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The BestDealz importing guides

Practical, deeply-researched guides for South African importers. Written by our sourcing, customs and logistics experts — the same team that handles every BestDealz Class B order.

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The three guides every SA importer should read first.

8 guides published

All guides

Filtered by topic. Click any card to read in full.

Foundations

Class A vs B vs C: Choosing the right sourcing model for your SA business

A practical guide to BestDealz's tri-class sourcing model — and how to pick the one that matches your speed, price and risk tolerance.

9 min · Beginner · by Lebogang M
Logistics

Incoterms decoded: FOB, CIF, DDP — what they actually mean for SA importers

A no-nonsense breakdown of the 3 Incoterms that matter for South African buyers — and why BestDealz Class B is essentially DDP-included.

11 min · Intermediate · by Pieter v.d. Berg
Customs

How customs duty and VAT actually work when you import to South Africa

The full landed cost formula every importer needs to know — plus a worked example with real HS codes and SARS rates.

12 min · Intermediate · by Pieter v.d. Berg
Quality

Quality inspection in China: How to verify your order before it ships

Pre-shipment inspection, during-production inspection, container loading — the 3 inspection types every SA importer needs to understand.

10 min · Intermediate · by Mr Wang Jun
Logistics

Sea freight vs air freight: Choosing the right shipping mode for your order

Cost per kg, lead time, break-even points and which mode wins for which product. Plus how to think about LCL vs FCL containers.

8 min · Beginner · by Ms Li Hua
Negotiation

Negotiating MOQ: How to lower the minimum order quantity (without losing the deal)

Five tactics SA buyers use to negotiate MOQ down — from sample orders to OEM commitment letters.

8 min · Intermediate · by Lebogang M
Payments

TT, L/C, escrow: Understanding international payment terms

The 4 ways you can pay an overseas supplier — and which one BestDealz Trade Assurance is built on.

9 min · Intermediate · by Sara Patel
Logistics

Lead time math: How to predict when your order will actually arrive

A formula and worked example so you can promise customers a realistic delivery date — not just optimism.

7 min · Beginner · by Pieter v.d. Berg

New guides monthly

1 deep-dive guide per month, written by our sourcing experts. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

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