Is there anything that is incredibly cheap in the US compared to AU, that we could pack a sea container full and then import to AU to sell for a nice profit? My boss is looking for ideas, he's thinking Tyres is a good one and suggested maybe electronics/computers, but I said the issues with electronics is a quick depreciation & obsolescence rate and US/AU different plugs which makes things problematic.
Any other ideas?
Can you tell me more about the issues with tyres? My boss seems to think its a good idea so it would be good to enlighten him..
Do you run a tyre shop? Who the hell are you going to sell them to? No one's going to buy tyres off the back of a truck.
Nah I think he was thinking of selling to local suppliers and tyre shops, not end users. But I would imagine local suppliers would have their own suppliers set up, and I don't see how we could get them cheaper so it's probably just another pipe dream
Sounds like a pipe dream.
See below about branded stock and exclusivity deals - he could be sued by local importers if he's importing and selling stuff that's subject to an exclusive contract.
tyres have to conform to ADR
imported tyres are not (i know theres no real world difference)
thats brings up legal issues
10 days later, latest ozbargain - TYRES CHEAP OFF THE BACK OF TRUCK
I see what you did there
Australia introduced some parallel import laws a few years back. you can import whatever you want and sell it to whomever you want. look at the shops that sell coke they've bought from south east asia. you don't think coke would have some exclusive license? cartels are bad.
you would be better off organising a group buy with some car clubs. once upon a time, re55 semi slick were cheap enough to import from US. However, the Australian dollar taken a tumble past few months.
Shoes?(and or other clothing accessories)
shoes would be great idea via ebay perhaps.
not sure if you'll get busted by shoe companies
Not electronics, more sensible to get those direct from the chinese factory. Plus the price here isn't that extreme.Plus plus the different voltage, plugs, etc.
My understanding some sports goods are both manufactured there, and stupidly expensive here.
Assume that there is a gotcha somewhere, even if its only protectionist behaviour (eg books). Look hard to see where it is before you fix on something.
maybe try branded clothing like adidas, puma etc. They are really cheap over there, at least half price compared to here
Normally branded stuff would have some sort of exclusivity agreement with exisiting suppliers -> so that your average Joe doesn't just set up shop somewhere and start flogging off Addidas and A&F merchandise in a 1,2,3 dollar shop.
In all honesty, if your boss has the money to fill a 20/40ft container with any product, let him decide. No one will give you idea's on highly profitable businesses, it is getting to a point in age that you can get a loan of a bank for an idea. At the end of the day the debt is in your name; and it's up to you to make the repayments.
Very silly topic if you ask me. Tell your boss to invest into his own idea's not get staff running around BARGAIN forums for idea's to make money.
He didn't ask me to do it, I'm just gathering ideas in case any are worth passing on.
Don't forget with tyres you could run into issues with them not having been tested to conform to Australian standards, perhaps finding yourselves liable when somebody has a crash and their insurer refuses to pay out due to "illegal modification"
Strange answers, but the one you are looking for is…. boats.. 3 in a container, pre committed buyers, $20-30k per container of pure profit.
I would do it myself, but I don't have spare money for that venture. I have something similar that works for me.
interesting idea, cheers for the tip.
+1 for boats. The mark-up here on brand new boats is ridiculous
So with the boats… would you just act as transport & logistics between the US manufacturer and the AU buyer? You wouldn't actually need to know everything about boats to do it? Or are you talking about designing the boats yourself, and then getting the design made in the US and shipped over?
Buy as many as you can fit in a container. Make sure trailers are modified to be allowed on Australia roads, then sell!
A guy at work does this, he has a guy in the states that sources the boats and provides a condition report etc costs $500 per boat takes about 3 month turn around from purchase landing and compliance in AU but he is making 20 - 30 K Profit
Drugs.. Lots and lots of drugs.
MDMA. Lots of MDMA
a lot of people in gaol vouch for that being a good idea
thing is many people have money and want ideas for what to import and sell here
easy to say, hard to do since the market is mature
you won't get much profit from importing tires from USA. If you want to make profit from tires then get them from China, this is where profits can be made. Lot of cheap tires is coming from China. Also, many of these Chinese tiers manufacturers already have experience dealing with the Australia market, and many have already done all the tests to conform to the Australia regulations and standards.
Electronics in a shipping container? What sort of electronics? Importing electronics from USA is a strange idea, since most electronics are produced in Asia.
can be tiring though
Dunno, but if you get your hands on some bulk Dutch Pickwick tea let me know.
Branded clohing such as Levis, brand name sneakers. Some retail for 100% more in Australia compared to Ameritopia. Possibly headphones.
Boats would be easier since you only have to sell off a few. It would require far more effort to dispose of a container of clothing & shoes selling them on Ebay.
http://www.caliquidators.com/us/
Have a look at some of the US liquidators. These guys often sell bulk lots of 'shop returns' etc. These are often branded clothes and other items that didnt sell in big US department stores so they are returned to the manufacturers who then have them auctioned off wholesale via organisations like these guys. Often these are still in the packing with original tags on etc. These types of bulk lots are loved by eBay and market stall operators as you can often get a very low 'per item' price on brand name goods. Shipping to OZ can be expensive but if you have spare space in a container you could load up a couple of bulk lots.
These guys sell lots of different stuff, I would avoid electronics but if I found something niche with a strong following like high end bike parts or genuine ski clothes etc I would have a closer look.
alibaba.com is your friend
Harleys?
import from USA when majority of the stuff is probably made in China.. hmmm
Classic cars are a good investment. They tend to be cheaper by far in the USA and since there have been changes to the law, you can register LHD cars so long as they are older than, I think, 30 years. But you need to be really careful with authenticity, as buyers are as expert as sellers, sometimes even more so.
Trader Joe's Cookie Butter.
http://0311113.netsolhost.com/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/2…
I will buy heaps.
You wouldn't want to import anything now with the Australian dollar at a 3 year low.
premium battery charger with Australian standard plugs. I think well be using AA and AAA batteries for some time into the future.
For electronics, the US voltage is different not just the plug 110v vs 220-240v. Only some items like laptops and shavers have dual voltage. If you plug 110v electronics into an Aus socket without a transformer, you get a bang, a puff of smoke. lol
Yeah, as long as it works for 100-240v or 220v you'll usually be right. It's mainly things like hair driers that you never go near a different socket, ever.
Think about your distribution chain first.
If you're asking for ideas on this site…… Just makes me wonder how your 'boss' reached his position. Tyres is a laughable idea.
maybe shoes? people love the Red Wing and Wolverine boots they have over there
Peanut butter breakfast cereals…yunmo!
Checkout brands that dictate pricing.
We get raped on Weber pricing & options. US retailers are restricted from selling outside their region.
Branded clothing, provided no legal issues in selling them here in Aus.
For example brands such a Tommy Hilfiger are very cheap in US & Canada … here in Aus you will have to pay ridiculously high prices.
I just paid $20 for a decent looking Tommy Jacket in Canada.
Cant remember the last thing I bought in Australia that has a "Made in USA" sticker, but probably phamaceuticals.
Even the latest Apple TV ad says "designed in California" - and made elsewhere.
So you'd be importing from USA stuff that was imported into USA - go East young man.
Even though items come from china, to the USA, we as a country, pay a much higher price for electrical items, and many others.
50 inch plasma you would find for $400 easy, the sharp 70 inch tv is $1400 in the states and still $2500+ here. Anyways it's not worth bringing in items that are made to 110v, as we are double that here.
Just noticed the Pringles I'm eating are Made in USA !! Dual language in Mexican also - or is that Spanish.
look closer to home, i know a few ppl that buy heaps of water features and stuff in bali and flog them here for $$
whatever you do, dont import americans
Sounds like Catch of the Day is trying to scab some ideas
Resell stuff off of DealExtreme.com/TinyDeal.com etc, cheap as and free shipping
Antihistamines - except I don't think you are allowed to.
I would say import liquor… I have work colleagues who are expats and say that the hard liquor is about 3 to 4 times more expensive here than in the USA… you would have problem importing more than 2 litres of liquor though…not sure if you can apply for permit????
Just got back from the US. I found liquor stores in LA so cheap. For example 700ml bottle of smirnoff vodka was $10.
I got a bottle of Patron Anejo for $45…Dan Murphys has this for $115
importing liquor attracts some pretty high taxes, and no exemption if you bring under 1000 AUD worth in. I believe its 50%. There are already plenty of companies doing this. you may have seen an increase in the number of beers you can buy as imported, where they are also brewed locally (stella and peroni are common ones).
To sell this liquor requires a liquor licence, which is not cheap or necessarily easy to obtain, unless you sell it in an under the table manner.
You don't need a container load to make it profitable. Start small and reduce your risk. Find out if you can sell it, and if you can charge the price you think you can.
If you keep your order under $1,000 you wont pay GST on your import.
(this may not benefit you if your customers are paying GST on your sales)
Pay with your 28degrees card and pay no international transaction fees.
Buy things with BRAND NAMES, otherwise you are competing with generic goods and China will produce them cheaper.
The lower AUD will make it more expensive, but it will make it more expensive for your competition at the same time.
There is not 1 thing that will work, there are a million, but even when you find something profitable, it will only be a matter of time until someone else finds it to and competes on price and it becomes time to move on to the next product. It is an ongoing game.
So research some prices and do a test run on a small order.
I just watched breaking bad so i would suggest "Blue Crystal Meth"
screw meth, get precursors.
a whole shipping container of pseudofed it is!
left handed screwdrivers.
a friend makes quite reasonable profit importing ########## from the states. but I' m not going to tell you as why would I want to introduce competition to his market?
Exactly, no one is going to tell you what to do when they can do it themselves and make money. If someone is already doing it, why would they tell you and introduce competition to their market/niche? Some people just want their life handed to them on a silver platter, like your boss OP. Or is it just actually you?
Breakfast foods maybe like poptarts they seem to be pretty expensive in specialty candy stores here.
Hmm or maybe you can import bread from overseas… oh wait.. Coles already beat you to the game.
Try Twinkies - snack food with long expiry/shelf life due to preservativites.
tyres is kinda screwed due to the different sizes and the potential liability issues
you wouldnt touch electronics with a barge pole