How do I start?
You start by telling us your target market, your container size, and your mix of categories (used or new white-label). We send you an FOB quote with serial-number-logged grades within 48 hours, you sign a Proforma Invoice, and you pay a 30% deposit to our corporate trade account. The remaining 70% only goes out after you watch a loading and run-test video of your actual container.
Why this concern is real
First-time buyers from Lagos, Tema, Mombasa, Umm Qasr or Manila lose money in two common ways: they wire 100% upfront to a trading company that never ships, or they receive a container of used refrigerators and air conditioners that fail on arrival because nobody tested them unit by unit. Neither of these happens if you know the checkpoints to demand before you send a single dollar.
How it actually works
A standard first order runs through five documents and roughly 25-35 days port to port. You get a quotation referencing our reference FOB bands (twin tub 8-10kg used grade B $48-68, new $30-45; microwave new $14-25; portable AC new $105-140), then a signed PI listing bank details that match your contract entity name exactly. You pay 30% T/T deposit. We source from our pre-scanned pool of 184 Chinese factories, one verified A-list supplier per category across 8 appliance categories. Loading takes 3-5 days depending on container mix. Freight to Lagos runs $3,000-4,000 for a 40'HQ, Tema $2,800-3,500, Mombasa $2,500-3,500, Umm Qasr $2,500-4,500, Manila $1,000-1,800. You pay the 70% balance only against a Bill of Lading copy, and only after you've seen the loading and run-test video.
How we handle it at Apex Home Export
Step 1: you send us your target port and category list by WhatsApp or email. Step 2: we quote FOB pricing and grade mix — Grade A units are 3 years old or less with a 90-day warranty, Grade B up to 5 years with a 30-day warranty, Grade C tested working and sold as-is. Step 3: every used unit passes a 27-point bench test and gets its serial number logged before it enters the container — we never load used refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners or TVs, and nothing counterfeit leaves our warehouse. Step 4: you sign the PI, confirm bank details against the signed PI and a recorded video, then send 30% deposit. Step 5: we load, film the run-test, send you the video and the BL copy, and only then do you release the 70% balance. If you want a second opinion, SGS, Bureau Veritas or Intertek can inspect the container at your cost before loading finishes.
What you should do before you pay
- Confirm the bank account name matches your contract entity name exactly, not a personal account.
- Get the signed PI with grade definitions (A/B/C), unit counts, and serial-number log format written in.
- Ask for the 27-point test checklist for your specific category before deposit.
- Fix your freight band in writing against your named port — Lagos, Tema, Mombasa, Umm Qasr, or Manila.
- Decide upfront if you want SGS, Bureau Veritas, or Intertek inspection, and confirm the cost split.
- Do not release the 70% balance until you've watched the loading and run-test video.
Bottom line: starting is a five-step paper trail, not a leap of faith — quote, PI, 30% deposit, video, 70% balance. Message us now on WhatsApp at https://wa.me/8619905922526 and we'll send your first quotation the same day.