Importing a chinese tractor

SPIKER · Mar 22, 2006

I did this back when atoo with a shared 40' contailer full of stuff. then shipped my half from the shared gents place to mine. it was OK but that was pre 9-11 and pre the 06 EPA issues. now it makes more sence to go a head and get one from one of the dealers who do all the hard work for you and provide good support, tommy, CHIP or several other would be good choices. the amount saved really is not all that much when you figure up the hidden charges that are not really mmentioned USUALLY, such as dock fees, dryage fees port fees, ect. not to mention the fact that a dealer has already gotten EPA stuff together, I contacted & worked with my epa people months prior to actually sending the $ in, and got to know them a bit. in the end there was a broker to do it on his end as he already knew him, which was better and that was an additional 900 that wasn't mentioned. I broke even on my tractor (got it for the price charged china side) and sold the others for enough to make my shipping/fees dissappear, that took 3 other tractors worth of profit. I sold these at pretty much what you can buy a "farmpro" for so I didn't make $. Just free shipping for mine.

that all being said I wouldn't bother attempting the hassels headachs and stress of it again, just go to local dealer & buy one.

my oppinions are not liked by everyone but it is just how I see it.

mark M /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

CajunFrog · Mar 23, 2006

Well I have finally gotten what I have come to know is a fair and reasonable quote from a freight forwarder who will handle the whole logistics and custom clearance. The price is $1110 for one Jinma 354 insured, cleared through at port of New Orleans. Tommy, you were correct in that the ocean leg is from China to Los Angles. The consolidated freight container is then loaded onto a rail car for the trip to N. O. where it clears customs there. This is a rate that can be booked at a firm price. I am not responsible for any additonal fees or demurrage except the loading fee at the dock and storage if I cannot pick it up within a specified time limit. Also responsible for duties and taxes but there are no duty or taxes on Ag tractors. This is still more that what I expected to pay but better than most and this is with a reputable freight forwarder.

That still makes the tractor well over a grand less that a crate tractor bought here.
Thinking it over..... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
K

jordanh · Mar 23, 2006

That sounds about right. TNG gave me some good pricing and promised shipping plus insurance with no additional fees or handling for pick up in St. Louis. I have a couple brokers qoutes that are very reasonable. Cost for a single 254 or 354 was going to be right at $700-1000 plus the cost of the tractor.

I am considering it against some very generous offers from some of the supporting dealers on here and on CTOA, whom I greatly appreciate and will probably buy through simply because of the relative sense of safety and because I want to support them for all they have done for us and for me personally.....thank you Tommy and Chip.

But I'm like you.....I'd fall over a dollar to pick up a dime....I'm cheap. I like to DIY. I like to research. Its my weakness. Sometimes it works out like I wants....sometimes its a disaster.

Given the expense of this kind of purchase I think I can't afford to take the chance on a disaster. IF I get the balls and incentive to go into selling them I will look harder at importing myself to gain the potential margin of profit.

My experience with the exporters is their prices are pretty darn similar...practically identical. But I have found no way yet to investigate how honest or trustworthy they may be.

:^D

CajunFrog · Mar 23, 2006

@jordanh
Most importers give some kind of warranty. One of the groups say they give one year. I would think you should be a little better off with the importer than trying to get the manufacturing group to make good on missing or bad parts. Either way you would probably have some hassle and a long wait. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

The importers are really freight forwarding dealers. They generally do not stock the tractors. When they get enough orders to fill a container they have them shipped. They get a much better rate on the shipping because they import full containers. They also have their own shipping system and customs clearance network in place.
My cost to get a container of 8 tractors over here cleared thru customs is $5500 or $685 per unit using a freight forwarding company. I would think that most importing on the average dealers do better than that. The importers sell a JM 354 crate tractor for around $1200 less that a stocking dealer. The cost of a self-imported tractor based on using my freight forwarder is still over $1200 less than what the importers sell it for.
You want to figure your potential profit or in my case savings? Its not that good when you import one tractor but it gets much better when you buy a container load and plan to retail them which may not be too hard as most of the stocking dealers say they have a hard time keeping them in stock.
Do the math! But in either case one hung up turd can erase it all and them some.

I know, I didn't really help you or myself decide anything....sorry. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
.
K

bruce1966us · Mar 23, 2006

What are you going to do when your new tractor has a hair line crack in the block, or is hung up in customs for 20 days( YOU will pay the demmurage charges at $60 a day), or when a forklift has made it's path thru the rear fender? etc,etc,etc,etc,etc,etc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, and when the the rail want to charge you $100 per day demmurage, just because they know you can't do anything about it? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Who you gonna call? Ghost Busters!

Affordable · Mar 24, 2006

bruce1966us, But just look at the saving's, sometimes things are best left alone. If somebody has there mind made up about something nobody is going to tell them different.

Tommy
AffordableTractor Sales

MrFixit · Mar 24, 2006

I Have to agree, his mind is made up. Most of us know the cost savings will not be worth the Hassle, that's if there is even any cost savings.

Many peope like to have or do something unique so they can brag to thier buddies. It must sound impressive to tell your buddies "I imported this tractor from China Myself, Put it together myself and fixed all the problems myself".

In my case I needed a machine to help me save time. I don't have the time to wait for a tractor to be shipped from China. I don't have the time to learn how to be a self importer. I don't have the time to assemble a tractor. I don't have time to wait for repair parts to be shipped from China.

If I had all this extra time on my hands I wouldn't even need a tractor, I'd just do all the work myself!

Tim

JohnS · Mar 24, 2006

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Many peope like to have or do something unique so they can brag to thier buddies. It must sound impressive to tell your buddies "I imported this tractor from China Myself, Put it together myself and fixed all the problems myself".
)</font>

Well, not for the bragging, but there definitly is a sense of accomplishment. From numbers being quoted, the savings are thinner than a few years ago. Even with an EPA engines I probably wouldn't select to import a single tractor, today. If I needed a larger one or a dozer and other equipment, and someone locally was doing a full or half container, I might be enticed. Can't say for sure, but would have to think long and hard on it.

It is a time/risk/benefit calculation, that everyone has to examine on their own. There will be people who select to import themselves, as long as the option is available. I expect, some will run into trouble, and determine it was not worth it. Others, will be "lucky" enough and save money. I hold no ill will to anyone that does decide to import themselves. Hey, the did the research, and know what the possible outcomes could be.

CajunFrog · Mar 24, 2006

Who said my mind was made up? I do not claim to know anyone's mind but my own......and sometimes I wonder about that. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Just about every person who has considered a risky undertaking has wrestled with the same demon I am.....FEAR. If people who were thinking of starting their own business went solely by the statistics on the number that fail no one would dare try.
You guys said to keep you posted on how things were going and these are the figures from my research and are as accurate as I can represent them. They are intended to be informative and a contribution to this forum. Nothing presented is something that anyone cannot ferret out for themselves on the Internet. No "trade secrets" were revealed.

I think that the average guy looking for a new compact Chinese tractor would run to their dealer after reading this thread and figuring how "slim" the savings are. Yes, they are less now that even a year ago. Some of that due to EPA regs, increases in costs and fees to get it here, and higher prices from the manufacturing groups. I have not posted any tractor prices out of respect to the dealers but I can say that the price varies among the manufacturing groups in China as well.

My figure on the cost of shipping and clearing customs was high. But it included insurance for damage and firm prices to limit risk. But, if anything, from my talks with several dealers around home that sell Chinese tractors, they indicated that shipments have been coming in with far fewer problems and damage than several years ago.....just slower getting them.

Sure, one could cut several hundred dollars by handling some of the work a freight forwarder does themselves and their risk goes up but also the potential profit is greater. Methinks in the case where someome has a good network potential profit is a lot greater than the risk. Thats how the drop shipping importing dealers do it and some stocking dealers as well.

And about my mind being made up!!! Well think again. I'm going to look at three used compact tractors this weekend and only one is Chinese. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks guys,
Later
K

Paddy · Mar 24, 2006

K,

First I want to welcome you to the board. I looked at self import too. And Grey. And used big 3. I went KAMA

I went with Chip at Artrac. I know, out of your region. You have to place a value on assembly and parts. Mine came with all new oil/lube. It was assembled by a team of experinced guys. Though my problems were small, my dealer jumped in with in hrs and had parts shipped out to me. I call him with dumb questions...

Self import is like self-insured. Yea, many come out saving. Some come out loosing their shirt. Your dealer is your insurance Company. No one can tell if you will fall it to either group.

Go China, you will save plenty

Patrick