I do business with Australian companies, and I've shipped goods that weigh
500-1000 pounds per pallet, with several pallets in the shipment. That's
prob'ly pretty close to the weight of your car, yes?
First order of business: getting paid. Foreign companies in general, and
Australian ones in particular, are quite accustomed to prepaying by wire
transfer to your bank. The charges you personally incur from wires
(typically from your own bank) are less than $50. Always have the transfer
done in your currency, which their banks know how to do. When you're paid,
make the shipment, but then that'll be negotiable between you and the buyer.
All they need is your account holder name, your bank account, and your
bank's "routing number". Your bank will tell you exactly what to send to
the buyer. If you don't get paid first, imagine how difficult, if not
impossible and expensive, it will be to *get* paid, especially if a dispute
arises about the car's condition, etc.
Second, get on to a shipper/forwarder like Fracht FWO Inc. Their office in
LA is at 1-310-649-0098 (fax is -0764), and speak with Rick or Rod. You'll
need/want someone like this for lots of reasons, not the least is to either
help you with what the Australian import laws and the US export laws may be,
or to recommend a company that will. You'll also want them to advise on how
such a product is shipped (by boat, of course) in terms of "packing" for
protection of the shipment.
Third, decide where the FOB point is -- that's not "friend of Bill's",
that's "free on board". It's called something else when shipping out of
the country (been awhile since I had to know the diff). This is essential
because you want it decided in advance, who is responsible for loss or
damage to the vehicle, and when, and who will insure it if at all. Don't
get this right, you could be in a world of hurt a world away. There are
other legal ramifications, at least in the US, to this choice, and all of
them are in your favor if the FOB point is your "dock", driveway, whatever.
Oh, and one more thing -- Ozzies love America and Americans (in general,
I've been known to generalize once in awhile). They're trying to make their
whole country into "The US", as we're known collectively. They're even
proud of the fact that Australia looks like the US if you turn the map over
(and o'course, they're on the bottom of the world, so just tilt your head).
It's been observed that Australia is America as it was in the 50s, but with
high technology.
That oughta keep you busy for awhile! :)
Richard Nichols
rnichol1@san.rr.com
San Diego, California, USA
1986 Ford Mustang SVO 1C - 180,000 Miles
Street Restored, now prepping for CP Autox
1972 Ford Pinto Sedan 3J - Original Owner/Restored
At the San Diego Automotive Museum through 01/00
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Bultemeier <hottvr@tfs.net>
To: autox@autox.team.net <autox@autox.team.net>
Date: Wednesday, June 09, 1999 12:19 PM
Subject: Ship it where?
>I had a guy E-Mail me who is interested in buying my FF Tiga. The catch
>is he's in Austrailia!!!!!! Anybody ever sent a car to Aussieland? Or
>across any of the major ponds? Is it a problem? How is the Money part
>handled? Am I crazy(Of course I am) to get into a deal like this?
>
>Mike B. TLS#1
>
>
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