Questions Importers Ask Us Before They Buy

We own our inventory. Units listed on this site sit in our own yard in Hebei, China, where we run our own inspection bay and load from our own ramp. That is why we can send you photographs and a running video of the exact machine you are quoted, including its serial plate, rather than a catalogue image. We also source specific models on request through our supply network, and in those cases we tell you plainly that the unit is being sourced.

Yes, and we encourage it. You can visit the yard in person, send your own inspector, or appoint a third party such as SGS, Bureau Veritas or Intertek to inspect on your behalf. For overseas buyers we provide a multi-point condition report with photographs, a dated start-up video and a walkaround video before any deposit is requested. Nothing is hidden behind the payment: you see what we see.

In most cases, yes. We export regularly to South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana and Egypt, and we can put you in contact with existing customers in the region where they have agreed to be a reference. We can also share export documentation from previous shipments, with commercial details removed, so you can verify that we genuinely ship to your port.

We read the hours from the machine's own systems — the DeepSea or CAT controller on generators, the machine monitor and ECM on earthmoving equipment — and photograph the readout with the unit running. We then cross-check the reading against physical wear: radiator and hose condition on gensets, undercarriage and bucket wear on excavators. Where the two disagree, we tell you and adjust the description rather than the other way round.

For generators: engine start-up and running under load, exhaust condition, cooling system, alternator and control panel readings, wiring and terminal condition, base tank integrity and battery health.

For excavators and loaders: engine and hydraulics, cylinder and seal condition, undercarriage or tyre wear, structural welds, bucket and cutting-edge wear, cabin and controls. Every unit is started and operated before it is listed, and we note faults rather than omitting them.

Always. Every photograph on this site and in every quotation is of the specific machine being offered, taken in our yard, with its serial plate visible on request. If a unit is still in transit to us and we cannot yet photograph it, we say so instead of substituting a stock image. This is the single most important difference between a yard and a broker.

We sell as-is with faults disclosed, and we service what needs servicing before shipment — filters, oils, batteries and any repair needed to make the unit export-ready. We do not repaint machines to disguise their history. If a machine has had structural repair or panel replacement, it is stated in the condition report. Buyers who want a cosmetically restored machine can usually find one elsewhere, but they will pay for paint rather than hours.

The standard structure is a T/T deposit of 30% against a proforma invoice, with the balance payable against a copy of the bill of lading once the unit is loaded and the export documents are issued. Payment is made to our company account — never to a personal account. For repeat buyers we can discuss terms individually. We recommend this structure for first-time importers rather than paying in full up front, as it keeps your money on your side of the transaction until the machine is on the water.

FOB means we deliver the unit to the Chinese load port and you arrange and pay freight from there. CIF means we arrange shipping and insurance to your destination port for a fixed price. First-time importers generally prefer CIF because it removes the need to deal with a freight forwarder in China; regular importers often choose FOB because their own forwarder gets better rates and they keep control of the schedule. We quote both on request so you can compare directly.

There is no minimum order for a complete machine — we regularly ship single units, and one generator or excavator in a container is a normal transaction for us. For spare parts and consumables we do have a practical minimum, because the paperwork and freight on a small consignment rarely justify the shipment on its own; in those cases we can consolidate parts with a machine order.

The price is fixed on a proforma invoice, which states the unit, the price in USD, the delivery term, the port and the validity period. Once you accept that document and pay the deposit, the price does not move — we do not add inspection fees, documentation charges or loading costs afterwards. Freight rates to some destinations do fluctuate with the shipping market, which is why CIF quotations carry a validity window; FOB prices are unaffected.

As a general guide from Chinese load ports: Mombasa around 25–35 days, Durban around 30–40 days, Lagos around 35–45 days, and Dar es Salaam similar to Mombasa. Actual transit depends on the sailing schedule, transhipment and port congestion at the time of booking. We tell you the specific vessel and estimated arrival date once the booking is confirmed.

We handle the Chinese export side completely — customs declaration, loading, bill of lading and the full document set. Clearance at your end is normally handled by your own clearing agent, whose fees you pay directly; we do not mark up agent charges. If you don't yet have an agent, we can recommend clearing partners we have worked with at Mombasa, Durban and Lagos, and we will provide documents in the format your agent requires.

The standard export set includes the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin and the inspection report for the unit. Depending on your destination we also provide a pre-shipment inspection certificate where required — for example Kenya and Tanzania require an inspection certificate such as PVoC for used machinery, and Nigeria has its own requirements. We tell you at quotation stage which documents your destination needs.

Several destination countries restrict the age of imported used machinery or vehicles, and the rules change, so please confirm the current position with your clearing agent or the relevant standards authority before you buy. Where an age limit applies it is normally measured from the year of manufacture and enforced through a mandatory pre-shipment inspection. Tell us your destination at enquiry stage and we will flag any age-related constraint we know of, and quote units that fit within it.