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

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.