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Good afternoon all. Long time LW.net reader, second time poster. Just wanted to share my story about importing a Chinese clone 441 into the USA (Colorado). I've read lots of talk about these here and one gent's story of importing to New Zealand(?). I've never run across anyone's story regarding a USA import in detail. i'm not much of a leatherworker, but I do a fair amount of hobby sewing/upholstery/duffle bags and such. I plan on adding leather goods to the repertoire with this machine and top stitching canvas items my Juki 563 can't handle. FIRST OFF: i understand the value provided by a local or USA based dealer and I've purchased bits from Keystone Sewing and Toledo Industrial Sewing Machine. Thanks to Greg and Bob there for being great guys, and many thanks to LW.net posters for giving me the knowledge and confidence to rebuild my first industrial sewing machine, a Singer 112W145 2-needle drop feed. This place is an amazing resource. Special thanks to Gottaknow. We never dealt 'personally' but his posts are gold. OK, so I bought a 441 Clone from Taizhou Zuowen Industrial Sewing Machine Co (machine is branded 'MACEE'). IF you're considering this and get stars in your eyes by the $706 base price, get ready. There's a reason these things cost so much from your local dealer, and I'm not talking about base price/quality/get what you pay for. I'd like to share with you all every charge I incurred doing this myself (some are estimates, as I also brought in a 3-needle chainstitch with puller Model 3800-3PL): Base price (head/table/kinda wimpy servo 110VAC) $706 (Alibaba price is useless. $1-$999 is the listed price there. Seller quoted my inquiry) Sea freight + trucking: $556 Customs exam charge: $100 Courier charge: $35 ISF bond: $150 ISF (Filing fee?): $75 Customs clearance: $135 HC(big van rental??) $75 Duty: $319.41 (incl extra needles/feet/bits) Single importer bond purchase $75 Unloading charge: $125 In short: Machine: $706 Freight: $556 Customs/bond/misc handling: $1,089.41. GRAND TOTAL, LANDED COST IN DENVER, CO: $2351.41. I hope this isnt' rambling too much but here is some food for thought: Would I do it again? Not sure. I can't knock the seller for having crummy English. Their English is way better than my Chinese, but that just added to the difficulty of the transaction for a first time buyer. Incoterms, bills of lading, sea freight, warehousing, trucking, customs, purchasing bonds and all kinds of stuff I had no idea about came into play. It's been a great learning experience and I appreciate what people who do this routinely have to go through. Worst part was even the US people (Customs broker and US contact with sea freight company) didn't speak native English. YMMV. Order placed 18-OCT 2019. Hit the water 31-OCT. In California 13 days later. Stuck in customs for 2 weeks awaiting paperwork. Lots of calls from people asking me for things that I didn't even know what they were. More emails to seller (who was VERY helpful btw, even with her limited English). Landed at my work receiving dock 12-DEC in Arvada, CO. I HIGHLY recommend receiving it at your work if you have a dock/forklift/pallet jacks and your boss is cool with it. Saved me another $200 over residential delivery. Be prepared to sign over power of attorney to your broker/trucking company so they can take ownership on your behalf from the sea freight company. This will require a copy of your SSN. It took me an hour to find my card on the day my broker called and needed it THAT DAY or I'd incur late charges. This isn't like buying something and it shows up in your mailbox. You will be involved signing and scanning and emailing documents. You'll be getting calls at work from the sea freight co or trucker or customs broker. Your stuff may get stuck in customs. You'll need to wire money. Alibaba took credit card and has protections but my Customs broker company only takes wire. Be prepared to explain youself to your banker when you make the wire. They are very suspicious you're wiring $$$ to some random person who's scamming you. Look up your customs broker at the US Customs and Border Patrol (USCBP) website and tell your bank that USCBP has licensed this broker. That will make them feel better. First impressions are it's a fine looking, well built machine. Sewed right out of the box and wasn't covered in cosmoline near as bad as I'd thought. Pics later. So, there you have it ladies and gents. Hope this is helpful to someone. Will