A quick guide on how to import European windows to the USA

You’ve heard that European windows meet high quality standards and decided to buy them. This is the pleasant part of the buying process.

However, to finalize the transaction, you need to ship the goods to your country – USA, which can be difficult without professional help. Yet there is no need to worry, debesto got you covered. In this article, we will go through the most relevant aspects of importing European windows to the USA.

In this article you can find out:

Why are European windows worth buying?

European windows are getting more and more popular in the USA. They are better resistant to condensation which reduces the energy consumption especially in colder climates.

Most of the American windows use double pane windows while European windows have triple or even quadruple panes along with integrated blinds. Thanks to that they keep heat during the winter and keep pleasant, not-too-hot temperatures during the summer.

Even if we take into consideration that some of the North American windows also use triple panes, they have smaller spaces between them compared to the European ones. It makes American ones less resilient to the outer climate. 

Popularity of Windows in USA and Eu

Where to buy European windows?

Purchasing and importing windows from Europe to the USA may sound like a complicated process but, thanks to the companies like debesto, it’s easier than you think. One of the ways to buy European quality windows is to order them straight from one of the producers and ship them to the chosen port in the US with the help of the professional consultants and commodity brokers. And this is what we do for companies.

To help our customers find the best possible solutions, we take care of the whole process of purchasing, starting from choosing the right windows through completing the order and taking care of the whole formalities (related to the order and shipping) and finally sending them to the chosen port in the US. You don’t have to spend hours searching for better options, we will take care of the whole process for your company.

windows from europe to usa import

Can individual customer import European windows?

Importing European windows to the USA is profitable for companies. debesto helps companies to import windows from Poland. If you are an individual customer, you may also get European quality windows installed at your home. Tell your contractor about debesto, so he can be able to increase his offerings with windows from Poland.

What’s the cost of the import of the European windows to the USA?

As you may realize, importing small amounts of windows to the USA can be expensive and profitability of such operations can be debatable in most cases. But, there are some ways to cut these costs. One of them is ordering a full container. For example, a 40-foot container can fit about 100 windows 200 x 200 cm. Ordering a full container is more cost-effective than ordering fewer windows than the container can hold (we call this LCL – less than container can load).

What is the price for shipping? 

The estimated price of a window container imported from Poland to the USA starts from $1900. You can check the exact cost of importing windows in price list below.

how to save money on transport while importing windows from poland

How to arrange shipping european windows to the USA?

Ok, we know how much it costs to import windows from Europe to the USA. Now, let’s find out how to arrange this process. To understand the shipping process follow these 5 steps:

Now we will go through them briefly.

1. Packing in Poland

Let’s assume that you have already chosen the windows and ordered them. After that, the producer prepares your order which takes from one to eight weeks. Then, they transport the goods for container loading or deliver them to a given warehouse. 

Now it’s time for professional protection and preparation of the parcel with windows for a long journey, so that it arrives in perfect condition. In the meantime, your partner estimates the number of crates the goods will be loaded into. When everythings is ready, they contact the shipping company, which determines the cost of transport.

Your windows are placed in stands or boxes that are specially adapted for long journeys of fragile goods. Their structures are resistant to various external factors, such as moisture, shocks, or insects.

If your order is smaller or consists of tiny elements, there is a possibility to send it as so-called general cargo. It is packed into special small boxes, which are then loaded onto a container. In that case, you don’t need to pay for the entire container.

After the goods are properly packed, we contact the sea freight company, to which we provide all the necessary shipping documents.

windows from Poland packed to shipping

2. Port in Poland

The container is transported to the seaport by rail or road. Then, the shipping company informs us about the approximate date of loading the container and the departure of the goods. It may take several days. Why? It all depends on the equipment, crew and availability of the ships, because the date of departure is contingent on the free space on the ship. Once the departure date is known, your order is ready for the journey.

If your goods are properly packed, the shipowner approves the container as ready for shipment. Usually, it takes several days from acceptance to departure.

windows in the container

3. Shipping

The ocean road (from Europe to New York City) takes around 21 days. But remember, this is the time of the cruise itself and not the total travel time from the warehouse to your destination. You should add from two to three weeks for the organization of the container in the port.

There are two ways to ship your windows: on a CIF rules Cost, Insurance and Freight (named destination port) or DAP (Delivered at Place). They are the incoterms terms.

CIF means that the seller, in our case –  debesto, will carry out export customs clearance for you and, what’s equally important, your shipment will be insured for the time of maritime transport right up to the port you choose.

DAP is an option in which the windows will arrive not only at the port, but even at the place you specify – the construction site.

shipping debesto

4. Port in the USA

When the container arrives at the pickup location, the shipowner should contact you directly or your US customs broker.

There are two ways to ship a container. The first is the collection of the container from the port, which you have to arrange on your own. It is important to do this quickly as the cargo must not remain in the port for too long. Otherwise you may be charged additional fees.

That’s why it is important to immediately contact the shipping company, which will deliver the material directly to the construction site as soon as the container is unloaded from the ship. It saves you several hundred dollars.

Important: If you have trouble finding the right company, contact your US customs broker. It will definitely help you find the right supplier.

It is also important to be aware that you may wait several days for the ship to unload in port. Therefore, make sure that the US company will pick up your order as soon as it receives information from the customs agency that the goods have been unloaded.

5. Delivery to your company

After collecting the container from the port, the shipping company will take it directly to the construction site. Then you can start the installation process and provide your client with the best quality windows for many years.

You can also deliver your windows directly to the place indicated by you. In this case, the transport is organized by your partner on the Polish side. But in that scenario, you have to be ready for higher costs than if you would arrange the transport on your own. At debesto, we cut your costs because we deliver windows up to 300 kilometers from the port for a $2,000 surcharge.

If, unfortunately, you forgot about some elements, such as handles or hinges – you can always use the classic courier services and send a parcel weighing up to 70 kg, which will arrive by plane within 2-3 days. The courier will deliver it directly to the indicated address, so you don’t have to worry about receiving the package.

windows building site

Shipping formalities

Now let’s go through all the required documents related to taxes, customs clearance, etc., which are necessary to take care of shipping from the formal side.

Taxes

When it comes to taxes, there is good news for you – there is a 0% VAT rate when buying goods from Poland and exporting them to the USA. It is justified by the following documents:

IE 529 MRN – This is a confirmation of the beginning of the exportation procedure. We get this document in a Polish port, at the time of the customs clearance. IE 599 – this is a confirmation of the export of goods outside the EU. We receive them within 14 days of the goods leaving the last European Union port.

Customs clearance

To organize custom clearance for windows imported from Europe, you need:

  • a commercial invoice (It is good to have an english version)
  • a packing list (List of the goods and it’s netto/brutto weight)
  • company’s registration documents
  • authorization for customs agency
required documents when importing windows from poland to the usa
Needed for custom clearance

Tips for reception of windows after reaching USA

After the windows leave the port, an agent from the American side will contact you to take care of all formalities related to the shipping for you. 

He should help you with all local payments, and taxes proper for every state. He should also establish a way of taking the goods after it comes to the port – explains Jacek Łyczewski a logistician at debesto.

You can pick up an order on your own or ask for delivery at the building site.

And here is the most important part of the whole process. After your windows reach the USA, the main responsibility for the purchasing process falls on you. Here is what you have to do:

  • 1. Collect of goods from the port on your own within the prescribed time (usually 48-72 hours after the container arrives at the port)
  • 2. Pay the USA duty (check what the rate is)
  • 3. Arrange and pay for transport from the port to the place of investment / warehouse

Payment of port service costs:

  • for LCL (less than container load) it will be about (strongly estimated: 100-200 dollars per 1m3 (cubic) of goods
  • in the case of full container transport FCL (the entire container exclusively for one customer) the costs depend of your agreement with the sea fright.

Do not omit any of these points because it may cost you a lot of money because of fees. Just one additional day the goods will “spend” in the port may cost you hundreds of dollars!

Shipping windows from Europe to the USA – what else you need to know?

Besides all the aforementioned charges, it is good to remember some important aspects of the import. What else should you do?

  • 1. Decide if you want to use the services of an agent recommended by debesto.com or another (handled on your own).
  • 2. Take care of the data that must be provided to the agent.
  • 3. Check if the quantitative and qualitative compliance of the packages is correct.
  • 4. Take photos of the goods in the packages and after opening them in case of possible damages.
windows packed for shipping

Shipping European windows to the USA – summary

As you can see, importing windows from Germany, Poland or any European country is not a rocket science. But you need to remember some important formalities, costs and deadlines to avoid unpleasant surprises. If you want to import European windows, but you need a support, you can contact debesto – European windows broker.

What does the cooperation with debesto look like?

We start with the interview in which you share needs of your company`s project. Then, we browse the market to find the best possible solutions for your business. Once we know what kind of solutions you need, we compare offers for this solution using the network of our partners and present it to you.

If everything is fine and you choose one of the presented offers, we start the purchasing process. In debesto we take care of all the formalities so you don’t have to worry about it. As a commodity broker, we cooperate with globally-known brands such as Rehau, Gealan, Veka, Schuco, Coritzo, Aluprof, Yawal, Aliplast, Reynares and Ponzio.

Thanks to our experience, we know which suppliers stick to the deadlines and offer the best quality of their goods so you can be sure that you won’t have any complaints on your purchased goods. Also, we give you a warranty for 30 months that obtains in every country in the world. You can read more about profits of working with windows broker here.

cooperation with debesto support

about author

Bartek Michalak

Digital marketing manager at debesto.com, a company from Poland that specializes in the export of windows and doors in the B2B segment to countries like Germany, France, UK, but also the USA or Seychelles.

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faq

Debesto.com – who are we and what do we do?

1.What will I gain from working with you?

First of all, you’ll save your TIME. We will do the whole work with ordering doors, windows, gates, and blinds for you. Why should you outsource it to us? 
  • You will get products in a quality which was checked by us.
  • You don’t have to worry about meeting the deadline or financial condition of the supplier - we order the production only to verified companies.
  • We’ll find products that suit your needs - it doesn’t matter if that are windows, wooden or aluminum doors, PCV, blinds, or garage doors.
  • One complete transport at a lower price instead of a few different ones will come to the place of investment.
  • You’ll comfortably get everything done with one adviser, one invoice, one transfer, and only one place where you can (if necessary) make a complaint.
 

2. Does your company produce windows?

We aren’t just a traditional producer. We order the production of doors, windows, gates, and blinds inside of a network of selected and verified suppliers in terms of production punctuality, their financial condition, and the quality of products. We call ourselves the broker on a polish joinery market. We’ll do all of the arduous work with ordering the joinery from Poland for you. We’ll choose relevant products at an affordable price, organise safe transport and we’ll deliver the product to any address in the world. 

3. Do you have any stationary representatives in other countries?

We do not have any branches in other countries. Our office and a magazine are in Poland in Oleśnica (30 km from Wrocław).We overcome thousands of kilometers separating us from our clients owing to modern technologies. Thanks to that you’ll save your money and time because we don’t have to add any extra costs to the services or products to maintain expensive offices all over the world.

Delivery time, payment, installation, warranty

1. What is the delivery time on debesto.com?

The time of order processing is highly dependent on its specification. For example, white PCV windows, standard colors (anthracite on one side) can be ready for pick up or a shipment from 7 working days. The waiting time for nonstandard PCV colors is about 4 weeks depending on the color. The production time of PCV doors is also about 4 weeks. Aluminium doors and windows - from 3 weeks, wooden windows from 6 weeks. Furthermore, the blinds about 2 weeks, garage doors - about 3 weeks, metallic doors from 4 weeks. You’ll find estimated production time next to every product on its subpage.

2. How does the payment look like? Do I have to pay the whole amount immediately?

We suggest two forms of payment: 1. 50% of advance for production of the product and 50% shall be paid before picking up/ sending the goods. 2. 100% payment in advance. This form is much more favorable because we give you an additional 5% discount depending on the group of products.

3. Will I buy the joinery with an installation on debesto.com?

No, on debesto.com we sell only windows, doors, blinds, and gates, which we deliver to every place in the world. The installation of the windows depends on the client. We do not offer installation service because our offer is not directed to the building companies, installers, developers, and realtors that can install the joinery by themselves.

4. If the windows would be installed by a different company, do the products keep the warranty?

Yes, the only condition is installing the product in accordance with the art of assembly and applicable standards in the country of the installation in terms of the warranty.

5. Do the products that I buy have a foreign warranty?

Yes, the only condition is installing the product in accordance with the art of assembly and applicable standards in the country of the installation in terms of the warranty.

A quick guide on how to import European windows to the USA

Want to know how much your business can gain by importing joinery from Poland?