Customer Reviews

Import / Export For Dummies

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is a treasure trove of information, advice and resource contact data for anyone thinking of going into, or already in, the import-export field. In a conversational style, the author walks the newcomer to international business through the myriad of challenges, regulations, and opportunities inherent in doing business with overseas interests. This book should be required reading for anyone thinking of importing or exporting!

Import/Export for Dummies is a useful tool for anyone interested in seeking opportunities in importing or exporting. After reading the book I learned more than I anticipated, and my mind is enlightened to many details that I was not aware of prior to reading it. For example I am currently seeking opportunities to import goods to the United States from the Czech Republic, such as pudding-yogurts. The book informed me of all that I need to consider to make any potential deal or order go through smoothly without any penalties or errors that could result in a financial loss. It provided me the guidelines I will need in negotiating with prospective suppliers in the Czech Republic, and how to go about identifying customers in the U.S.

The book is written in a simple and clear approach.

The book is easy to understand and its simplicity is amazing. It is segmented into five parts which focus on setting up the business, learning how to identify applicable rules and regulations, identifying suppliers, find customers and develop an understanding about certain procedures that are unique in importing and exporting (such as: terms of sale, methods of payment, customs clearance procedures, etc.)

As in most Dummies books, examples are abundant, and the author has provided great insight with examples from his professional life and students who attended his seminars.

The book is also full of excellent resources, including a detailed list international trade commission offices for all countries located throughout the United States. These offices can provide assistance in identifying suppliers and also provide valuable insight in the how to do business in specific countries. Additionally, the book also provides information as to various free resources available on the internet.

I would rate this book as an absolute necessity for someone interested in starting their own import or export business. It is the "bible" of importing and exporting that can help inform, warn, and assist you in what you need to know, and do, to make sure the goods you are importing or exporting will move without problems.

I read this book. I would recommend it for someone that has absolutely zero knowledge of international trade. If you have basic knowledege it will only be review of the basics. I'm almost done with Building an Import/Export Business by Weiss and this book was much more informative and helpful for me.

I echo what most of the other reviewers have said, that this is an excellent, comprehensive and clear guide to starting and running an import/export business. The definitions, both in the text and in the glossary, help a beginner make sense of the often confusing jargon. The examples are just complex enough to be useful, no more. The organization is logical.

I will challenge the reviewers who fault this book for being too basic. Despite the "for Dummies" label, this book can bring you the entire way from beginner to expert. It starts from the beginning, teaches you the basics, tells you what else you need to know, and where to go to get it. You don't need a book that lists all information anyone in Import/Export would ever want, and if you had one it would be out of date immediately.

This book is written for the do-it-yourselfer who knows something about some product or market and wants to understand the entire Import/Export process. It does not assume you work for a company with specialists, or that you're going to subcontract out much of the work. It does not assume you have any experience seeing this done. To the extent you do have some knowledge, this book will show you how to leverage that in your business attempt.

This is a really good book, but it's not the only book you will need to establish an import/export business. It is quite generalized, and lacking the specifics that John Wiley Spiers book: "How Small Business Trades Worldwide" contains. I recommend that you get both, but if you can get only one, then go with Wiley's.

Why so many carpers on this?

This is a terrific starting point for anyone considering getting into the business. That's why it's part of the Dummy series, for Pete's sake.

Tons of tips and loads of helpful websites to reference.

Clear, concise language, to boot.

Those down-starring this because it lacks the specific depth they're looking for are throwing darts at the wrong target . . . they clearly should have been referencing a more sophisticated source in the first place.

But for newbies, this is a rich treasure trove of good information covering a whole host of pertinent topics, plus thoughtfully organized with just enough depth to get one headed in the right direction.

There may be other books out there that are better, but for just $13.59, this is a great first read.

I am thinking about starting an importing business and bought this book as a starting point. I usually spend weeks reading even small books because they're too boring for me, but i've had this book for 3 days and am almost finished.
The author goes through the whole process from A-Z, from figuring out what kind of business you want to have, finding suppliers abroad, figuring out how to sell your products etc.
Definitely a great buy!

Excellent handy book including different sections describing the whole process. The book is divided to different section enabling the reader to select the area of improvement in his knowledge component without the need to go through it completely.

Several references and web sites are included in this book; all is based on hand-on experience. The section includes Analysis, marketing, and control elements. In brief , it is wonderful tool and worth the money.

This book provides a clear, fairly comprehensive introduction to importing and exporting. Like nearly all such books, it contains a lot of information (nearly half) that you won't need. That is because not too many people are simultaneously involved in both exporting and importing, focusing on one or the other. If you are doing both, you are probably a broker, not an ex/im merchant. Nevertheless, the topics, although covered somewhat superficially, are vital to the trade. You will be at least made aware of most things you need to know. I especially liked the visual representations of the letter of credit process, a complicated procedure that defies understanding unless someone draws you a picture. If you know little or nothing about the business, start here. But because of the nature of an introductory text, you will need to go elsewhere to dig more deeply into the topics you need to fully understand.

This is the best book I've seen for "newbies" trying to get into this business-- but not a great choice for someone who wants to actually go out and start doing international trade. The informaion is remedial-- I guess that's why the book is called "For Dummies". I wish they would have covered more about how to break into markets, etc.