Hong Kong (China) - Just how low can USB flash stick prices go? Try $12.99 for a 1 GB USB flash stick. Starline International Group is selling USB sticks as a promotional offer, but the average consumer can't exactly run out and buy them. A minimum quantity must be ordered and the company requires several days of lead time to produce them.

Starline has a factory in Shenzhen, China, and makes several types of USB sticks, memory cards, and MP3 players. American companies typically bulk order generic memory sticks from Chinese factories and re-badge them with their own logos.

At $12.99, it would appear that you could import a few hundred of the sticks and make a tidy profit selling them for $25 dollars, but you have to add in costs for shipping and insurance. You also have to deal with the U.S. Customs Department and any tariffs.

Flash memory prices have been tumbling, with prices for 1 GB USB flash sticks hovering in the low-$20 dollar range, according to Pricegrabber. Another major online retailer is selling USB sticks starting at $18 dollars.