You’ve picked your beds, chairs and trolleys, agreed a price, and then someone asks the question nobody likes: “so how does it actually get here?” For a first-time importer, spa equipment shipping from China feels like the risky part — customs forms, duty bills, and the fear of a cracked frame arriving on a pallet. It isn’t, once you know how DDP works. Here’s the plain-English version for US salon owners.
DDP vs FOB: The Two Terms You’ll Hear
When you request a quote for salon furniture, you’ll usually be offered one of two shipping terms:
- FOB (Free On Board): the supplier gets your goods to the port in China. After that, the freight, insurance, customs clearance and inland delivery are your problem. Cheaper on paper, more work for you.
- DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): the supplier handles everything — ocean freight, import duties, customs clearance and final delivery to your door. One price, one invoice, no surprise bills.
For a salon that has never imported before, DDP is almost always the smarter choice. You know your landed cost on day one, and you’re not learning US customs rules to save a few dollars.
How Long Does Spa Equipment Shipping Take?
Two clocks are running at the same time: production and transit. At Nova, production time is 10–15 days, and DDP door-to-door sea shipping to the USA takes roughly 4–6 weeks. Plan on six to eight weeks from order to delivery for a typical mixed container of beds, chairs and trolleys.
| Stage | Typical time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Production | 10–15 days | Beds built, inspected, upholstery cured |
| Consolidation & crating | 3–7 days | Items packed, frames crated, container loaded |
| Ocean freight | 3–5 weeks | Port to port, US West or East Coast |
| Customs & clearance | 2–5 days | Duties paid by supplier under DDP |
| Inland delivery | 3–10 days | Final delivery to your salon door |
What About Duties and Hidden Costs?
Under DDP there are no hidden bills. The supplier covers import duty, customs brokerage and delivery. What you should confirm in writing before you pay:
- Is the quote all-in DDP, or “DDP to your nearest port”?
- Does it include liftgate delivery (needed for heavy crated beds)?
- Are residential or inside-delivery charges included?
- What is the minimum order quantity? At Nova it’s MOQ 1, with sample orders available, so you can test before committing to a full load.
Packing: Why Spa Equipment Is Different from Flat-Pack Furniture
A beauty bed or pedicure chair can weigh well over 100 kg and has motors, wiring and upholstery that don’t forgive rough handling. Good factory packing for spa equipment looks like this:
- Foam-wrapped and corner-protected frames, with upholstery bagged separately.
- Wooden crating for electric beds and chairs, banded and nailed shut.
- Motors and handsets boxed inside the crate, not loose in a carton.
- One crate per unit where size allows, to avoid stacked-load crush damage.
Always photograph the crates before you sign the delivery receipt. If a crate arrives crushed, note the damage on the paperwork and photograph it — that’s your evidence if a claim is needed.
What Arrives, and What You Need On Site
DDP delivery is typically curbside or to the door, not unpacked and assembled. Before the truck arrives, sort out:
- Access: measure your door and hallway clearance against the crate dimensions.
- Manpower: have two people plus a trolley or pallet jack available.
- Power: Nova beds and chairs run on 110V-240V dual voltage, so no converter is needed for US salons.
- Disposal: arrange for crate and pallet removal.
Buying Tip: Bundle for Better Freight Economics
Shipping cost per unit drops sharply once you fill a container. A single sample bed is fine for testing, but once you’re equipping a whole salon, mixing beds, chairs, trolleys and reception furniture in one shipment spreads the freight over far more value. Our wholesale spa equipment guide covers MOQ and landed-cost planning, our supplier vetting checklist shows what to confirm before wiring money, and the spa equipment for sale guide walks through factory-direct buying. Browse everything at the spa equipment category.
Whichever route you take, insist on a written DDP quote with a delivery address and lead time on it. That single document removes most of the stress from importing.
FAQ: Spa Equipment Shipping
Is DDP cheaper than FOB?
Not always on the freight line alone — but it’s more predictable. DDP fixes your landed cost up front, which matters far more than a small saving once you factor in brokerage and duty surprises.
Do I need a customs broker?
No. Under DDP the supplier acts as importer of record or appoints a broker. You simply receive the delivery.
Can I order just one bed to test?
Yes. Nova accepts MOQ 1 with sample orders available, so you can inspect quality before scaling up.
How do I avoid freight damage?
Choose crated, foam-wrapped packing, photograph every crate before signing, and inspect motors and upholstery within 48 hours of delivery.