If a supplier on Alibaba says that the price per unit is $x.xx FOB Qingdao, what exactly is built into the unit price and what aspects of transportation should I still expect to pay for?

FOB Means Free On Board. That means they collect whatever it is that they need to complete your order and bring it to their location or the port they use (Qingdao) at no additional cost. The transportation from Qingdao to your location is all on you.

I would recommend that you ask for a CIF quotation. This means Contents/Insurance/Freight to the place you specify, either the port of choice or if you specify door-to-door it’ll be sent directly to you BUT you will be responsible for offloading the order.

You should also check the taxes and customs clearance charges as well as agent fees. Start with the Harmonized Tariff schedule, then contact an import agent to get their pricing. These things are NOT included in any type of freight quote.

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