Buying reps in New York: agent shipping to the United States

New York is the single biggest rep-buying market in the world, but the US customs landscape changed dramatically in 2025 — the old $800 duty-free window is gone, so planning your landed cost now matters more than it ever did.

How New York buyers order

The process is the same for everyone: browse the catalog or any of the 22 agent spreadsheets, send your finds to our WhatsApp, approve the QC photos we take of every item, and we consolidate and forward the parcel to New York via DHL, UPS or FedEx. No Chinese account, no Mandarin checkout, no local payment method — one thread from find to doorstep.

Customs and import charges in the United States

The $800 de minimis exemption was suspended on 29 August 2025. For decades, any shipment under $800 entered the US duty-free with minimal paperwork. That's over. As of late 2025, every parcel — regardless of value — is subject to applicable duties, taxes and a formal or informal customs entry.

Postal shipments currently carry roughly a 10% ad valorem duty. After the February 2026 executive order tied de minimis duty rates to the Section 122 surcharge framework, postal parcels reset to about 10% of declared value. Express-courier shipments are assessed on standard HTS classification, which for footwear and apparel can run higher.

Footwear is one of the most heavily tariffed categories. US duty rates on shoes have always been high (often 10–20%+ depending on construction and material), and with de minimis gone, those rates now apply even to a single pair. This is the biggest cost change for NYC sneaker buyers versus a year ago.

Consolidation cuts the per-parcel paperwork, not the duty. Because every shipment is now a customs event, combining items into one declared parcel saves on entry overhead — but the declared value is what customs assesses. We declare accurately and quote the all-in number, including the expected duty, before you pay.

Shipping and delivery to New York

Express forwarding (DHL, UPS, FedEx) into JFK/Newark clears NYC quickly — typically a few working days — with full tracking from the China warehouse. We'll always tell you the expected duty up front, since under the new rules it applies to every parcel.

What New York buyers order most

New York buyers lead on sneakers above all — Jordans, Dunks, New Balance, designer trainers — plus tech-fleece, hoodies, denim and bags. With duty now unavoidable, NYC buyers increasingly consolidate larger hauls to spread the fixed clearance overhead; three pairs ship free. If you've seen something on a spreadsheet or social feed that isn't in our tables, send the link and we'll source it for New York delivery — browse the full catalog to start.

Pricing for New York orders

You pay in your own currency — prices on our tables start from the figure shown (converted from CNY) and are confirmed live before payment. Your New York total is three parts: the item price, our sourcing margin, and shipping by weight — plus any import charge above, which we estimate up front so there are no surprises at the door. There's no minimum: send a single item or a full haul.

Common questions from New York buyers

Is there still a duty-free threshold for New York? No. The $800 de minimis exemption was suspended on 29 August 2025. Every parcel into the US now faces duties and a customs entry, regardless of value.

How much duty will I pay in New York? It depends on contents and shipping method. Postal parcels currently run roughly 10% ad valorem; courier shipments use standard HTS rates, and footwear in particular can be 10–20%+. We quote the expected charge before shipping.

Does consolidating help with US customs? It reduces per-parcel entry overhead since every shipment is now a customs event, but duty is assessed on declared value. We declare accurately and give you the all-in cost up front.