Termyn8or
Posts: 18681
Joined: 11/12/2005
Status: offline
|
Vad;
The first thing I would like to say is that you don't ship anything to anyone you don't know without full, or near full payment. And yes I would make it a point to make them aware that they are responsible for any costs of import.
The first rule of business is that the customer pays everything, to that there are no exceptions. If you lose money, you cannot make it up in volume. The big computer that tracks our lives completely is not yet fully in place. So get your payment and then ship a gift with a stated value, and of course a description which will be costume jewelry or something like that.
If it bites you in the ass, you corresponded with this person and times were tough and they sent you a few quid, or whatever they call it. You, in turn have decided to give them a gift. They just happened to have the extra money when you needed it, and you happen to have a gift for them.
But always get payment up front, unless you might want it to really become a gift. It is simply not practical to sue somebody in bumfukt Egypt somewhere. This person owes you what 75 % of the money ? Hmm, send me a few things. I'll even include you in my bankruptcy if it happens. The thing is, get your money now. Taking payments is for a bank. Banks generally do not make collars and cuffs, so I assume you are not a bank.
So get the money first, ship it as a gift and declare the real value. That's the only way I see to do it, unless you want to go big.
If you don't want to go big there are still options, as long as you get the money first, and insure it yourself. This is all stealth, and if you can't handle it do not do it. This is to put the return address of a company that ships internationally all the time and go with a complete different description. You could print up a logo of a company I know and describe the item as a special Oring and gasket set. You have to think on your feet. This company ships worldwide and has daily pickups, they will know this and give you priority.
Remember this would be a masquerade, when they ask you say, no, I missed the pickup but this stuff has to go out today. Pay cash for the shipping. Otherwise it will show up on that company's bill. Another description to use is electronic components, fragile. We can make up a company name for that. Actually I can find one, not even have to make it up.
You have many options, but if you want to grow the business the best way is to be on the up and up, at least with shipping. The fact is, if you go throught the time and trouble, you can prove that since you were born in the US you are not required to pay taxes. I do not want to get into that right now. But to grow as a company, get on the registers, become known, you can do that. But just like an auto title, when you put down gift, you raise flags. Possibly not red ones, but flags nonetheless. And people in other countries do not have the rights that we have forgotten.
In this Man's opinion, you would be better off with a company name. If you intend to do business overseas, just pick a name. If you do, that is the easiest route that I think may accomplish what you want. Every airport in the world does not have a Thomas Register, they do not know if you are legit or not. When they see it is from a company they are more likely to ignore it.
I can help choose the name of the fake company, and before we even go there, Vad's ammunition, Vad's guns, Vad's ICBMs are not good choices. But there are other things.
There are many things they will simply overlook. Vad's publications. Vad's flatware. Vad's iron collars for that matter. And "This package may be opened for postal inspection" almost guarantees that it won't. The trick is in the packaging. Vad's books. Take any fifteen cent paperback you can find and ship it with it. Make a sealed envelope and put the paperback in it, then throw in the collar. Then put on the package with the book, "Do not read this until you put the collar on". Something like that.
There are an illion ways to be dishonest but yet not. (invented a word again). It all depends on which direction you want to go. I could handle international shipping for you if you want, but that might not be what you want. I could probably get your stuff shipped from an international company that does it all the time. But I wouldn't use the gasket company, although they would be a good choice. I am a bit too hooked up with them right now and I would not do it without their knowledge.
So it is a $400 book that comes with a free gift. It is a package deal. Lose the package the insurance pays. This would not be the first time such a tactic was used. Nor the last.
The way I read you is that you are still in the creating stage, you do not want to go into production now, if ever. You like to come up with new shit, get creative on our asses. That is fine. Even if you have things that sell regularly, you want to create. If I am reading you wrong, say so. I think you are not ready, or possibly not willing to go to the production stage.
In that, if true, you remind me of my Father. He was a jobshop machinist and worked closely with the engineers. I mean he would be in there after seeing the print for a prototype and say "This can't be done", and when he said it they listened. They asked him what the problem was and he explained it. Stuff like, you simply can't do this, this bore intersects with this bore which will cause a leakage of coolant, that causes a loss of coolant to segment five. We have no way to plug this, so another way must be found. Actually he said "we gotta find another way". But this is not the point, the point is he did find another way. The point is they offered him many times, positions of authority in those job shops. He always turned them down.
I knew another guy, in my business, but dead now. He turned down the most lucrative phases of the business. He did not want to deal with it. So the point is, just how much shit do you want to deal with ?
But this all comes in steps. If you actually do want to go into production, even on a few items, you have to figure out what parts others can do, cutting stock, who knows ? Actually you do. Even if you got an apprentice or two, that is your chance to make money. But then it behooves you to get this international thing straightened out on your own. If you want to stay a family business, that is fine.
If international orders are rare, then concentrate on the domestic market for now. Deal with that later. If alot of your orders are international, that is different. I would have to know which it is to advise competently on that. I have resouces on which to draw for some really good advice, but what then would I ask them ?
Without knowing your intentions for the future of the business I can't give valid advice. I can't even seek valid advice because that is the first thing they would ask me. "Does this guy want a real business or stay a Mom and Pop shop ?". And that is almost exactly what they would ask. I did learn a few things over the years, and my experience is varied, and though it has not gone much into international shipping, I can figure something out. All I need to know is, do you want to expand or stay the same ?
I mean on a case by case basis, you can make the return address Asti Magnetics, or Fiat Motor Company. But if you want to grow, a different path is required. I can do alot, and say alot, but I don't know what to say. You tell me. Get big or stay small, your choice.
T
|
Customs and overseas shipping question - 
Profile
RE: Customs and overseas shipping question - 
.gif){kind=avatar}
I sent this thread to our customer, who was so kind as to answer his case specifically. His explanation is below.Let me just add that charging tax on shipping charges by adding that to the value of the package is Bull#*%! 
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread