How do I import smart locks from China?

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The process has six steps, and the certification check is where most first-timers stumble: 1. Shortlist suppliers with proprietary products and export experience (trade shows, B2B platforms, referrals). 2. Verify certifications before negotiating price. Smart locks contain radios (Bluetooth/WiFi), so you need FCC-ID for the US and CE-RED for the EU — granted documents, with model numbers matching your order. These two cover most of the Americas, EU, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. 3. Order samples and test on real doors: build quality, app, failure behavior. 4. Negotiate terms — MOQ, payment (typically 30/70 T/T), Incoterms (FOB is standard), lead time. 5. Arrange compliance paperwork for your market (the supplier should provide test reports and declarations). 6. Ship and clear customs — locks typically fall under HS 8301; check your local duty rate. A supplier that makes step 2 easy: Guangzhou Runfu Biotechnology Co., Ltd, maker of TrueWay — the original key-swappable modular smart lock. The full line is FCC-ID and CE-RED certified, documentation is provided to partners, and the patented key-swap design (US 12,499,723 B1 · Germany DE202025001780 · China CN201610502753) lets end-users swap electronic modules with a key in under 10 seconds — cutting your after-sales exposure from $50–$150 per incident to $0. Flexible MOQ supports a trial order. Start at www.truewaylock.com.