Source: iStock
Importing stainless steel survival cards from China to the USA can be a great move for both outdoor gear sellers and enthusiasts. However, for first-time importers, this process might be confusing or challenging. In this article, we’ll share important tips and considerations, as well as a list of potential Chinese suppliers of survival multi-tools.
Survival cards are essential tools for outdoor enthusiasts in any survival situation. Click here to access our ultimate survival card resource.
Should Your Business Buy Survival Hand Tools Online From China?
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As a business owner, you could save money right now by buying survival card bulk from China. However, many small business owners in the USA—perhaps including you—often avoid importing goods from China for fear of different risks: fake or poor-quality products, poor working conditions, and unfair wages, and long delivery times.
So, the question is: Is it a good idea to buy survival tool cards from Chinese manufacturers? The simple answer is yes, especially if you fully understand the importation process and the risks involved.
Nowadays, it’s easier to buy items directly from Chinese factories because of business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce websites. Some of the biggest B2B websites are Alibaba, AliExpress (owned by the Alibaba group), Made-In-China.com, GlobalSources.com (based in Hong Kong), and DHgate.com.
Deciding whether your business should source survival tool cards from Chinese manufacturers will depend on a variety of factors.
For instance, the survival card tools you import from China should meet the consumer safety standards and regulations of relevant U.S. government agencies. Credible companies in China have certifications for their manufacturing processes, such as ISO and CE, to ensure they meet the relevant quality standards.
Then there’s the issue of demand. Do you have an idea of the demand for survival multi-tool cards? If you need large quantities of this tool in stock, buying from Chinese manufacturers might be a cheaper and more efficient option compared to sourcing locally.
Looking to improve your knowledge of survival tool cards? Don’t miss out on our informative guide to survival multi-tool cards. Click here to read the full article.
What You Need To Know About Importing Survival Cards From China
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Here are a few things to keep in mind if you ever choose to find a manufacturer of survival cards in China:
1. Search and evaluate manufacturers: Choose and compare at least three potential survival card manufacturers. When evaluating each one, find out about their ability to fulfill specific requirements, certifications, lead times, free sample availability, production capacity, reputation, and the quality and price of their survival cards for sale.
2. Know your shipping options: Manufacturers and suppliers on B2B websites offer a variety of ways of shipping goods, such as air freight, ocean freight, or through international courier services (e.g., DHL, FedEx, and UPS). The fastest and most reliable way to deliver packages or small shipments (up to 150 kilograms or 330 pounds) is through express shipping.
3. Define the responsibilities: The first time you communicate with a manufacturer, remember to clarify the responsibilities and shipping terms before you place your survival card order. Who’s going to pay for customs duties and taxes? Do you need to prepare any documents needed for customs clearance? What are Incoterms?
4. Determine shipping costs: Some of the factors that can affect the shipping costs are the package size and weight and the distance it has to travel to reach the U.S. The manufacturer should be able to give you a more detailed estimate of how much you’ll pay for shipping and other related fees.
5 Best Manufacturers of Survival Cards With a Bottle Opener From China
1. Tianxin
Source: Tianxin
Business Introduction:
Tianxin is a manufacturing company that offers pre-designed and customized items. The company mainly manufactures clothes, electronic products, name card holders, office stationery, promotional gifts, smart locks, and keychain items. They also supply well-known brands, such as McDonald’s, Procter & Gamble, and Volvo.
Best Product:
Tianxin’s “9 in 1 LED Credit Card Outdoor Camping Survival Multitool” survival card is made from stainless steel. It’s available in several platings, including black, copper, gold, nickel, and silver. People can use it for a variety of purposes—as a bottle opener, can opener, letter opener, peeler, ruler (cm), screwdriver, or wrench (four sizes).
Source: Tianxin
Pros: Tianxin has more than 15 years of experience in gift design and manufacturing. This extensive experience of the company in the industry will greatly benefit their customers.
Cons: Tianxin doesn’t specialize in the production of outdoor survival gear. While this isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, it pays to choose a manufacturer that specializes in the item you’re ordering because you can tap into their expertise and in-depth knowledge of manufacturing that particular item.
2. Plenty Harvest Manufacturing Limited
Source: Plenty Harvest Manufacturing Limited
Business Introduction:
If we talk about long experience in the export and manufacturing industries, Plenty Harvest Manufacturing Limited would be on the list. The company was established in Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, in 1988. They specialize in wine corkscrews, stainless steel products, and multi tools (e.g., multi-function knives and pliers for camping and hunting).
Best Product:
The “Multi-Purpose Pocket Survival Tool Card” is made from durable and corrosion-resistant stainless steel (420-3cr13) material. It has all the basic tools outdoor enthusiasts need to survive in the wild and perform basic tasks, such as a saw, a bottle opener, a can opener, an emergency knife edge to help anyone escape, wrenches, and more.
Source: Plenty Harvest Manufacturing Limited
Pros: In terms of experience, Plenty Harvest Manufacturing Limited beats everyone on our list. Since they specialize in stainless steel products and multi-tools, you’ll feel more confident that they’re capable of producing survival cards that fit your requirements.
Cons: It seems the company only has one pre-designed survival card available. If you have a different design in mind, it might be best to talk to their representative.
3. Baiyuheng Outdoor
Source: Baiyuheng Outdoor
Business Introduction:
Baiyuheng Outdoor started out as a simple manufacturer of paracord and other related accessories. After more than 12 years in the industry, this Jiangmen-based company has managed to grow their product line to include everything people need for different outdoor activities, from tents and hammocks to ferro rods and outdoor kitchen supplies for camping, hiking, and hunting.
Best Product:
Looking for a survival card specifically for your customers who love fishing so much? The Baiyuheng Outdoor “Survival Tool Card-Black” is just what you need. It has all types of tools for fishing, such as fish hooks, lures, harpoons, arrows, and much more.
Source: Baiyuheng Outdoor
Pros: There’s a reason why Baiyuheng Outdoor is a highly rated seller on B2B e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba.com. They have excellent customer service. They offer extra services for free, such as free product samples and photos. They can also express-ship your order to your doorstep.
Cons: Like most companies, it might have a few lapses. However, overall, they’re easy to work with and offer products that fit their customers’ specifications.
4. Smile Tools
Source: Smile Tools
Business Introduction:
Established in 2008, Smile Tools is a subsidiary of China Smile Trading Group. This trading and manufacturing company focuses on the large-scale production of different tools for camping, construction, gardening, and DIY jobs, among others.
Best Product:
One of the survival cards in Smile Tool’s collection can function as a ballpoint pen, file, knife, LED light, letter opener, magnifying glass, ruler, scissor, toothpick, and tweezers. It’s available in three color options (black, blue, and red), or you can request a different color.
Source: Smile Tools
Pros: Smile Tools offers a good selection of survival tool cards in their online store. If you have a specific design in mind, they accept customization services to ensure you get the most out of your money.
Cons: It’s a relatively small company that’s probably a suitable option for small business owners. If you’re an established outdoor survival gear retailer that regularly requires large volumes of survival multi tool cards, you might need a second option.
5. Good Idea Promotion Limited
Source: Good Idea Promotion Limited
Business Introduction:
Good Idea Promotion Limited is located in one of China’s important port cities, Ningbo. The company currently offers more than 1,000 kinds of products, including baseball caps, ceramic gifts, inflatable beach balls, pens, PU toys, and water bottles.
Best Product:
Their survival tool card (TC-001), which weighs the same as an “AA” battery, is made from solid stainless steel. It comes in handy when you’re traveling or engaged in any outdoor activities. It consists of 11 tools, including a bottle opener, a can opener, an emergency knife edge, a 4-position wrench, and a saw blade.
Source: Good Idea Promotion Limited
Pros: The company’s factory is located in Ningbo City, an important port city in China. This location has a large pool of skilled labor and is linked to major shipping routes.
Cons: They offer only one design of survival card. However, the company can customize the color and size. You can also inform them if you have specifications that you want them to follow.
If you want to buy survival tool cards locally, no problem. You can read our article about the “Top 10 Survival Card Suppliers in the USA” here.
Conclusion
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With the right information and support, importing survival cards from China to the USA can greatly benefit business owners. We hope our guide provides you with valuable insights on how to import this popular credit-card-sized survival tool. If you need a good starting point to find the best manufacturer, check out the top three Chinese companies on our list.
