? on starting a importing business
11-13-2005, 06:20 PM
#12
3.0 BAR
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 6,279
Re: ? on starting a importing business
Originally Posted by SinisterCRX
Originally Posted by Ricky101
i started this... it sucks.. the profit sucks..
Hell, you didn't even start growing pubes yet.
11-13-2005, 06:33 PM
#13
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,785
Re: ? on starting a importing business
I got ahold of a importer who I've done business with before and was extremely helpful and told me the following in the email just before.
Hi Henry,
Alot of this information, especially the regulations are part of my trade secrets, currently there are only 3 importers in the US bringing their items in correctly. I'm going to be turning 30 next month and have been considering selling ........ I don't want to, but we want to have kids, need a house, and all that stuff that comes along with it. I'm planning on doing fabrication or maybe car repair in my existing shop. I make good money and have one of the best supplier connections,and the yen rate is at a 2 year low right now which is good for us, but it ties up alot of money which is keeping us out of a home(especially here where prices are avg $460k right now
With shipping prices where they are at now the midwest would be a good central place to be, most of my inquires come from midwest locations and shipping usually kills the sale. I have offered my business to an individual locally for $125,000 which included my racks, forklift and equipment, however it was depending upon if he could qualify for our government housing program which he did not. If I decided to sell it out of state without my equipment, I'd probably need around $110,000. This would be the business ........, exclusive legal supplier rights(they only sell performance cars to me in the USA, this is the most valueable asset, our first supplier sent us a bunch of crap we lost alot of money), ebay and e-mail accounts, and full "know how" with customs and federal regulations, which is also a big asset. If you noticed around 2003 alot of importers dissapeared, because customs cracked down on importing car parts and regulations. I would also accompany you to Japan expense paid to meet with the supplier, see how the whole process works and why they get the cars, and explain to them the "takeover". They put out alot of desirable swaps for us, for instance our last container had 7 SR20DET 5sp's, a CA18DET 5sp, a RB25DET, 3 B16A 5sp Civic's,a Prelude H22A 5sp, and a Special order FTO GPX 5sp. I also know the loopholes and regulations that will allow you to build yourself a R33 Skyline if you decide to buy me out and want a nice tax deduction/advertising tool. You can give me a call at ... if you are interested.
Hi Henry,
Alot of this information, especially the regulations are part of my trade secrets, currently there are only 3 importers in the US bringing their items in correctly. I'm going to be turning 30 next month and have been considering selling ........ I don't want to, but we want to have kids, need a house, and all that stuff that comes along with it. I'm planning on doing fabrication or maybe car repair in my existing shop. I make good money and have one of the best supplier connections,and the yen rate is at a 2 year low right now which is good for us, but it ties up alot of money which is keeping us out of a home(especially here where prices are avg $460k right now
With shipping prices where they are at now the midwest would be a good central place to be, most of my inquires come from midwest locations and shipping usually kills the sale. I have offered my business to an individual locally for $125,000 which included my racks, forklift and equipment, however it was depending upon if he could qualify for our government housing program which he did not. If I decided to sell it out of state without my equipment, I'd probably need around $110,000. This would be the business ........, exclusive legal supplier rights(they only sell performance cars to me in the USA, this is the most valueable asset, our first supplier sent us a bunch of crap we lost alot of money), ebay and e-mail accounts, and full "know how" with customs and federal regulations, which is also a big asset. If you noticed around 2003 alot of importers dissapeared, because customs cracked down on importing car parts and regulations. I would also accompany you to Japan expense paid to meet with the supplier, see how the whole process works and why they get the cars, and explain to them the "takeover". They put out alot of desirable swaps for us, for instance our last container had 7 SR20DET 5sp's, a CA18DET 5sp, a RB25DET, 3 B16A 5sp Civic's,a Prelude H22A 5sp, and a Special order FTO GPX 5sp. I also know the loopholes and regulations that will allow you to build yourself a R33 Skyline if you decide to buy me out and want a nice tax deduction/advertising tool. You can give me a call at ... if you are interested.
11-13-2005, 06:39 PM
#14
1.5 BAR
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 797
Re: ? on starting a importing business
Originally Posted by Ricky101
i started this... it sucks.. the profit sucks.. you really have to have a store front.. or a real warehouse... ..and itll be best to actually visit japan.. faxes and phones get you only the people who give u shitty deals... what makes $$$ is really prescription drugs online.. best job i ever had... sell all of it.. just mention on the website that u are located over seas.... to protect your ****
11-13-2005, 06:46 PM
#15
3.0 BAR
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,785
Re: ? on starting a importing business
Ricki101 This isn't gonna be just some online ---- where I'm just the middleman. I'd actually have a warehouse and run the business and shipping everything out myself. This ain't no selling PX's online ---- from overseas type scam or hustler. A straight legit business. If your from the midwest you'd know that there isn't ---- for engine suppliers and shipping is lowball to your ******* from suppliers from the west coast.
11-13-2005, 06:54 PM
#16
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 797
Re: ? on starting a importing business
In order to make any money you need to order a LARGE quantity of engines at once so you can get them cheaper. You aren't going to be able to order 10 or 20 and make any money. Expect to order 100 or so at once which is going to require A LOT of money up front and that doesn't include the overhead for your warehouse and the rest of whats going on over here. Start writing up a business plan unless you have about $100,000 on hand to start out.
11-13-2005, 08:01 PM
#18
0.0 BAR
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 0
Re: ? on starting a importing business
Originally Posted by kvh
In order to make any money you need to order a LARGE quantity of engines at once so you can get them cheaper. You aren't going to be able to order 10 or 20 and make any money. Expect to order 100 or so at once which is going to require A LOT of money up front and that doesn't include the overhead for your warehouse and the rest of whats going on over here. Start writing up a business plan unless you have about $100,000 on hand to start out.
11-13-2005, 09:04 PM
#19
1.5 BAR
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 797
Re: ? on starting a importing business
Originally Posted by rawr
Originally Posted by kvh
In order to make any money you need to order a LARGE quantity of engines at once so you can get them cheaper. You aren't going to be able to order 10 or 20 and make any money. Expect to order 100 or so at once which is going to require A LOT of money up front and that doesn't include the overhead for your warehouse and the rest of whats going on over here. Start writing up a business plan unless you have about $100,000 on hand to start out.
If you actually read what I wrote then you wouldn't have said something so stupid. Yes, working out of his garage would keep costs down, but he STILL needs a lot of capital to start with in order to get deep enough discounts on the engines to make any money. The less you buy the more you pay which means the less you make, if any after shipping, customs, etc.
11-13-2005, 09:08 PM
#20
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,785
Re: ? on starting a importing business
So for the time being I could just run the business out of a large storage unit and do business from home for the time being just to get things going until I could see how the sales would be from the first initial container. After that I could venture into a warehouse and then buy/rent the racks/forklift.
I guess there comes a time when you have to take a risk cause how will you ever know. People have to start somewhere. Cause if you don't know how to swim, your bound to drizzown. Mr Calvin Brodus once spoke. I'll have to find that the number or look on ebay for that book on free gov't money from those commercials with that crazy old coot with the ? mark suit running around the capital.
I guess there comes a time when you have to take a risk cause how will you ever know. People have to start somewhere. Cause if you don't know how to swim, your bound to drizzown. Mr Calvin Brodus once spoke. I'll have to find that the number or look on ebay for that book on free gov't money from those commercials with that crazy old coot with the ? mark suit running around the capital.
