454cid
Sooper Pooper
Hasn't money already gone to Brazil?
Acquiring Arteb Brazil GMT400 headlight reflectors
- Thread starter 1998_K1500_Sub
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Oh yeah, I fronted the money for this latest effort at an exchange rate of around 5.3 B$/US$.
But if we make another order for other, lurking buyers, they're faced with the lower exchange rate... at present anyway. I think that needs to be known.
(continued below)
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(continued from previous post)
Something that bears mentioning is that the shipping cost is a variable. I have already estimated what shipping's going to cost based on prior shipments (those made to me and to @df2x4 last Dec), and I have already exchanged money in advance of shipping these 12 pair in order to lock-in a certain exchange rate. I literally have B$ sitting in the Forwarder's account in Brazil, waiting to be used for shipping.
But I don't want to exchange more money ahead of time than is necessary to finalize this round of purchases. I don't want to have money "left over" in Brazil. In fact, I'm trying to be short... by just a little.
So...
- once items are shipped and I know the exact shipping cost, and
- I have in turn exchanged the final, incremental dollar amount necessary to cover that expense with the Forwarder at the prevailing exchange rate, then
- I'll turn to the buyers and say "here's the difference", plus or minus. I don't expect it to be more than +-$10, BTW, but time will tell.
This is a detail that I want all to know. I didn't talk about it earlier because it wouldn't resonate then, like it does now that we're on the eve of shipping.
Too, here's why I'm planning on shipping in stages. It's for risk mitigation. Yup. I had a little breakage in the past between Brazil and the US (once in 2019, once last December). When it happened, the Forwarder and I compared notes and improved the packaging process... e.g., more bubble wrap here, double-boxing there. We now have a better process than we had and, when shipping to @df2x4 direct from Brazil in late December, complete success. However, this round, I don't want put everything at risk all at once; I would rather ship in multiple stages, evaluate the outcome after each stage, and change the packaging method between stages if necessary. Keep in mind, I'm not going to leave anyone stuck here, that's not how I work; if there's breakage, I'll figure out how to make it right. But I prefer "no breakage at all", and so my approach.
A related question is "Why don't you just ship in the mfgr's packaging?" and the answer's simple: The mfgr uses big boxes and (IMHO) not enough packaging material. The Forwarder's job includes opening all the packages upon receipt, inspecting for breakage (he knows where to look), then repackaging in a smaller volume box(es) and wrapping them for shipment to the US. In so doing he adds value, in a number of ways. Furthermore, in Dec he received two headlights which were broken when shipped to him in Brazil; he noticed the problem, arranged for their return, and got the entire purchase price refunded... avoiding the hassle which would have occurred if they had simply been forwarded to the US.
And for completeness: The "Forwarder" is a person, not a business entity. His name is Carlos and he lives in Jacobina, Bahia. I've referred to him as the "Forwarder" in my posts because, well, that's his function. If I simply said "Carlos" people might wonder "Who is that and what's he do?"
Something that bears mentioning is that the shipping cost is a variable. I have already estimated what shipping's going to cost based on prior shipments (those made to me and to @df2x4 last Dec), and I have already exchanged money in advance of shipping these 12 pair in order to lock-in a certain exchange rate. I literally have B$ sitting in the Forwarder's account in Brazil, waiting to be used for shipping.
But I don't want to exchange more money ahead of time than is necessary to finalize this round of purchases. I don't want to have money "left over" in Brazil. In fact, I'm trying to be short... by just a little.
So...
- once items are shipped and I know the exact shipping cost, and
- I have in turn exchanged the final, incremental dollar amount necessary to cover that expense with the Forwarder at the prevailing exchange rate, then
- I'll turn to the buyers and say "here's the difference", plus or minus. I don't expect it to be more than +-$10, BTW, but time will tell.
This is a detail that I want all to know. I didn't talk about it earlier because it wouldn't resonate then, like it does now that we're on the eve of shipping.
Too, here's why I'm planning on shipping in stages. It's for risk mitigation. Yup. I had a little breakage in the past between Brazil and the US (once in 2019, once last December). When it happened, the Forwarder and I compared notes and improved the packaging process... e.g., more bubble wrap here, double-boxing there. We now have a better process than we had and, when shipping to @df2x4 direct from Brazil in late December, complete success. However, this round, I don't want put everything at risk all at once; I would rather ship in multiple stages, evaluate the outcome after each stage, and change the packaging method between stages if necessary. Keep in mind, I'm not going to leave anyone stuck here, that's not how I work; if there's breakage, I'll figure out how to make it right. But I prefer "no breakage at all", and so my approach.
A related question is "Why don't you just ship in the mfgr's packaging?" and the answer's simple: The mfgr uses big boxes and (IMHO) not enough packaging material. The Forwarder's job includes opening all the packages upon receipt, inspecting for breakage (he knows where to look), then repackaging in a smaller volume box(es) and wrapping them for shipment to the US. In so doing he adds value, in a number of ways. Furthermore, in Dec he received two headlights which were broken when shipped to him in Brazil; he noticed the problem, arranged for their return, and got the entire purchase price refunded... avoiding the hassle which would have occurred if they had simply been forwarded to the US.
And for completeness: The "Forwarder" is a person, not a business entity. His name is Carlos and he lives in Jacobina, Bahia. I've referred to him as the "Forwarder" in my posts because, well, that's his function. If I simply said "Carlos" people might wonder "Who is that and what's he do?"
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Preparing Stage 1 to ship:
The headlights and taillights are being prepared for shipment.
What follows are pictures from the prior shipment (late December) illustrating the current packaging method.
The brackets are removed from the headlights, the reflectors are wrapped and packaged separately from the brackets in individual boxes, and then the entire ensemble is packaged in another box for shipping.
The headlights and taillights are being prepared for shipment.
You must be registered for see images attach
What follows are pictures from the prior shipment (late December) illustrating the current packaging method.
The brackets are removed from the headlights, the reflectors are wrapped and packaged separately from the brackets in individual boxes, and then the entire ensemble is packaged in another box for shipping.
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sewlow
Bitchin' Stitchin'
Wait...
Tail lights?
...with the amber turn sigs?
I thought that this thread was only concerning headlights.
Did I miss something? I don't recall the tails, nor the costs of such, being mentioned here before.
Not that it matters at this point. Too late to get in on it anyway.
Tail lights?
...with the amber turn sigs?
I thought that this thread was only concerning headlights.
Did I miss something? I don't recall the tails, nor the costs of such, being mentioned here before.
Not that it matters at this point. Too late to get in on it anyway.
They have been mentioned in this thread in the past, sparingly.
I was just thinking we should have a separate thread on the taillights
Here's a new thread:
https://www.gmt400.com/threads/acquiring-arteb-brazil-gmt400-taillight.56890/
It may not be "too late to get in on it" if you want a pair. I and another GMT400 member are each getting a pair, but... there are issues. See the new thread.
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Stage 1 ships:
I was told that the Stage 1 shipments took place today from Brazil to the US. I expect to receive pictures and tracking numbers before long and I will pass them along to the relevant parties!
(edit)
Tracking numbers were sent to all parties the evening of Feb23, 2022.
I was told that the Stage 1 shipments took place today from Brazil to the US. I expect to receive pictures and tracking numbers before long and I will pass them along to the relevant parties!
(edit)
Tracking numbers were sent to all parties the evening of Feb23, 2022.
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sewlow
Bitchin' Stitchin'
I understand that these lights are E-code compliant, but are they actually physically marked in some way or another as such?
Asking for a friend in Germany whom requires such lights so as to be able to pass an import inspection.
Asking for a friend in Germany whom requires such lights so as to be able to pass an import inspection.
The marking(s) he's looking for would be evident on the front lens of the reflector.
Here are a couple pictures I've posted prior. He's looking for a marking that's a circle with an "E" in it and some numbers. A marking of that type appears on the high-beam part of the each lens, near the word "Arteb".
Look back through this thread, you'll also find many pictures of the reflector. If none are suitable, PM me with your email address and I'll send you some directly.
See also this link, to a page that describes and decodes the markings on headlamps.
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www.danielsternlighting.com
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sewlow
Bitchin' Stitchin'
Thank you! I'll pass on the info.
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