ImportYeti Review – Find Your Competitor’s Suppliers

Want to spy on your competitors? Wonder how they set lower pricing? This ImportYeti review got your back!

ImportYeti focuses exclusively on US sea shipment records and offers features like supplier search and market data analysis.

This completely free tool gives you valuable data about your competitors’ suppliers, relationships, imports, exports, and more!

ImportYeti’s features include a comprehensive supplier search tool and detailed market data analysis, which are highly valued by users.

Wondering how or whether ImportYeti is legit and safe? Let’s find it all out in our in-depth ImportYeti Review!

Quick ImportYeti Review

The best

• Easy interface
• Lots of detailed information
• Easy to use search features
• Valuable supplier insights
• Free to use

The worst

• No access to the forwarders that certain shippers use
• You can't find some brands on ImportYeti
• No suppliers' contact info
• It includes only data for the US

Starting from

• FREE

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What Is ImportYeti?

ImportYeti is an innovative online tool that helps you explore the comprehensive US import database and uncover the origins of goods for various retailers. 

This tool is developed by a talented individual, David Applegate, this platform aims to provide ecommerce sellers and dropshippers with easy access to important data. 

The best part? ImportYeti is completely free to use, and the app owner gratefully accepts voluntary donations to support the ongoing maintenance and enhancement of the software.

How Does ImportYeti Work?

First, in the United States, every shipment passing through a port must have a bill of lading, which is freely accessible to the public. 

This document contains valuable information, including the date of shipment, factory name and address, retailer name, shipment weight, shipping quantity, country of origin, and other specific shipping details.

With ImportYeti you can easily research a retailer by simply entering their name. In return, ImportYeti provides you with the following information: 

• Total number of sea shipments over time.
• A list of suppliers associated with the retailer.
• Detailed breakdowns of products based on HS Code.
• A list of the top 10 wholesale vendors.
• The top 10 supplier relationships.
• A breakdown of imports by country.
• A list of the most recent sea shipments.

Hence, this information can be immensely helpful in your dropshipping business. Therefore,  by accessing these details, you can connect with the same factories used by your competitors and work with pre-vetted suppliers.

Data In Dropshipping: The Importance & Characteristics Of Data In Ecommerce

What Services Are Offered By ImportYeti?

1. Supplier Discovery

ImportYeti makes finding the right supplier easier by giving you access to customs sea shipment data and all the complicated information that is typically hard to get.

For example, if you’re looking for quality suppliers in niche markets like martial arts equipment or eco-friendly products, ImportYeti provides all the necessary details.

This user-friendly platform lets you easily search for suppliers based on location, product categories, or even specific shipping patterns.

Customs Data Analysis

Analyzing shipping patterns is crucial to understanding your supply chain, and ImportYeti’s features provide a huge amount of data for this purpose.

By diving into customs data and sea shipment records, you can see how frequently a supplier ships products and the volume they handle.

This extremely helpful tool enables you to assess whether a supplier is reliable and capable of handling your needs.

3. Competitive Analysis

Knowing where your competitors source their products can be a game changer. ImportYeti offers insights into competitors’ supply chains by allowing you to find suppliers they use.

This amazing tool helps you understand their existing solutions and find ways to optimize your own supply chain. Detailed company research lets you make better decisions and stay ahead of the competition.

4. Product Sourcing

Are you looking for specific products or raw materials? ImportYeti makes it easy to navigate complex data sources.

If you’re a small business needing a unique type of fabric or a rare electronic component, this platform lets you search customs sea shipment data to find quality suppliers.

It’s an absolutely incredible platform for sourcing the best materials and keeping yourself always stocked with what you need.

5. Market Research

Understanding the market is key to growth, and ImportYeti offers detailed insights that go beyond what a typical Google search can provide.

So, you can spot trends and niche markets others might miss using customs data and analyzing shipping patterns.

This can be extremely helpful for spotting new opportunities or understanding shifts in demand, allowing for continuous improvement in your business strategy.

6. User-Friendly Interface

Despite dealing with a huge amount of complicated information, ImportYeti’s features are designed to be user-friendly.

Even if you’re not an expert in logistics or international trade, the platform makes searching and analyzing data easy.

Also, users often describe it as the best website for finding quality suppliers and optimizing their supply chain.

Customer’s feedback frequently highlights how super helpful and amazing the platform is for discovering all the factories and suppliers that fit specific needs.

7. H.S. Codes

ImportYeti offers a deep dive into H.S. Codes, also known as H.T.S. Codes (Harmonized Tariff Schedule), which are essential for anyone involved in international trade. H.S. Codes are standardized numerical codes used to classify products based on their type and category.

For example, an H.S. Code typically consists of six digits that define the product category, like “Glassware of a kind used for table, kitchen, or office” (7013.91).

Why is this important? ImportYeti makes it simple to see which quality suppliers specialize in specific product categories based on these codes.

Let’s say you discover that Billy’s Glassware frequently imports items under H.S. Code 7013.91 (the code for table glasses).

So, if you click on that H.S. Code’s page on ImportYeti, you can gain insights into which countries excel at exporting these products and which suppliers consistently provide high-quality glassware.

Is ImportYeti Legit & Safe?

ImportYeti is a completely reliable and secure tool that you can confidently use.

In fact, in the United States, customs data import records are considered public information. This means that any company involved in importing goods into the US from foreign countries by sea is documented, and their records are accessible to the public.

So, Yes, ImportYeti is 100% Legit and Safe

Plus, users find ImportYeti very helpful as I can see. Thus, 96% of users rated the app with 5 stars, so the overall rating is 4.5/5.👇

Plus, users claim that ImportYeti is a whole different angle when it comes to finding dropshipping suppliers, and it has helped their dropshipping businesses scale up.👇

How To Use Import Yeti To Find Suppliers For Your Dropshipping Store?

Let’s see how to use ImportYeti! First things first, there are some easy steps for creating an account.

So, once you search for the company name and try to download any file, you will be redirected to the log/in page. Here, you will enter your email and password and wait for verification mail.👇

After that, ImportYeti requires you to answer a few questions about yourself and the purpose of using the app.👇

Once you finish the questionnaire, you can continue. However, most US companies do not promote themselves with legal names. So, this is one of the things you need to get information on ImportYeti.👇

Therefore, let’s learn how we can get the legal name. 👇

Step 1: Find The Legal Name Of The Company

First, most companies do not use their legal name to build a brand or to sell online. But, if you want to search on Importyeti, you need this. 

For example, I will search for a product on Amazon. Let’s say you want to buy a cabinet. Thus, here you can see the supplier’s name.👇

However, let’s dig into this seller using ImportYeti. 👇

As you can see, ImportYeti does not provide any information since this is not the company’s legal name. 

Thankfully, every Amazon seller files for the Amazon brand registry, which means that they do have a trademark.

For that purpose, you can use tools for trademark search, like Justia, and find the company’s legal name.👇

Hence, Justia will give you information like name, type of business, legal entity type, trademark history, etc.

Step 2: Perform A Search On ImportYeti

Once you have the company’s legal name, you can search on ImportYeti using it. Now, you will get the needed results.👇

Here, you can see the company name, address, social proof, number of shipments, top suppliers, top relationships, import per country, and more.  

Step 3: Use The Import Records To Research Quality Suppliers

As you scroll down, you can see that there are listed all of the seller’s suppliers. In our case, Sauder Manufacturing suppliers.👇

Examining these data, you can get information about:

• whether their suppliers ship to your country
• how many customers does the supplier have
• the product volumes they ship
• what kind of products do they supply

In other words, you will get all the logistics information about the suppliers and be prepared before contacting them.

Check the 21 Best 3PL Companies For Handling Your Dropshipping Logistics

Step 4: Determine Supplier Fit For Your Company

Last but not least, you can’t always copy a successful competitor. Thus, you must see if the suppliers they use are your fit.👇

For example, the supplier might not ship to your home country or might not have the brands you want. 

Thankfully, the data that ImportYeti provides makes it easy to figure it out. You can see if they have an MOQ or the sales volume they ship. 

👉 Check out Dropshipping Product Research Tools: How To Find Winning Products In 2024?

Can You Use ImportYeti For Dropshipping?

Yes, you can definitely use ImportYeti for dropshipping! This tool is incredibly helpful for finding reliable suppliers by offering detailed insights into their shipping patterns and customer feedback.

You can also analyze your competitors‘ supply chains to discover where they’re sourcing products, which can give you a competitive edge.

Plus, it’s completely free and easy to use. So, in my opinion, it is perfect for dropshippers looking to optimize their supply chain without spending extra money.

What Is The Customer’s Feedback About ImportYeti?

After researching user experiences over several platforms, I can say that ImportYeti is a powerful tool for global trade and sourcing.

For instance, the tool has a 4.5 out of 5 stars rating on Trustpilot.

Also, G2 and Capterra users present similar results. In fact, Capterra users have rated ImportYeti with a high 4.9/5 score!

Many users are thrilled with its ability to provide amazing insights into imported shipments at no cost. The platform’s supplier insights feature has been particularly helpful for understanding the market without spending a dime.

For small business owners, ImportYeti has proven to be an invaluable resource. Users appreciate its ease of use, and many have found it saves time and money when finding global suppliers, eliminating the need for expensive subscriptions or extensive searches.

The platform also excels in company research and exploring H.S. Code categories, making it a go-to tool for those navigating complex data. The user-friendly platform is often highlighted as a major benefit, helping users, even those new to trade, easily access and interpret information.

Long-time platform users often describe it as a fantastic resource for gaining major insights into shipments and identifying quality suppliers.

The agreement is that ImportYeti is a game changer in the industry. It offers a user-friendly interface, comprehensive data, and excellent support from its team.

Thus, I can say that ImportYeti is more than just a tool; it’s a reliable partner for optimizing supply chains and finding the best suppliers.

How To Use The Import Records To Find And Vet Suppliers?

To sum it all up, thanks to ImportYeti you can leverage a lot in building your dropshipping business strategy. 

👉 Check out Dropshipping Business Plan: Tips for Creating A Short Business Plan

But what can you accomplish?

You can unlock every American company’s gateway to import records with the power of ImportYeti.

For example, this tool is very useful for Amazon sellers. If you are one of them, you can unveil the mystery behind a competitor’s price undercutting. Thus, you can uncover the competitor’s suppliers and leverage similar pricing strategies.

Plus, you can ensure the authenticity and credibility of a potential new supplier by thoroughly vetting them through comprehensive import data.

Furthermore, as a drop shipper, you can harness the knowledge of shipping volumes among fellow customers to gain negotiation leverage and secure better pricing for your business.

👉 Read about Amazon Handmade vs Etsy: Which Is Better For Dropshippers in 2024?

ImportYeti Pros & Cons

ImportYeti is a highly valuable tool that assists you in finding out insights about your competitors and your success. This free service enables us to examine the origins and destinations of imports, as well as locate them online.

Plus, it offers a user-friendly interface, making it easy to access all the necessary data effortlessly.

Additionally, ImportYeti excels in providing insights into the companies that order freight from overseas and the ports where the freight arrives.  However, it does not provide access to information about the forwarders that these companies utilize. 

Reaching out to the company may result in an explanation that they have no visibility on their imports, but this is a common occurrence as most companies rely on freight forwarders. 

Thus, it would be beneficial if ImportYeti could include this information.

Moreover, ImportYeti does not provide contact information for suppliers. If this information is needed, it can be obtained through a simple Google search.

ImportYeti Alternatives

Jungle Scout Supplier Database

Jungle Scout Supplier Database helps you navigate the US import database and unearth your competitors’ suppliers.

In contrast to ImportYeti, JungleScout presents a superior user interface and seamlessly organizes import records for enhanced accessibility. However, JungleScout comes with a cost.

However, this research tool is not free. Hence, its pricing starts at $29/month

However, if you’re an Amazon seller, you will likely already have Jungle Scout to your advantage since it is included with any subscription.

Panjiva

Panjiva offers a comprehensive and easily searchable database for investigating any company’s complete supply chain.

In comparison, ImportYeti provides information identical to Panjiva but without the burden of hefty monthly fees associated with the latter. Thus, Panjiva is not free to use.

Presently, the cost of Panjiva’s tool is not publicly disclosed online, necessitating a request for a free demo to obtain pricing details.

Import Genius

Import Genius is a cutting-edge tool that provides up-to-the-minute shipment records for any US-based company through its user-friendly and easily searchable database. 

But that’s not all – Import Genius also offers comprehensive trade data for an array of countries. 

So, while ImportYeti serves as an equivalent option for accessing US import data, Import Genius takes the lead when it comes to gaining access to this additional wealth of country-specific information. 

Thus, you can get info for: 

• Argentina
• Bolivia
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Ecuador
• Mexico
• India
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Russia, and more.

However, Import Genius is not free. It offers three pricing plans starting at $149/month.

👉 Check out The Best Countries For Dropshipping To Target In 2024

How To Hide Bill Of Lading And Supplier Data?

Since you know all this information, you probably think that your online business information can be exposed too. Well, they can. But there’s a way to hide your bill of lading and supplier information as well. Plus, it is legal, no worries!

First, you can use a third-party record exporter. Essentially, this third-party entity assumes responsibility for managing the entire shipping process on behalf of your company and becomes the designated “supplier of record” for the shipment.

👉 Check out the 12 Best Shopify Spy Tools To Do Competitor Research

This way, your actual supplier details will not be disclosed on the bill of lading.

Moreover, you can seek confidential treatment for your dropshipping business info. Thus, here’s what you can do.👇

• Complete an automated online application for electronic vessel manifest confidentiality at this location.
• Submit a physical request via mail to: Vessel Manifest Confidentiality 22001 Loudoun County Pkwy Mail Stop #1354 Ashburn, VA 20598-1354
• Submit a request via email to vesselmanifestconfidentiality@cbp.dhs.gov.

💡 Tip: Read about Dropshipping Taxes and Payments – Must-Know Facts

Conclusion

To sum it all up, ImportYeti is a reliable and safe tool for finding your competitor’s suppliers. It provides valuable data about your competitors’ relationships, imports, exports, and more.

Plus, by examining the import records and suppliers listed in ImportYeti, you can gather valuable information about the suppliers, such as whether they ship to their country, the number of customers they have, the product volumes they ship, and more. 

This information allows users to determine if a supplier is a good fit for their company and helps in making informed decisions for your dropshipping business.