Scams, Fakes, Flippers and Knock Offs.

[mav1178]

Yeah, I'm not flipping it for enough money.

My order of Nissan parts ($60k worth) just got the logistics sticker shock: Freight forwarder is quoting me $18000 to move my 20' container, instead of the ~$4000 when I started this last year. Just the cost to move the container, add on another $1200 for duties and $1-2k more for the port logistics.

That about wipes out all my profits and I might even lose money after all said and done.

Yeah, keep whining about flippers. People that flip (resell) product for profit take a risk.

To each their own.

[dizzariot]

Originally Posted by mav1178

Yeah, I'm not flipping it for enough money.

My order of Nissan parts ($60k worth) just got the logistics sticker shock: Freight forwarder is quoting me $18000 to move my 20' container, instead of the ~$4000 when I started this last year. Just the cost to move the container, add on another $1200 for duties and $1-2k more for the port logistics.

That about wipes out all my profits and I might even lose money after all said and done.

Yeah, keep whining about flippers. People that flip (resell) product for profit take a risk.

To each their own.

We uh...we will?

I get it. You got a bad shake man...like really shitty. You are still defending LuckyLabo and YAJ vultures by comparing it to what you do. It is not the same. You are not the same.

In all honesty, I think you were just looking for an excuse to bitch, which is fine. We all do it on Zilvia.

You are not like the people we are 'whining' about but I think you wanted a reason to whinge about your circumstances. Again, I'm all for it because you legitimately got fucked due to COVID and logistics...but don't try to cheapen our concerns by saying you are the same as SJerin and LuckyLabo and then using that basis to tell everyone we're just not 'businessmen' like you guys. You are not part of 'you guys' even though you keep comparing yourself to them.

TL;DR:

I'm sorry this shit happened to you, but stop comparing yourself to shit-tier IG boys doing this for 'parts clout'. I think you are undervaluing yourself by saying you're on the same level as these people.

Originally Posted by burnsauto

Now are the inflated container fees a result of covid and the giant backlog? I'm sure it's more complicated than that, but if it were boiled down...

Probably. Storage fees, maybe inspection fees.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by burnsauto

Now are the inflated container fees a result of covid and the giant backlog? I'm sure it's more complicated than that, but if it were boiled down...

Just think of freight forwarders as travel agents.

A ship will carry 6000-12000 TEUs, most of those are booked by companies that do large volume of goods. Think of any company same size/larger than Target, give/take a few billion in revenue.

If I bring 2 containers a month, that's a lot of revenue for a small business. Most of the capacity is sold to companies that book perhaps 40-400+ containers on a single ship, so the onesies and twosies will be last on the consideration list.

Unless you want to pay extra. It's just like airlines, they will happily bump other passengers off the plane if someone wants to pay full price, and when they run out of capacity on a consistent basis, the fares start creeping up.

Edit: the fees are actually fairly consistent. Most of it is just regular ISF paperwork filing (per company/shipment), outbound customs inspection (if needed), outbound port loading, inbound port offloading, CBP fees/inspection (if necessary), and inland freight from port to destination. Only variables during this process are the actual ocean freight itself via ocean liner, the weight of the container (as it affects the port handling fees), as well as any duties. Duties are anywhere from 1 to 5%+ depending on category of goods and whether it's declared properly or not.

Before COVID-19, a typical 40' container might break down as the following from TYO to LGB:
$1000-1500 container movement --> this is the part that is inflated right now, running about 2-5x+ normal pricing. Shanghai to LGB is close to $15k for a 40', Vietnam to LGB is even crazier, $34k each container for a 40x 40' shipment leaving this week (that my freight forwarder gave me as a point of reference)
$2-400 for inland transport
$50-100ish ISF filing fee
$200-600+ each port loading/offloading (export port and import port will have different rates based on local labor costs, US ports tend to be highest due to union contracts)
add on another $100-500 in secondary fees for documents, declaration, etc.
Duties for new auto parts from Japan tend to be average about 3-4%, so a 40' valued at $75k will have about $4000 of duties.

Total cost to move a $75k 40' container is around ~$6000-8000, the target would be to have your freight be single digits vs your cost, ideally around 7% if possible for automotive stuff that is imported. This changes depending on value of goods as well as volume, so higher value items like computer components might have lower cost per unit.

Ultimately, each TEU (twenty foot equivalent unit aka 20' container) has a maximum weight, so when shipping raw material or even metal parts, there's only so much you can pack in each container. Probably the most expensive containers I've ever seen are $5-10M range for a single 40'

Originally Posted by dizzariot

In all honesty, I think you were just looking for an excuse to bitch, which is fine. We all do it on Zilvia.

You are not like the people we are 'whining' about but I think you wanted a reason to whinge about your circumstances.

I didn't need a reason to whine about it, especially not this thread, I could've done it myself in my own FS thread.

The reason why I posted it here is because my situation illustrates the RISK every flipper/seller/importer/reseller/etc faces, there is an inherent risk in trying to procure parts to sell.

I can go on YaJ tomorrow and buy a bunch of parts to resell. Hell, I don't even have to do it myself, my friend in Japan can do it for me full time and undercut everyone else.

But much like every thing sold by every person looking for a profit, it's just a question of what profit margin they want for their time. Some are after maximum profit, others know how to buy rare/hard to find parts and flip for a profit, both are fine.

If I really wanted to complain, I would've done so 10+ years ago when the exchange rate was above 115-120 JPY to 1 USD, and everyone (and their mothers) stationed in Japan were shipping goods via USPS domestic mail from APO/FPO, at rates that no one else could touch.

every single Up Garage or other shop/store was raided to the point where there was nothing left. This went on for years, no one complained about it then, no one complains about it now.... even though that stuff was all subsidized by the US taxpayer. Ebay sellers were a dime a dozen before all this Facebook/Instagram/social media stuff.

Some people just know how to hustle. That's all.

But yes, I'm totally whining about my situation. When the Trump tariffs hit in 2017 my friend lost about $50M overnight bc she had about 40 containers inbound from overseas. That wiped out about 10 years of profits in her industry.

These are all risks anyone buying from overseas and selling takes. I'm 100% for flippers as long as they sell what they claim to be selling.

[bigs]

^I like this guy

[dizzariot]

Originally Posted by mav1178

The reason why I posted it here is because my situation illustrates the RISK every flipper/seller/importer/reseller/etc faces, there is an inherent risk in trying to procure parts to sell.

I can go on YaJ tomorrow and buy a bunch of parts to resell. Hell, I don't even have to do it myself, my friend in Japan can do it for me full time and undercut everyone else.

But much like every thing sold by every person looking for a profit, it's just a question of what profit margin they want for their time. Some are after maximum profit, others know how to buy rare/hard to find parts and flip for a profit, both are fine.

If I really wanted to complain, I would've done so 10+ years ago when the exchange rate was above 115-120 JPY to 1 USD, and everyone (and their mothers) stationed in Japan were shipping goods via USPS domestic mail from APO/FPO, at rates that no one else could touch.

every single Up Garage or other shop/store was raided to the point where there was nothing left. This went on for years, no one complained about it then, no one complains about it now.... even though that stuff was all subsidized by the US taxpayer. Ebay sellers were a dime a dozen before all this Facebook/Instagram/social media stuff.

Some people just know how to hustle. That's all.

You buying parts via Nissan is not the same as someone using Streeter, buyee, or Crooober. I get the point you're making, but you investing in a container with the risk of it being delayed, pulled and expected, or having COVID happen isn't the same.

Selling stuff as a business via FPO is not authorized. I have been asked (when sourcing parts for friends) at the post office if I am a business. If your (strange) argument was that they were tanking the market, shouldn't you respect them for 'knowing how to hustle'?

Everyone was/is complaining about Crooober/UpGarage.

For the thousandth time: you are putting these dudes on the same level as you. They are not. They do not have containers with BNIB parts from the factory or a legitimate business, let alone a contact at any of these companies. Do you understand my point?

I'm not using the word 'whine' disparagingly. I was using the same word you used to define this thread lol.

[Thursday7]

mav still seems to be hell bent on beating himself down to Sjerin's level because that's what happens when you simp for capitalism.

[spooled240]

Originally Posted by mav1178

The reason why I posted it here is because my situation illustrates the RISK every flipper/seller/importer/reseller/etc faces, there is an inherent risk in trying to procure parts to sell.

Of course there's risk involved, no one said otherwise. The major difference between you and the other guys is that you offer a unique product/service in procuring factory Nissan parts instead of selling used JDM parts for prices based on hype and flame emoji's. That's really unfortunate with the price hikes on the container. Maybe you can wait until it gets cheaper or you find another service? I don't think you are locked in to any ETA last time I checked..

[SupaDoopa]

Originally Posted by spooled240

Of course there's risk involved, no one said otherwise. The major difference between you and the other guys is that you offer a unique product/service in procuring factory Nissan parts instead of selling used JDM parts for prices based on hype and flame emoji's. That's really unfortunate with the price hikes on the container. Maybe you can wait until it gets cheaper or you find another service? I don't think you are locked in to any ETA last time I checked..

His service isn't unique. There are plenty of people who can sell you and fulfill an order on NISMO shit. Mav just happens to be the DunderMifflin of the parts world. He has customer service, honesty and transparency working in his corner. If I had a need to purchase anything that I knew he carried, he'd get my business. I don't even price shop. No need to. The benefits of everything else outweighs saving $6.29 post-tax.

[spooled240]

Originally Posted by SupaDoopa

His service isn't unique. There are plenty of people who can sell you and fulfill an order on NISMO shit. Mav just happens to be the DunderMifflin of the parts world. He has customer service, honesty and transparency working in his corner. If I had a need to purchase anything that I knew he carried, he'd get my business. I don't even price shop. No need to. The benefits of everything else outweighs saving $6.29 post-tax.

Tell me where I can get brand new Euro-spec kouki s14 headlights BNIB anywhere else. To my knowledge these aren't an "add to cart" type of transaction and require someone with some connections. He may not be 1/1 million, but what he offers is pretty unique imo.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by dizzariot

You buying parts via Nissan is not the same as someone using Streeter, buyee, or Crooober. I get the point you're making, but you investing in a container with the risk of it being delayed, pulled and expected, or having COVID happen isn't the same.

Selling stuff as a business via FPO is not authorized. I have been asked (when sourcing parts for friends) at the post office if I am a business. If your (strange) argument was that they were tanking the market, shouldn't you respect them for 'knowing how to hustle'?

Everyone was/is complaining about Crooober/UpGarage.

For the thousandth time: you are putting these dudes on the same level as you. They are not. They do not have containers with BNIB parts from the factory or a legitimate business, let alone a contact at any of these companies. Do you understand my point?

Actually that's where you and I differ on opinion.

Anyone that fronts money to buy something, to sell a month later or a year later is doing the same thing, putting money out there to procure goods and resell for a profit.

I've seen plenty of people ship from overseas post office, I've been the receiver of probably 2 dozen purchases prior to about 2006, all from APO/FPO address via Ebay. Whether it's legal or not isn't the issue, I bring it up because I am just listing what I would've spent my time complaining about if I were to make a list of things to complain about regarding scams and flippers.

As for me putting myself on whatever flipper's level... see my first point above. People can be a legitimate seller and not have a resale permit. People can part out cars for a hefty profit and not report any of that income properly. Almost every person has done that, so are we to broadly label those that don't report income in a legitimate manner as people that are untrustworthy or otherwise a scammer/flipper, according to this thread? Most states in the US require you to report *any* type of personal sales as income, but most people don't bother to report this if it's a cash transaction.

My point is this: you front the cash, you can do whatever you want. Who cares. That's my point.

Originally Posted by Thursday7

mav still seems to be hell bent on beating himself down to Sjerin's level because that's what happens when you simp for capitalism.

See above. If you want to think of me "beating" down to some level that I'm not even aware of, then that is your opinion.

Originally Posted by spooled240

Of course there's risk involved, no one said otherwise. The major difference between you and the other guys is that you offer a unique product/service in procuring factory Nissan parts instead of selling used JDM parts for prices based on hype and flame emoji's. That's really unfortunate with the price hikes on the container. Maybe you can wait until it gets cheaper or you find another service? I don't think you are locked in to any ETA last time I checked..

I can keep waiting, but I'm already about 8 months past my initial deadline.

Originally Posted by SupaDoopa

His service isn't unique. There are plenty of people who can sell you and fulfill an order on NISMO shit. Mav just happens to be the DunderMifflin of the parts world. He has customer service, honesty and transparency working in his corner. If I had a need to purchase anything that I knew he carried, he'd get my business. I don't even price shop. No need to. The benefits of everything else outweighs saving $6.29 post-tax.

Originally Posted by spooled240

Tell me where I can get brand new Euro-spec kouki s14 headlights BNIB anywhere else. To my knowledge these aren't an "add to cart" type of transaction and require someone with some connections. He may not be 1/1 million, but what he offers is pretty unique imo.

Nothing about what I do is unique other than the fact that I was willing to go do the trouble of getting pricing.. beyond that, nothing is new. Nismo parts were readily available out of Japan via RHDJapan/Nengun/Blackhawk/etc, and their FedEx or EMS pricing were things I could not compete with. Additionally, my cost on most Nismo parts is actually higher than the street/retail price shown on most of the sites I've mentioned.

As for genuine Nissan parts there are also sources for existing shops to buy from if they've been in business long enough, but it also means you own the entire supply chain logistics process from start to finish like me. But it also means you find out just as I did, Nissan will list products as "available to order" but not fulfill it months later. This is probably why so many people say parts are discontinued, because they keep getting betrayed by Nissan.

I don't even need to explain any of what I do, but the reason why I am explaining is that people talk down on the flippers like they are evil because they come and go like locusts and provide nothing for the community. So what? As long as they're not selling fake products or scamming you out of money, more power to them.

Last year I bought about $500+ worth of various S13/14 Nissan brochures from a guy in Australia. This was 100% a flip for probably 2-3x his cost on the product from Japan originally, but I was fine with paying the pricing. The batch included about 3 or 4 brochures that I wanted, rest were just throwaway.

Why do I bring this up? Because the guy selling it saved me the trouble of sourcing the stuff on my own, and with EMS being suspended out of Japan it also meant it would've been harder to ship out of Japan had I been looking for it.

Every overpriced item out there will have someone willing to buy it, it's no different than the S2000 or R35 GT-R marked up $10-30k when it first came out... the markup will stay there as long as people keep willing to pay for it.

Does that make the dealer shady? I guess most people will think they are.

[dizzariot]

Yeah, losing a box (read: not container) that requires 0 extra fees (handling, customs, transportation) beyond paying for shipping is the same thing.

Totally. These are all people with high business acumen in the same boat as you. You've convinced me.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by dizzariot

Yeah, losing a box (read: not container) that requires 0 extra fees (handling, customs, transportation) beyond paying for shipping is the same thing.

It is, actually.

If I had no real capital to invest with I'd just buy overseas from a broker and pay everything with credit card.

The only difference between that vs buying a container is that most purchases over a certain value would necessitate a wire transfer instead of payment via 3rd party financing.

There are also plenty of people out there that buy LCL or FCL shipments and flip for stupid money. Those are fewer though, they have a lot more working capital.

At this point you guys can think whatever you want. I've said my piece, if my opinion is not valid or otherwise not a contribution to this thread, then so be it.

Have fun.