China has a large number of luxury cars and a fast turnover rate. For luxury cars of the same year and mileage, the FOB offshore price in the Chinese market usually still has a 10%-15% arbitrage opportunity after deducting shipping costs, especially for models with high depreciation rates.
A typical payment structure looks like this: 1. Deposit: 10-30% after you confirm the car and price, often to reserve the vehicle and start the inspection. 2. Balance: paid after you approve the inspection report, but before or at shipment. A common safeguard is paying against a copy of the bill of lading, with telex release of the original B/L after funds arrive. 3. Never send 100% upfront to a new supplier. Use traceable methods (T/T bank transfer to a corporate account matching the company name, or escrow for first orders) and keep every agreement in writing. 4. Timeline: quote within days, inspection 3-7 days, booking and loading 1-2 weeks, ocean transit 3-6 weeks, customs clearance 3-10 days. Red flags: personal bank accounts, pressure to skip inspection, prices far below market.
The technician will put the vehicle in neutral on the lift, rotate the wheels, and listen for any abnormal metal gear whine from inside the motor reducer, and check for gear oil leaks at the joints of the reducer housing.
