Why not just go direct myself?
You can, and you will be the importer either way. The question is whether you want to find the factories, compare the quotes, check the certificates, book the inspector, forwarder and broker, and chase a defect from Brisbane on your first job.
Each step between the factory and your house adds a margin. Elje removes the steps, not the checks.
The short answer
Going direct saves the showroom margin. Going direct alone adds risk that usually costs more than our fee: the wrong board grade, a tap a plumber will not fit, a container held at the wharf, or a balance paid before anyone looked.
What the first job usually costs people
- Weeks of WeChat and WhatsApp messages with factories that all say yes.
- Quotes that cannot be compared: different board, hardware, edging and packing on each.
- A deposit and balance paid by bank transfer with nothing held back.
- Freight quoted to the port, not the site, then port, biosecurity, broker and cartage charges on arrival.
- A product with no WaterMark, or a certificate for a different model.
What Elje does about it
- The $990 Project Plan: Verified factories, 3 or more firm quotes per package, a landed price per line, the timeline and the partners booked.
- Elje Assured, 2% of the order (minimum $600): inspection, the balance held by a licensed escrow partner, defect resolution.
- You still buy from the factory, in your name, and every contact is yours.
- Factories pay Elje 5% of the order. It is written on every quote.
Questions
Is Elje just a middleman?
We never own the goods or hold your money. You pay the factory. Our fees are on every quote, on both sides.
Would I pay less going direct without Elje?
On paper, the factory's 5% might be negotiable if you find the same factory yourself. In practice the first-job mistakes cost more. If going direct alone suits you, the estimate is still free.