Bulk Purchase Options & Info

[acct55]

Hey all,

I've been using kratom for almost 2 years but only recently found this forum. Some great info here. Vendors I've used so far include Herbal RVA, Benni's Botanicals and a couple others.

Getting right to it: I'm going to make a wholesale purchase for my own use and have gotten samples from both Indonesian and USA suppliers (yes, I know it all comes from Indonesia, btw). While I'd prefer to go with a vendor who already has product in the United States, the savings from going with an Indonesian supplier can be significant. My only hesitation is the potential shipping issue...

"Supplier A" is one of the Indonesian vendors that I've received samples from. The quality is quite good--nothing groundbreaking, but definitely above average. Most of all though, I'm just very pleased that the packaged actually arrived here (I'm in the US).

Another Indonesian supplier I reached out to--"Supplier B"--quoted decent wholesale pricing but outrageously high shipping compared to all the others. The upside there, however, is that they have several positive reviews here and elsewhere.

I guess I'm asking if any of the vendors here can help me understand what to expect if I go with an Indonesian supplier. What kind of shipping options and costs are recommended, etc.

I'm only looking to order about 100kg at first. Also, has any vendor ever gotten their money back after having a shipment seized? It just strikes me that that would be very unlikely.

Anyway, I'm just curious if anyone can give me some advice or insight here.

Maybe it's just the kind of thing I need to roll the dice on and try out myself, but it would be an expensive lesson to not have 100kg arrive.

[fusedflora]

First, feel free to email us directly if you have specific questions further.

If going Indonesia, understand there is significant risk. The first would be bait and switch, Indonesians do this a lot, not intentionally, it's just that most are middlemen in Pontianak and not on an actual farm. They're trying to move a lot of powder and fast, what you sampled is in most cases not what you'll get. They move stock quick. Again, not intentionally, it's just how this business works. Not saying all will do this; after hundreds of samples orders, we know this just doesn't work most of the time.

The other issue is customs. We routinely have a seized shipment from Indonesia. The risk here is that you are out the money straight out, as most Indonesians can't afford to re-send the package, and unless a huge bulk vendor in Indo (which most have facilities in the US already, they will not guarantee shipment. Even if they say guarantee up front, if it's not an extremely well off Indonesian vendor, I'd be leery. We've lost at least, if not more than 300k in the last 3 years, never money back. There's no noticeable pattern to when and how either.

Another is contamination. Shipping companies and customs routinely cut into the packages, often piercing bags of powder to test. Boxes will often have 10% loss if in 1k bricks (can't sell rusty box cutter leaf). If shipping in 5k or 20k bricks (often much cheaper), this is an even bigger issue. I mean you "could," sell it if you wanted, we don't for obvious reasons why.

No one will be able to weigh the risks to you/your business, as there's a lot of other things to consider that aren't here. For instance, most bulk sellers provide labs for the powder.... You just need to weigh what is right for you and what you're comfortable with.

[PistolsAtDawn]

The other issue is customs. We routinely have a seized shipment from Indonesia. The risk here is that you are out the money straight out, as most Indonesians can't afford to re-send the package, and unless a huge bulk vendor in Indo (which most have facilities in the US already, they will not guarantee shipment. Even if they say guarantee up front, if it's not an extremely well off Indonesian vendor, I'd be leery. We've lost at least, if not more than 300k in the last 3 years, never money back. There's no noticeable pattern to when and how either.

Another is contamination. Shipping companies and customs routinely cut into the packages, often piercing bags of powder to test. Boxes will often have 10% loss if in 1k bricks (can't sell rusty box cutter leaf). If shipping in 5k or 20k bricks (often much cheaper), this is an even bigger issue. I mean you "could," sell it if you wanted, we don't for obvious reasons why.

This is fascinating to me. You and the other vendors go through a lot to be in the kratom business, and I really appreciate it. I need it to function. It is my medicine, not my recreation (though it's by far the most enjoyable medicine I have).

[Rhino236]

I’ll echo Fused on this one. Biggest hurdles when importing is customs and bait n switch. As vendors we’ve all had it happen. It sucks and there’s not much recourse you can do. I have long standing relationships with all my suppliers,they will replace seized and lost shipments,but most won’t,especially as a first time buyer.

[BallzDeep9]

Best thing your could Research is right here on MM! READ THIS (click)

"Behind The Scenes" of the Kratom Industry

I agree with Flora and Rhino, RISK is your main concern, not "price"... Those guys have years of experience importing from Indo connections. This is the #1 reason we don't recommend buying from "Popup Vendors", as a consumer, I always have a better chance of getting quality Kratom when buying from proven Vendors... there's already over 200 kratom vendors operating in USA.

[acct55]

Thanks Ballz, I'd already read that thread and many of the others on this site.

I tried to make it clear in my post that I was not really just looking for "cheap kratom"... Rather I'm trying to understand the import process and why I received such wildly different quotes for the same shipping methods from different suppliers (air vs. air, sea vs. sea, etc.). I'm talking significant differences, not penny pinching.

It's not really about the price for me, I want to understand how it works.

This is relevant to the more recent thread as well re: HK seizure and needing shipments to be routed through Singapore instead. Someone in that thread claimed going through SG is much more expensive than HK but did not explain why. In my experience shipping through SG was pretty cheap.