel's Split Personality
The shekel is simultaneously strong and weak — here's why the real story isn't the dollar rate.
#2984: The Toaster Tax: How Israeli Standards Drive Up Prices
Why a toaster costs $30 more in Tel Aviv than Berlin — and how 3,000 unique standards affect every household purchase.