As someone who works at a freight-forwarding company, this was actually really funny at how real the process gets. Donut guys, hit me up when you need one! We're literally just around the corner from you guys! We're on Hindry!!!!
Really appreciate the honesty regarding the import process in this video, it was cool to hear about all the steps, fees, and logistics. Also seeing y'all whip around in that lil thing was hilarious!
Import fees vary widely. Shipping rates even more so. At the height of the pandemic when fewest ships doing the China to LA route, cargo rates for a single 40' container were $9-$10k. Pre-pandemic, as low as $1200-$1500 and currently about $3k. Cargo rate + import fees/taxes = total shipping cost/container.
The storage fees were their own fault. If they had their customs and import paperwork together they could have grabbed it the day it arrived. If you leave something sitting on VERY valuable real estate for a week, don't be surprised if storage gets a bit expensive. It's simple economics. The warehouse company could move A LOT of freight using the space occupied by the truck while it sits there waiting. That space is valuable, and someone has to pay for it. Lesson is, if you don't know EXACTLY what you are doing, hire an agent. Those import websites are okay if you already know what you are getting into, but one piece of paper gets overlooked and it could cost you more than the vehicle is worth. I personally know of a Porsche 911 turbo that was crushed because the buyer didn't have his paperwork right, and the storage racked up to more than the car was worth. Since the import paperwork was in bureaucratic limbo, the car couldn't be imported as a car.
It says a ton about the US when a 2 thousand dollar vehicle import requires you to effectively pay 300% to various middle-men who mostly just check boxes on paperwork. Some dudes in the US made about as much as the company that actually built the thing. That feels pretty gross, ngl.
It's called protectionism to protect local companies against foreign products. But if you think it's only the US, you should see China's restrictions. They all do it.
Eso no es nada, los carritos eléctricos de Waldo's iban a costar 20 mil pesos MXN sin rodeos y directamente con los socios de la empresa china que ahora le vende esos carritos a la cadena Waldo's y ahora cuestan más de 100 mil pesos MXN y en las agencias o en línea con los socios de los carritos también está caro porque hay muchos intermediarios que sacarán dinero más ponerlo al corriente con la municipalidad del tránsito que también será una pérdida de tiempo y dinero.
In China, we call this kind of vehicles "lao tou le", which translates to "happy grandpa" or "old man's fun". As you most likely can tell from the name, they're normally driven by seniors. A common application is to pick up their grandchildren from school. Their looks usually incorporate the styles of a lot of well-known cars. For instance, the front of this one in the video comes from Hongqi, a well-known brand in China. Don't be surprised if you see one that looks like a MB G wagon or Ford Raptor lol. Typically, you can't register them and get plates, and you don't need a license either. In my opinion, there's a lot of potential in this market. However, regulations gotta catch up first, because most of them have absolutely no safety feature or build quality you would see on modern cars, and they can be found mixed in your normal traffic. Imagine how dangerous it can be, when it's mixed in normal traffic, operated by some senior with no license and carrying some very young kid lol. Be extra careful when you're driving it or driving around it😂
@@beckslemon10090 I am an American, also im not a car manufacturer I dont have any designs. Why do you automatically have to throw hate and negativity towards Chinese/ people you assume are Chinese? The people aren't the problem
The worst part about not getting paperwork done in time, is if it has to sit at the dock for any period of time it racks up fees VERY quickly as you found out. You can get out of those warehouse fees if you paid the agent the money they wanted to let them push it through faster. We found this out as well as we started importing a couple of years ago.
Thank you for pointing this out! I was also thinking of commenting exactly this. I worked at a custom clearance agency (handling emails and calls rather than actually filing the documents etc., I don’t have qualifications) The fees that Jeremiah stated were absurdly high. The invoice the custom agents give typically include the fees for the final destination forwarder, inspections and duties (which they can reduce to zero sometimes through free trade agreements), other tax and etc. I believe the fees that rack up that you are referring to are storage fees. Custom agents will try to “clear” the shipment so it can picked up before storage fees can be charged. Apologies if there are inaccuracies in what I said, I only learnt a few things at my time working there.
I'm not in the freight business, but my company deals with millions of dollars of freight per year. I want to say you incurred massive additional charges by having your freight shipped to a warehouse first where you had to then release it at a later time. Normally when we pick up our freight, we arrange a truck to be at the port during unloading, and the freight is put directly onto the truck and then delivered to us. We don't pay to have it moved to, and stored in a 3rd party warehouse in between.
Eezy Import is great! I talked to them when I was importing some wheels from Japan and they're super nice and helped me a ton. Pro tip: depending on how small your item is, FedEx can handle port forwarding and customs clearance for you. They do a little interview with you over the phone so they can fill out the forms for you, then all you do is pay regular, domestic shipping costs. It's super easy and helpful for car parts! : )
@@n0ah26 of course! To make it easier, make sure that the seller uses FedEx within their country to ship the item to you. That's how I bought my wheels (from Japan) and all I had to do was call FedEx and stay on top of it. Super simple, just a bit tedious haha
@@skyty0 just so you're aware, i've had 6 parcels destroyed by fedex so I wouldn't trust them to ship anything. they destroyed a stained glass lamp, a HDTV, a CRT computer monitor, a vaccum cleaner, my grandmother's home-cooked pasta sauce (in jars), and a bicycle that I have ordered.
This thing's called 老头乐 (actually upgraded a lot) means it ‘’makes grandpas happy”. The CAR version used in urban area are used to pick up kids back from school driven by grandpa. The TRUCK version usually used in rural area and it's a cheap replica for the motor-powered tricycle-trucks used by the Légion étrangère in Africa. Everyone knows it's a toy vehicle and hazard to urban traffic, but in rural area is another story. You simply don't need any paperwork to buy or drive one since it's not under any law. lol~
@@martyme6793 Yes, indeed. It's a giant toy. Only people in privates roads in the countryside use it. Useful for farming, because the paths between fields are narrow, so these big toys can easily navigate. Any serious consumer should at least look at Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, a real EV with the starting price of USD 4500 in China. This is one of the best selling EVs in China.
The "emoji starter" is a tactic used by many Chinese online sellers to be more casual and engaging with their customers, as many of them are just individual shoppers. I laughed so hard when you guys were surprised by this strange direction the conversation was taking. Also I work for a place where we constantly import materials from foreign countries, the process is always complicated and painful. I have mad respect for you pulling this off on your own! Great video!
I love when you buy from China or especially India and you write out a proper quote request, greeting them, detailing your needs, stating clear questions, and the reply is just "Hi.". Nothing more. Then the ball is in your court again.
Content has been coming around. This is much more creative and original than the product and quiz videos. Which are fine every now and again, but this is quality over quantity with these past few.
Maybe when they do there next up to speed they should unknown and we’ll known cars and do them by a different decades so like early 1900’s, 20’s and so on.
I'm a disabled Navy veteran and always wanted a small truck like in Japan and China. The cost to ship and receive the small truck in the USA made me give up on purchasing one. But I love watching others having fun with their small import trucks. Thanks for the video. The truck looks wonderful. 😅
I imported an R34 from Japan about 4 years ago. This video brought back all the feels. I sat for hours watching that silly little boat travel across the globe the long way, but it was so worth it!
I did the same thing this year with a '99 Aristo. Lol. It's weird because it was allowed to come here, but it's not allowed to leave the port until June.
6 years ago I started a company that had to buy products from China...it was truly an eye opener...your video brought back my struggles I encountered doing it myself.
@Jason Whitney When learning this stuff in school (import and export was an elective), I learned that all this paperwork were cumulatively added over decades to make the whole process as predictable and consistent as possible. For example, the fact that you need separate paperwork to offload cargo from the ship and into land came from disputes between importers and exporters not agreeing on which part of the cargo’s journey is which party liable for. With how Donut described their experience, it sounds like the terms that the freight forwarder used was that ownership of the cargo doesn’t transfer to the importer until the cargo gets offloaded from the ship and into their target port. There are other terms where the cargo becomes the importers property, and thus hold all responsibility for, when the cargo gets ON the ship. There’s plenty more ways to do this and it’s all up to the two parties to discuss and agree on. Business want predictability, predictability means that they can focus their attention on other parts of the business without fearing the shipping part and need lawyers on standby, and all these paperwork guarantees predictably as humanly possible.
@Jason Whitney it probably is wild west, as (if I understand well) we are dealing with freight companies obeying laws from different countries and themselves usually being seated in some far away tax heaven. Although big freight from China is probably handled by some Hong-Kong or taiwanese mega giant like Evergreen.
I just want to ask: what are the laws in the usa if you drive without a licence plate pr registration. Over here in germany the police would be on your neck within minutes...
@@MrManniG Some cops can seriously ruin your day while others will tell you just to get your ass home and say they dont wanna see it again lol. Ive had both happen.
It's probably worse than you think. Usually there is now way to register these as a truck or utv and therefore no legal way to drive on public roads. I wouldn't be surprised if getting caught in CA meant jail.
I'm not even a car/truck guy but something about watching this team's enthusiasm towards their craft was infectious and you have a new subscriber! Maybe I will become a car guy now!
If there's something I learned after working 5ish years in logistics, is that buying things, like vehicles, from Alibaba, is never as cheap or easy as it seems. This was too much fun to watch, love you guys!
Depends on what you are buying. Consumer goods tend to be cost plus shipping, and FedEx delivers directly to your house/business. Things like computer parts, chargers, power bars, ect... I bought 4 cases of computer mice a few years ago, roughly $6 each and .40 per in shipping and fees. (I had them air freighted since it was a small load)
I'm working at a forwarding agency for around 15 years doing seafreight all around the world. The mistake here is, that you bought the transport from the seller in China. They "only" want USD 450 in transport costs, but the forwarder in US will rip you completelly off and there is nothing you can do about that. What you should have instead done is, get in contact with a forwarding agency in USA, in best case a big one like in EU we have Expeditor, Kühne&Nagel, Dachser, Gebrüder Weiss... They can offer you the whole transport from seller factory till your house, they will also arrange the export customs clearance from China as well as the import customs clearance to US with probably very minimal document preperation from your side and you get a fixed price from them for the transport. This whole procedure would have costs probably more than USD 450, but in the end you are not facing some additional fees of several thousand USD which you have to pay in order to receive the truck.
How much are we talking roughly? Or can I get a free estimate? I really wanna do this for my farm for shits and giggles but don’t really wanna spend money lol
just coming here to say that u guys nailed it. the video never felt like a drag, it was appealing to click on, it felt both informational and entertaining, the sponsorship was grade A, there was some fun screwing around, it ended off on a high note, i mean u guys really did just nail it. nj
I am from Mozambique and most people can't afford a brand new car, so we import used cars from Japan. Fortunately some Japanese companies have offices here so it super easy. You can just choose the car from their local website that gives you the final price with all the fees. And you can just pick up the car in their office. The most adventurous people can just import it from the Japanese sites and do the whole process that you went through. But for me it is easier and safer to use the first method.
A secret to importing items is to use a large multi-national carrier such as FedEx, UPS, or any of the other super large companies like that. They calculate these fees for you, and add them to your bill. Then they also ship the items to your address instead of having to pay the $1,100ish to the third middleman.
Tell me more, please. Like, do they ship out of China, or are they the acting middle men and end shipper & delivery men? I'm looking to purchase an electric trike scooter from China; that's why I ask.
@@catwhispurrer137 Super late but it's probably much easier for an electric scooter than an entire car... whenever I buy stuff from Alibaba, I just pay and they well- they give me a tracking number. Definitely helps that you don't need an entire shipping container for an electric scooter!
I haven't had good experiences with Alibaba. I prefer made in China. The people have the items either ready for the FedEx van to be shipped or have their own shipping ways for you. They are much more professional about things. But they will make you handle your importing costs (duties). That's why I use FedEx for it because they calculate these costs, and get things through for you.
So here's the problem with UPS and FedEx, and frankly DHL. They are very large corporations that specifically focus on either air freight or ocean freight as part of a holistic product. While that's a good thing for speed and time, it's an expensive option. When you want to actually move cargo around the world. Most of the time, a good freight forwarder can help you out with this. There are many national conglomerates that can act in the same manner, but there's also a lot of good mom and pops that are out there as well.
This is freaking hilarious and informational at the same time. The emoji response from the seller was an indicator of how this was all going to turn out LMAO
@@spillsndebris Come on. You're blaming the agent for this fiasco when the American side gouged $4k out of the guy for pretty much filling out paperwork?
It’s exactly the machine translation of “老年代步车” which is what it’s called in China. This thing can not even be driven on the road legally since it doesn’t meet the lowest standards for a CAR. 😂
Actually, it is very much an "elderly mobility scooter". They are designed to be driven by old chinese people since oldies in china don't often have a driving licence and are too old to be on E-bikes. And those "scooters" are very cheap locally. They used to be very popular all around the country until the government decided it was too much of a safety risk and outlawed them. Just think about it. Old people driving 60kph in basically cardboard boxes. Not at all safe. Despite them being illegal now, there are still thousands of those running around in rural areas where the cops don't patrol often.
@@stans_eth these low speed electric vehicles are actualy street legal outside the us. in germany all you need to drive one of these on general roads is a drivers license for small vehicles up to 45km/h and an insurence sticker on the frame. doesnt even need to be registered cause its top speed is below 60km/h.
These fees are sometimes owed by Canadian private importers, for say when a Vancouver-bound ship *STOPS IN CALI FIRST* It blew my mind when we imported a brand new specialty hybrid-TV motor from Japan to Canada. All because 3/4ths of the 40' seacan was eventually destined for LA, and the port of Vancouver had a 6hr wait to unload. That's how we got hit with a $600USD import & inspection fee, because our cargo "landed" in L.A. and we were responsible for it, somehow!
This kinds of small truck are common in rural area in China. Farmers just need a cheap machine to help them carry live animals, vegetables or other agricultural products to the farmer markets, and sell them right off the truck. Recently I see a lot of people driving motorizes scooters/bikes to shop or to work. it saves money and it is convenience.
Great video! Super fun! This type of “vehicle” is also a pain spot in China now. Government doesn’t really know how to put regulations on them since they are not really a vehicle nor a toy. It creates potential hazards for normal traffic because it’s relatively fast and doesn’t provide enough safety for the driver ( such as air bag ) or other vehicles around them, but on the other hand, it’s also opened up an option for people who have needs on an affordable “ tool” or as a type of transportation for some small tasks (such as go to local food market). It has pros and cons, and it did meet certain needs for some people 😂
In EU there's quadricycle. There's also 13 circles of bureaucratic hell to get a vehicle registered. Basically if no company has imported and registered said vehicle, you're out of luck. Also, to me it's weird that he didn't pay customs and tax. Or was it in the warehouse release cost?
@@Alex-pj8nz yeah but it’s a hunk of junk. A Mitsubishi or Suzuki would have been a better option to buy. But I see why they made the video for others to see how hard it is to import.
No joke. A buddy of mine has one of those Japanese truck at his ranch. That thing is a little beast. Other than the steering wheel being on the right side. It's pretty cool.
The problem is that you went to a "cheap agent" so they just contract with the first depo they find. If you select the import agent you can set how much money you want to spend. Same thing with the first transportation.
I'm truly fascinated by the fact that there's a whole complex system for moving stuff around the world and a massive number of people are involved in it, but most people are only vaguely aware that it exists.
The warehouse/release fees took me by surprise. I shipped a piano internationally pre-covid and the fees for everything were similar, but I want to say the release fee was closer to $600.
Based on the way he was saying I have a hunch it sat a couple extra days at the warehouse waiting on paperwork. Easily could rack up $300/day given its size
The warehouse he got the load from, STG only provides few days of "free pick up dates" and will charge by the size of the cargo per day when you miss it. He had to have missed those dates by accident. Not to mention there is a penalty to import Chinese goods when you're paying for the customs
Yes, I am pretty sure he could have avoid at least half the fees if he had been prepared to plan. Or if he had enlisted a full service freight company at least had a full quote up front that might have been a little less expensive. But doing it this way makes for a "better video".
Interestnig video, thank you. All in all not a bad price for a useful little truck, brand new. Would be an ideal tool for certain applications (grounds maintenance. small farming, gardening etc) I'm thinking. It would be good to see a follow up covering durability reliability of the truck over time of operation. Also ongoing maintenance requirements and battery life and range info. TIA
I vote for welding all the gaps they left at the joints to actually make the frame strong, and then seeing what you can do to make it dangerously fast haha!
THANK you so so much for going through all this so I didn't have to. I was contemplating importing a food truck/ trailer and had no idea what was involved. Needless to say I've changed my plan.
Thank you guys for spending lots of money and time so we don't make this mistakes. Will be fun if you build a similar truck with the same amount of money and put it into a test to see what's better, home made or Chinese pickup. 😂😂
My wife is an international freight forwarder/customs agent manager and I knew immediately when I read about the $2000 truck that it was gonna cost at least $5000 plus extras. But $8200,USD for a $2000 'truck' , just wow.
But that's because they didn't do the paperwork previously and they will send it to some kind of warehouse. It was like 2000 extra... srry for my bad english
@@ohjoshdarnit most of these forwarders deal in bulk shipping of tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in a single shipment, with many shipments coming through a year. Without that economy of scale, it is a much higher price per unit but once the process is established and you have a regular relationship with your forwarder the per unit costs are much lower.
@@kathrynbrockhage4539 From what i've seen in the video its not the freight forwarder himself who charged them but the port, probably with some extra high taxes included in the fee
You guys should use this thing as a project car for an EV platform! You guys should do a battery upgrade for more range or a new motor-controller combo to make that thing more powerful. It would be super fun to learn how to wrench on an EV.
I work for a freight forwarder and this was hysterical! And you are correct you can’t do anything about those fees but you can negotiate how it gets from the port to a warehouse. That drayage move from the freight forwarder is negotiable lol
But if you were to know what day/hour your giant package arrive, couldn't you fill in the final paper work and take it right away by yourself so it never enter the warehouse instead of going through an absurb warehouse fee?
Ebikeschool actually just did an 18 month update on the Chang Li truck he bought and it held up amazing. It was mainly used by his dad on their ranch to haul stuff around and the sort. They did upgrade the suspension, add a tow hitch, off-road tires and a few other small upgrades and it fufills it's role amazingly well for what it was designed to do.
@@user-gm4kv2my4u I mean I don't know. I have no use for something like this truck or a gator. I was just mentioning what I saw another YTer experience with a different model of this truck from the same maker. Plus an electric gator is like 15k$+ and you have to spend a ton on accessories. With this truck in the video, you just need to replace the tires and suspension and you're good. Ebikeschool also wired in a solar panel on the roof of the truck so they only have to charge it on electricity like once every 3 weeks.
@@user-gm4kv2my4u probably not unless if you bought an actual Mitsubishi kei truck. But I mean I bought my kabuta diesel utv and it does great around the land. I'll use it for just cleaning up the place or riding to the gas station or sum
Thanks for giving the "True Cost" of bringing one of these in. Tons of others do videos with them but never detail the costs to get it here or "upgrade" it. Great Video! Keep it up. I'd love to see you do some mods to this like you did to the Walmart motorbike.
OMP - Oh My Pancreas!! After they hit a decent pothole. I foresee a cheap-metal impalement happening. 😳Let us pray for their safe excursions and ramp jumps. 🙏
I’m glad you made this video. My brother and his buddy bought a old Japanese van for 1500 and ended up paying 5000 more to get it over here. At least they got to keep the shipping container(this was years ago and it was cheaper to buy the whole container lol)
Y'all used STG logistics in Compton, CA. I work with them regularly but my work is pretty consistent and standardized and usually involves 1 container to 1 full truckload. I recommend in the future y'all reach out to a smaller company like West Coast warehouse in Compton (they are my favorite to work with). They will put you in touch with the right people and will take care of you. The costs should not have been that high for a partial container load with drayage and transload. For reference, I am an oceans import manager for a logistics company on the East coast.
Good advice. Also, if you do something fun like this again, consider STRONGLY renting a shipping container. It is usually super cheap vs small freight. I've helped a friend import a bunch of cars and he managed to make it into a smooth process. Ended up being so easy he kept the container for a full year and basically loaned it out to other collectors doing the same thing. His first unimog cost something like $18k to shop to the states vs a few k for the container delivered to his shop.
No it isn't. There is a lot of expenses that comes with it. And if you Rent it you, you also carries the risk of tenant not paying rent for almost a year and then file for bankruptcy.
I worked in the trucking industry about 10 years ago as a business development analyst. I'm not too surprised by the $4000 warehouse fee. I remember any time we had to incorporate drayage into our quotes (drayage are the trucking runs from the port to the warehouses), the truck route alone was usually around $1000, which I'm sure makes up a chunk of that $4K warehouse charge. A lot of that is driver pay because they have to wait around so much to get in and get loaded, then fight with LA traffic to get where they need to go. Then you're competing for warehouse space (with a big item BTW) along with everyone else who has stuff coming in to the port of LA. The last mile of delivery is always the hardest (that's what she said).
Been looking at these for a while. I really wanted to 4 door model, but I was unsure how much it would really be to import one. Other channels kinda gloss over it. This pretty much solidifies that it's not worth it lol. Glad someone did the hard part. Can't wait to see what mods you guys do to this thing!!
6:29 A bond is required by CBP for “all commercial imports valued at $2500 or more”. There are two types, single-entry for individual shipments and annual customs bonds for a 12-month period. Had to help my uncle ship a container and we ended up doing it all ourselves! Interesting process!
@@1SCme the bond ensures that the CBP gets their import duty $$$ if the amount paid isn’t sufficient (it’s basically a guarantee by the bond issuer that CBP gets their cut without delay). I think if the value is $800 (De Minimis Value) or lower then duty $$$ is not taken by CBP!
@@agn4268 I only saw $2,500 as the lower limit, so if you ordered the upgrades separately, you should be able to avoid the bond, though you might lose any savings on other expenses. I would think the batteries would be available in the US if that was the item putting you over the top.
@@1SCme I would get the batteries separately, to be sure they were of adequate quality. And replaceable, when they're old or better (non - Li ion) batteries become available.
@@ReggieArford I don't know if the upgrade is just the batteries, or additional hardware like the charger. Seems a bit pricey to just be the batteries.
Aw man, you guys should have talked with Jason Torchinsky, formerly of jalopnik, he did an entire series of stories with one of these he purchased. He could have helped you with some of the logistics.
I have one of these I bought a few years back for our farm. While it’s had its fair share of problems, it’s been a workaholic for small projects. We work this little “truck” hard.
@@turnip5359 Correct. These are very popular in rural China where the local farmers bring their produce to the nearby towns to sell in the marketplace.
This actually put my childhood into perspective: My dad has been a mechanic my whole life and has owned a few businesses with one being an Import/Export Business. He'd buy cars from overseas, fix them up, and sell domestically/ship them back out. Being from California I've always wondered why there were lots of foreign cars in dad's garage and he'd even rebuild a few in our own garage at home. I never knew that clearance agents/freight forwarders were part of the process!😮
I actually work with a company that ships a lot of cargo internationally and Freight charges going even to other states gets expensive as hell. I remember one quote that i did where the customer bought about $3,600 worth of parts, and the shipping going from America to Kuwait was $8400 alone. so including all the duties, taxes and fees. the customer paid around $13,500. Insane
You have to pay duty and taxes anyway for the each item, the duty itself for the car might be lower than for the most of parts, due to the anti dumping policy
Please make a mini series improving this bad boy 😆
or hi-low..? haha
Yeah, start with reinforcing the frame lol.
@@TheDonkDonk420 lol.. there's not going to be hi-low with this thing xD More like low-superlow.
TWINCHARGE IT! They make blowers suitable for 50cc, right? Asking for a friend
@@NLynchOEcaketis electric
As someone who works at a freight-forwarding company, this was actually really funny at how real the process gets. Donut guys, hit me up when you need one! We're literally just around the corner from you guys! We're on Hindry!!!!
Why do you exist? Can you be replaced by a website form?
Ditto! Used to work at BAX, oof the amount Donut paid is way to high for importing this!
The warehouse release fees tho. Felt like extortion
@@Idiomatick Why do any of us exist...???? And we can all be replaced by websites and robots and AI
@@Idiomatick tell me you've never worked logistics or shipping & handling without telling me you've never worked it 😂
Really appreciate the honesty regarding the import process in this video, it was cool to hear about all the steps, fees, and logistics. Also seeing y'all whip around in that lil thing was hilarious!
Import fees vary widely. Shipping rates even more so.
At the height of the pandemic when fewest ships doing the China to LA route, cargo rates for a single 40' container were $9-$10k. Pre-pandemic, as low as $1200-$1500 and currently about $3k.
Cargo rate + import fees/taxes = total shipping cost/container.
The storage fees were their own fault. If they had their customs and import paperwork together they could have grabbed it the day it arrived. If you leave something sitting on VERY valuable real estate for a week, don't be surprised if storage gets a bit expensive. It's simple economics. The warehouse company could move A LOT of freight using the space occupied by the truck while it sits there waiting. That space is valuable, and someone has to pay for it.
Lesson is, if you don't know EXACTLY what you are doing, hire an agent. Those import websites are okay if you already know what you are getting into, but one piece of paper gets overlooked and it could cost you more than the vehicle is worth. I personally know of a Porsche 911 turbo that was crushed because the buyer didn't have his paperwork right, and the storage racked up to more than the car was worth. Since the import paperwork was in bureaucratic limbo, the car couldn't be imported as a car.
🎶Honeycomb's BIG yeah yeah yeah...........Chinese truck.......NO NO NO!!🎶
Truck.....velly velly uggree!! {-_-}
Yeah I really appreciated learning about that process.
It says a ton about the US when a 2 thousand dollar vehicle import requires you to effectively pay 300% to various middle-men who mostly just check boxes on paperwork. Some dudes in the US made about as much as the company that actually built the thing. That feels pretty gross, ngl.
LATAM:. Novato
And Biden just signed a bill to double the tariffs on Chinese Electric vehicles.
It's called protectionism to protect local companies against foreign products. But if you think it's only the US, you should see China's restrictions. They all do it.
Eso no es nada, los carritos eléctricos de Waldo's iban a costar 20 mil pesos MXN sin rodeos y directamente con los socios de la empresa china que ahora le vende esos carritos a la cadena Waldo's y ahora cuestan más de 100 mil pesos MXN y en las agencias o en línea con los socios de los carritos también está caro porque hay muchos intermediarios que sacarán dinero más ponerlo al corriente con la municipalidad del tránsito que también será una pérdida de tiempo y dinero.
@@Xentradi97 in Brazil is very worse, buying a car, you can pay between 50% to 70 % of tax
In China, we call this kind of vehicles "lao tou le", which translates to "happy grandpa" or "old man's fun". As you most likely can tell from the name, they're normally driven by seniors. A common application is to pick up their grandchildren from school. Their looks usually incorporate the styles of a lot of well-known cars. For instance, the front of this one in the video comes from Hongqi, a well-known brand in China. Don't be surprised if you see one that looks like a MB G wagon or Ford Raptor lol. Typically, you can't register them and get plates, and you don't need a license either. In my opinion, there's a lot of potential in this market. However, regulations gotta catch up first, because most of them have absolutely no safety feature or build quality you would see on modern cars, and they can be found mixed in your normal traffic. Imagine how dangerous it can be, when it's mixed in normal traffic, operated by some senior with no license and carrying some very young kid lol. Be extra careful when you're driving it or driving around it😂
Are you from China?
在中国老爷爷平常用三轮车从学校接孩子
@@Sanjay_ar1 In depends of where you plan on living. Housing is very expensive in big cities
your designs are all copied from german vehicles. maybe you should design something yourselves.
@@beckslemon10090 I am an American, also im not a car manufacturer I dont have any designs. Why do you automatically have to throw hate and negativity towards Chinese/ people you assume are Chinese? The people aren't the problem
The worst part about not getting paperwork done in time, is if it has to sit at the dock for any period of time it racks up fees VERY quickly as you found out. You can get out of those warehouse fees if you paid the agent the money they wanted to let them push it through faster. We found this out as well as we started importing a couple of years ago.
Are these fees similar to what one would have to pay if one did not import a whole car, but rather just the front clip (fenders, hood, front fascia)?
Thank you for pointing this out! I was also thinking of commenting exactly this. I worked at a custom clearance agency (handling emails and calls rather than actually filing the documents etc., I don’t have qualifications) The fees that Jeremiah stated were absurdly high. The invoice the custom agents give typically include the fees for the final destination forwarder, inspections and duties (which they can reduce to zero sometimes through free trade agreements), other tax and etc. I believe the fees that rack up that you are referring to are storage fees. Custom agents will try to “clear” the shipment so it can picked up before storage fees can be charged. Apologies if there are inaccuracies in what I said, I only learnt a few things at my time working there.
The Port of LA is the first or second busiest port in the country too. Would that have an impact on costs?
Sounds like the Mob. "There are these made up fee's that someone is going to charge you, but if you give ME some money. I can make that all go away".
Take that thing to Moab or a cars and coffee.
I love how much fun Zach and Jerry had in this. You can tell they genuinely had fun with the vehicle
I put my hamster in a sock and slammed it against the furniture
@@TippyHippy 😢
@@TippyHippy what the fuck
It's a power wheel for grown-ups.
15:56 😮😢😢
My favorite part is how on the pre-arrival notice the description of goods is "Elderly Mobility Scooter"
because it is...
It is designed for elderly people in China. But it is banned in cities in China more than 10 years ago.
😂😂😂
yea i love this lil truck ❤ i would love to see how you modify it!
yeah me too
Bro youtube even liked the video 💀💀💀
hey youtube stop being dum
youtube have a channel? wtf?
hey youtube stop being dum
This is my entire job, so I just watched a video on how to import. You got me watching my job on my day off.
You got an Instagram?
get wrecked lmao
Same here, I work in freight forwarding. Lmao
@@angercatalyst Out of curiosity, Could they have saved the storage fees somehow? :)
@@angercatalyst is there ways to save on all those import fees?
Donut content is actually getting much better , the whole import process was really neat to learn
Nature is healing.
I’ll be fully satisfied when I see a new up to speed.
*I’m impressed on how the front doesn’t look like the Winnie the Pooh’s face.🤔*
*[This comment was fact checked and removed for violating ccp interests. Reason: assembly and materials quality complaints.]*
@@craftyukraine are you ok bro?
Yes. To avoid it altogether.
I'm not in the freight business, but my company deals with millions of dollars of freight per year. I want to say you incurred massive additional charges by having your freight shipped to a warehouse first where you had to then release it at a later time. Normally when we pick up our freight, we arrange a truck to be at the port during unloading, and the freight is put directly onto the truck and then delivered to us. We don't pay to have it moved to, and stored in a 3rd party warehouse in between.
Eezy Import is great! I talked to them when I was importing some wheels from Japan and they're super nice and helped me a ton. Pro tip: depending on how small your item is, FedEx can handle port forwarding and customs clearance for you. They do a little interview with you over the phone so they can fill out the forms for you, then all you do is pay regular, domestic shipping costs. It's super easy and helpful for car parts! : )
Didn't know fed ex could do that, just helped me out on some parts I was gonna order! Thanks!
@@n0ah26 of course! To make it easier, make sure that the seller uses FedEx within their country to ship the item to you. That's how I bought my wheels (from Japan) and all I had to do was call FedEx and stay on top of it. Super simple, just a bit tedious haha
@@skyty0 just so you're aware, i've had 6 parcels destroyed by fedex so I wouldn't trust them to ship anything. they destroyed a stained glass lamp, a HDTV, a CRT computer monitor, a vaccum cleaner, my grandmother's home-cooked pasta sauce (in jars), and a bicycle that I have ordered.
@@MrWolfSnackthat sucks but not every FedEx experience is gonna be like yours. I doubt they're going to damage every package
This thing's called 老头乐 (actually upgraded a lot) means it ‘’makes grandpas happy”. The CAR version used in urban area are used to pick up kids back from school driven by grandpa. The TRUCK version usually used in rural area and it's a cheap replica for the motor-powered tricycle-trucks used by the Légion étrangère in Africa. Everyone knows it's a toy vehicle and hazard to urban traffic, but in rural area is another story. You simply don't need any paperwork to buy or drive one since it's not under any law. lol~
so its a giant toy car? that's amazing lol
so it's the Chinese version of the reliant robin?
@@martyme6793 Yes, indeed. It's a giant toy. Only people in privates roads in the countryside use it. Useful for farming, because the paths between fields are narrow, so these big toys can easily navigate. Any serious consumer should at least look at Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, a real EV with the starting price of USD 4500 in China. This is one of the best selling EVs in China.
Awesome
Thx for the information
The "emoji starter" is a tactic used by many Chinese online sellers to be more casual and engaging with their customers, as many of them are just individual shoppers. I laughed so hard when you guys were surprised by this strange direction the conversation was taking. Also I work for a place where we constantly import materials from foreign countries, the process is always complicated and painful. I have mad respect for you pulling this off on your own! Great video!
🥴
I love when you buy from China or especially India and you write out a proper quote request, greeting them, detailing your needs, stating clear questions, and the reply is just "Hi.". Nothing more. Then the ball is in your court again.
I don't think I have ever gotten an actual figure for shipping cost without specifically asking for it, with all details they want, at least 5 times.
Thats quite wholesome
@@Derek_Wyld🍆
The final extortionist seriously charged enough money to just build the thing yourself.
Y’all are really releasing some bangers lately. Keep it up guys
Agree!
Fr
110% agree about this!
Content has been coming around. This is much more creative and original than the product and quiz videos. Which are fine every now and again, but this is quality over quantity with these past few.
Maybe when they do there next up to speed they should unknown and we’ll known cars and do them by a different decades so like early 1900’s, 20’s and so on.
This is the Donut content we’ve been needing
For real this is the first video I’ve watched in ages and it was great
@@mateogala2183 u been missing out
Massive lift and big off-road wheels and tyres
@David Bunce put big wheels and tires on it and it will probably go even slower.
@@Fister_of_Muppets then put one of the old Z engines in the back (assume it's not going to fit under the hood)
I’d love to see a mini series of you guys trying to improve it. Also trying to off road it would be fun.
hi and low alibaba truck 💀
Oh yea! rip out everything but that cute little cab and bed and replace it with Low Trucks engine and frame!
@@RonCurrie-dq3wx no.
Yeah then do a head to head against a side by side atv. And not the cheapest one. Please
Yes ! Please ! Change the electric engine, the suspensions, the brakes, etc... Make it cool
I'm a disabled Navy veteran and always wanted a small truck like in Japan and China. The cost to ship and receive the small truck in the USA made me give up on purchasing one. But I love watching others having fun with their small import trucks. Thanks for the video. The truck looks wonderful. 😅
I imported an R34 from Japan about 4 years ago. This video brought back all the feels. I sat for hours watching that silly little boat travel across the globe the long way, but it was so worth it!
For R34 i'd get on another boat and meet it in the middle of the ocean
@Mirza this legit made me laugh 😂
Happy little cargo ship
I did the same thing this year with a '99 Aristo. Lol. It's weird because it was allowed to come here, but it's not allowed to leave the port until June.
What country are you from?
6 years ago I started a company that had to buy products from China...it was truly an eye opener...your video brought back my struggles I encountered doing it myself.
How's the company going?
how's your company now?
Were these prices reasonable in your opinion, or could he have done it cheaper?
@Jason Whitney When learning this stuff in school (import and export was an elective), I learned that all this paperwork were cumulatively added over decades to make the whole process as predictable and consistent as possible. For example, the fact that you need separate paperwork to offload cargo from the ship and into land came from disputes between importers and exporters not agreeing on which part of the cargo’s journey is which party liable for. With how Donut described their experience, it sounds like the terms that the freight forwarder used was that ownership of the cargo doesn’t transfer to the importer until the cargo gets offloaded from the ship and into their target port. There are other terms where the cargo becomes the importers property, and thus hold all responsibility for, when the cargo gets ON the ship. There’s plenty more ways to do this and it’s all up to the two parties to discuss and agree on. Business want predictability, predictability means that they can focus their attention on other parts of the business without fearing the shipping part and need lawyers on standby, and all these paperwork guarantees predictably as humanly possible.
@Jason Whitney it probably is wild west, as (if I understand well) we are dealing with freight companies obeying laws from different countries and themselves usually being seated in some far away tax heaven. Although big freight from China is probably handled by some Hong-Kong or taiwanese mega giant like Evergreen.
Riding dirty with no registration was already wild but driving it on the sidewalk was next level😭😂
I just want to ask: what are the laws in the usa if you drive without a licence plate pr registration.
Over here in germany the police would be on your neck within minutes...
@@MrManniG it’s the same, just gotta be lucky to have no cops see you
@@MrManniG Some cops can seriously ruin your day while others will tell you just to get your ass home and say they dont wanna see it again lol. Ive had both happen.
savage mode engaged
It's probably worse than you think. Usually there is now way to register these as a truck or utv and therefore no legal way to drive on public roads. I wouldn't be surprised if getting caught in CA meant jail.
I'm not even a car/truck guy but something about watching this team's enthusiasm towards their craft was infectious and you have a new subscriber! Maybe I will become a car guy now!
Taking it over the curb in the parking lot was hilarious. Had me struggling to stifle my laugh at work lol
"the suspension is not soft", they said earlier. No kidding, the thing comes down the curb like a brick.
That was honestly something i didn’t know i needed to watch 😂😭
Don't let Elon catch you not being hardcore.
If there's something I learned after working 5ish years in logistics, is that buying things, like vehicles, from Alibaba, is never as cheap or easy as it seems. This was too much fun to watch, love you guys!
Depends on what you are buying. Consumer goods tend to be cost plus shipping, and FedEx delivers directly to your house/business. Things like computer parts, chargers, power bars, ect... I bought 4 cases of computer mice a few years ago, roughly $6 each and .40 per in shipping and fees. (I had them air freighted since it was a small load)
@@SigFigNewton unprofitable? Its owner is one of the richest man in the world.
@@JohnDir-xw3hf most rich guys have high gross. Not net. And rich guys usually ride off credit.
@RWXR yah I should have clarified. I was referring to things like the truck they bought. Stuff like that are always cheap on the surface
I'm working at a forwarding agency for around 15 years doing seafreight all around the world.
The mistake here is, that you bought the transport from the seller in China. They "only" want USD 450 in transport costs, but the forwarder in US will rip you completelly off and there is nothing you can do about that.
What you should have instead done is, get in contact with a forwarding agency in USA, in best case a big one like in EU we have Expeditor, Kühne&Nagel, Dachser, Gebrüder Weiss...
They can offer you the whole transport from seller factory till your house, they will also arrange the export customs clearance from China as well as the import customs clearance to US with probably very minimal document preperation from your side and you get a fixed price from them for the transport.
This whole procedure would have costs probably more than USD 450, but in the end you are not facing some additional fees of several thousand USD which you have to pay in order to receive the truck.
How much are we talking roughly? Or can I get a free estimate? I really wanna do this for my farm for shits and giggles but don’t really wanna spend money lol
you live and you learn i guess
I love the car therapist “for more than 11 years and 16 days” LMAO
Nolan putting the crocs into "sport mode" was comedy gold 😂
Nolan should probably consider exercise and a better diet.
The Super Saiyan sound is what really makes it.
It's like putting a prius into sport mode
Don’t put Sport Mode in air quotes! It’s a real thing! 😂
@Joshua Gibson you should probably try not being such a asshole 😂
1:57 BRO HAS A TRUENO DOOR I LOVE IT
just coming here to say that u guys nailed it. the video never felt like a drag, it was appealing to click on, it felt both informational and entertaining, the sponsorship was grade A, there was some fun screwing around, it ended off on a high note, i mean u guys really did just nail it. nj
I agree
I agree, but it sounds like you used a TH-cam survey to build this comment 😂
@@Elim_84 lol literally
what a nice robot!
@@keeganslattery **beep boop** thank you human
I love the direction donut media is going in, I’m loving all the videos!
I agree, they’re back to somewhat the type of stuff they used to do
@@dauntedurbin6811 enough with their react videos lol
I am from Mozambique and most people can't afford a brand new car, so we import used cars from Japan. Fortunately some Japanese companies have offices here so it super easy. You can just choose the car from their local website that gives you the final price with all the fees. And you can just pick up the car in their office. The most adventurous people can just import it from the Japanese sites and do the whole process that you went through. But for me it is easier and safer to use the first method.
How much used Japanese cars cost there ?
Mozambique here
Wonder how many normal people in Mozambique are driving around in cars that Americans would go crazy over.
@@jasonmiller3011 4000
what is the site?
i do not think, that the truck is responsible for penalty tax in USA
A hi-low series on 2 of these would be insane!
I ABSOLUTELY second that idea!!! Stroke of genius Paul!!!
Praise Paul
yes!
Just commented that myself! It would be so fun to watch. I can see it now. One truck gets parts, the other gets wish parts
would still be cheaper then 17 wrx engines
This is honestly one of the best episodes you guys have made, absolutely loved it. I was smiling from ear to ear the entire time.
The Zeremiah synergy is real
A secret to importing items is to use a large multi-national carrier such as FedEx, UPS, or any of the other super large companies like that. They calculate these fees for you, and add them to your bill. Then they also ship the items to your address instead of having to pay the $1,100ish to the third middleman.
Tell me more, please. Like, do they ship out of China, or are they the acting middle men and end shipper & delivery men? I'm looking to purchase an electric trike scooter from China; that's why I ask.
@@catwhispurrer137 Super late but it's probably much easier for an electric scooter than an entire car... whenever I buy stuff from Alibaba, I just pay and they well- they give me a tracking number. Definitely helps that you don't need an entire shipping container for an electric scooter!
@strawbaria never shopped there, always seemed sketchy. How is it? Do you pay shipping right when you check out?
I haven't had good experiences with Alibaba. I prefer made in China. The people have the items either ready for the FedEx van to be shipped or have their own shipping ways for you. They are much more professional about things. But they will make you handle your importing costs (duties). That's why I use FedEx for it because they calculate these costs, and get things through for you.
So here's the problem with UPS and FedEx, and frankly DHL. They are very large corporations that specifically focus on either air freight or ocean freight as part of a holistic product. While that's a good thing for speed and time, it's an expensive option. When you want to actually move cargo around the world. Most of the time, a good freight forwarder can help you out with this. There are many national conglomerates that can act in the same manner, but there's also a lot of good mom and pops that are out there as well.
Came to see the cheap truck, I stayed for the freight forwarded process. 👍
This is freaking hilarious and informational at the same time. The emoji response from the seller was an indicator of how this was all going to turn out LMAO
LMAO 🤣🤣 you're right!
The agent who received the message:
"😊 I got a live one here!"
Really not the sellers fault though, just seems like importing stuff is $$$$$.
@@spillsndebris Come on. You're blaming the agent for this fiasco when the American side gouged $4k out of the guy for pretty much filling out paperwork?
Please either make a mini series with this thing where you completely deck it out and make it a beast, or do a high low series with another of these
I think they should sign up for Uber or Lyft, and give people rides for a week.
high low series, get a Japanese K truck as high car!!!!!!!!
you guys should do an off-road test with it 😂
That thing would break in half. All of the components are 100% shit. Although I guess that's the point?
Did you see the tires tho? 😬
Did you not watch them go over the curb?!? That’s as off road as it gets in that shit LMAOO
They went on the sidewalk, that’s pretty off the road 💀
@@tunahxushi4669 I'd honestly trust my life over a car that was completely molested for 2k than that truck lol
I love the simplicity and durability, it's way better than today's trucks.
I love that the Description of Goods is listed as an Elderly Mobility Scooter 6:54 in order to not have to pay as big of a customs fee.
It might as well be one going by its specs, it's just more practical than your typical mobility scooter
It’s exactly the machine translation of “老年代步车” which is what it’s called in China. This thing can not even be driven on the road legally since it doesn’t meet the lowest standards for a CAR. 😂
Actually, it is very much an "elderly mobility scooter". They are designed to be driven by old chinese people since oldies in china don't often have a driving licence and are too old to be on E-bikes. And those "scooters" are very cheap locally. They used to be very popular all around the country until the government decided it was too much of a safety risk and outlawed them. Just think about it. Old people driving 60kph in basically cardboard boxes. Not at all safe. Despite them being illegal now, there are still thousands of those running around in rural areas where the cops don't patrol often.
@@stans_eth
these low speed electric vehicles are actualy street legal outside the us.
in germany all you need to drive one of these on general roads is a drivers license for small vehicles up to 45km/h and an insurence sticker on the frame.
doesnt even need to be registered cause its top speed is below 60km/h.
😂
y’all needa make this this as off road capable as possible and see how far it can go
Definitely would like to see a series with this little car. I don’t know maybe a hi-lo 😂
It won't go far
Need a High/Low episode on a pair of these bad boys.
Lets see how improved breaking, traction and suspension will improve the lap times.
*[This comment was fact checked and removed for violating ccp interests. Reason: assembly and materials quality complaints.]*
*Yeah, make it off road capable. Take this “truck” off a cliff.🤔*
This was my absolute favorite episode you guys have ever made.
you didnt have time to finish the video before writing this comment
@@braydenhardman3112 I watched it twice and still thought it was hilarious and loved the “2000$” truck
It's funny but also a very interesting lesson on logistics lol
It looks like a transgender and is not safe for kids nor bathrooms to be around. 😂
These fees are sometimes owed by Canadian private importers, for say when a Vancouver-bound ship *STOPS IN CALI FIRST* It blew my mind when we imported a brand new specialty hybrid-TV motor from Japan to Canada. All because 3/4ths of the 40' seacan was eventually destined for LA, and the port of Vancouver had a 6hr wait to unload.
That's how we got hit with a $600USD import & inspection fee, because our cargo "landed" in L.A. and we were responsible for it, somehow!
This kinds of small truck are common in rural area in China.
Farmers just need a cheap machine to help them carry live animals, vegetables or other agricultural products to the farmer markets, and sell them right off the truck.
Recently I see a lot of people driving motorizes scooters/bikes to shop or to work.
it saves money and it is convenience.
I checked on Taobao and found that in China, this car costs only US$1,100, with free postage and door-to-door delivery.
THIS thing is illegal to drive on road in China, it only works in some remote places where there is no traffic police😂😊
agricultura na china é 30% do pib é muito $, com certeza não é feito com esses toys
😢😢😢😢6%@@pernambuco92
Will you do a review on the Japanese truck? Thanks. Good video!!!! 👍
Great video! Super fun! This type of “vehicle” is also a pain spot in China now. Government doesn’t really know how to put regulations on them since they are not really a vehicle nor a toy. It creates potential hazards for normal traffic because it’s relatively fast and doesn’t provide enough safety for the driver ( such as air bag ) or other vehicles around them, but on the other hand, it’s also opened up an option for people who have needs on an affordable “ tool” or as a type of transportation for some small tasks (such as go to local food market). It has pros and cons, and it did meet certain needs for some people 😂
Put it in microcar category with subcategory of driven rights. In USSR it were category of lightweight cars with motorcycle engine
They could make like some US states and call them ATVs
在道路上是否安全应该是驾驶者的问题，而能不能上路驾驶是地方法律问题。摩托车也是没有安全气囊，还不是上路驾驶
Weren't there some kei cars sold in China? I imagine they'd be similarly regulated, unless they just never caused any issues without it.
In EU there's quadricycle. There's also 13 circles of bureaucratic hell to get a vehicle registered. Basically if no company has imported and registered said vehicle, you're out of luck.
Also, to me it's weird that he didn't pay customs and tax. Or was it in the warehouse release cost?
That $10k truck that’s already imported started lookin good at this point lol😂
Right?!
Yeah seems like a lot of bullshit
At least it’s not 2nd hand. Less than 9k for a brand new truck.
@@Alex-pj8nz yeah but it’s a hunk of junk. A Mitsubishi or Suzuki would have been a better option to buy. But I see why they made the video for others to see how hard it is to import.
No joke. A buddy of mine has one of those Japanese truck at his ranch. That thing is a little beast. Other than the steering wheel being on the right side. It's pretty cool.
The problem is that you went to a "cheap agent" so they just contract with the first depo they find. If you select the import agent you can set how much money you want to spend. Same thing with the first transportation.
As a custom officer, I admire your passion and patience.
What port do you work for?
Scammer
why is this process so stupid?
@@chrisornot What State And County Do You Reside In?
@@chrisornotwhat’s your mothers maiden name?
As someone who used to work in supply chain logistics, this was funny 😂😂😂
I'm truly fascinated by the fact that there's a whole complex system for moving stuff around the world and a massive number of people are involved in it, but most people are only vaguely aware that it exists.
he simply should not have kept the item in the port storage for a week
@@Olhado256, ofc imagine if it didnt exist, everyone would export their own narcotics
As someone who still does work in supply chain logistics, I agree! 😂😂😂😂
So is it really cheaper to manufacture goods in China?
The warehouse/release fees took me by surprise. I shipped a piano internationally pre-covid and the fees for everything were similar, but I want to say the release fee was closer to $600.
Based on the way he was saying I have a hunch it sat a couple extra days at the warehouse waiting on paperwork. Easily could rack up $300/day given its size
@@AlkalineGamingHD I hadn't thought about that. That makes more sense to me.
@@AlkalineGamingHD oh yeah. Paying to store something at the port is expensive. Didn’t think about that.
The warehouse he got the load from, STG only provides few days of "free pick up dates" and will charge by the size of the cargo per day when you miss it. He had to have missed those dates by accident. Not to mention there is a penalty to import Chinese goods when you're paying for the customs
Yes, I am pretty sure he could have avoid at least half the fees if he had been prepared to plan. Or if he had enlisted a full service freight company at least had a full quote up front that might have been a little less expensive. But doing it this way makes for a "better video".
Interestnig video, thank you.
All in all not a bad price for a useful little truck, brand new. Would be an ideal tool for certain applications (grounds maintenance. small farming, gardening etc) I'm thinking.
It would be good to see a follow up covering durability reliability of the truck over time of operation. Also ongoing maintenance requirements and battery life and range info.
TIA
donut has really stepped up their videos lately. im here for it.
Now get another one and do a high low with them!!!! It would be hilarious
THIS. ONLY THIS. FOREVER.
I vote for welding all the gaps they left at the joints to actually make the frame strong, and then seeing what you can do to make it dangerously fast haha!
Insert a bike engine.
@@TheLiamis lol
@@TheLiamis yes
@@TheLiamis LS swap
Nice to put a VTEC engine on it lol 😂😂😂
We need a series modifying this entire truck to make it awesome.
Changli Raptor!
New High/Low
Crush it, melt it, bury it as deep as you can and buy an used truck
THANK you so so much for going through all this so I didn't have to. I was contemplating importing a food truck/ trailer and had no idea what was involved. Needless to say I've changed my plan.
Literally same.
@@Thea-dg9ov lol, what
@@Redstoneprofi01 I own an apparel manufacturer (small niche manufacturer) and get emails like that one all day long. I think that's the joke.
@@Thea-dg9ov Bahahahha this is craaazy it's a real manufacturer what the helll
@@MrMontanaNights Yes, I work in supply chain and get these several times a day as well.
Couple more batteries, upgraded suspension, and wheels should make that thing loads more fun! I’m interested in this process 😂
Final destination forwarder is definatly code for a hitman.
Thank you guys for spending lots of money and time so we don't make this mistakes. Will be fun if you build a similar truck with the same amount of money and put it into a test to see what's better, home made or Chinese pickup. 😂😂
This idea has my vote👍
I second this, hard price limit build matching the cost of this truck to your build
right this is what youtube is for
Vote no.4
My wife is an international freight forwarder/customs agent manager and I knew immediately when I read about the $2000 truck that it was gonna cost at least $5000 plus extras. But $8200,USD for a $2000 'truck' , just wow.
yeah but thats not the sellers problem, thats just americans fees
@@charlymrivera7236 not that the problems are purely American, they are rather logistical
But that's because they didn't do the paperwork previously and they will send it to some kind of warehouse. It was like 2000 extra... srry for my bad english
well, here in brazil to import any vehicle is 50% of the vehicle value in taxes + freight@@charlymrivera7236
Jason Torchinsky was the original trend setter of Changli ownership, mad respect for that.
They 100% got the idea for this video from Torch.
Back when Jalopnik was in its last dying breath of relevance.
Stolen valor
@@TokyoOlympics2020 how is this stolen valor
@@EVILTHETURTLE I spent this entire video wondering whether they re-uploaded an old video or something because I know I've seen this video before
donut has the best and most thought out sponsorship ads in their vids i’ve ever seen
as a freight forwarder myself, this was really entertaining to watch.
Is it normal for release fees to be that high? Is there any sort of dispute process for them or are you just stuck?
@@ohjoshdarnit fr
@@ohjoshdarnit it can depend on what you import, in which country and etc. So i wouldn’t know for sure ☺️
@@ohjoshdarnit most of these forwarders deal in bulk shipping of tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in a single shipment, with many shipments coming through a year. Without that economy of scale, it is a much higher price per unit but once the process is established and you have a regular relationship with your forwarder the per unit costs are much lower.
@@kathrynbrockhage4539 From what i've seen in the video its not the freight forwarder himself who charged them but the port, probably with some extra high taxes included in the fee
I wanna see you guys fix the welds, add horsepower and just make this a way better truck, I think that’ll be awesome and I’ll definitely toon in
Add horsepower? Like the 2JZ!
You guys should use this thing as a project car for an EV platform! You guys should do a battery upgrade for more range or a new motor-controller combo to make that thing more powerful. It would be super fun to learn how to wrench on an EV.
Check out the Chinese trucks made from handtractors, powered by single cylinder diesel Yanmar clones. They can actually transport stuff.
Whistling Diesel just destroyed one of these. I was actually impressed with how much pain it withstood.
Haha, that thing he drove wasn't stock at all.
He jacked that thing.
Seen it as well, very impressed
That kid is a jerk.
just watched it....too funny
I work for a freight forwarder and this was hysterical! And you are correct you can’t do anything about those fees but you can negotiate how it gets from the port to a warehouse. That drayage move from the freight forwarder is negotiable lol
But if you were to know what day/hour your giant package arrive, couldn't you fill in the final paper work and take it right away by yourself so it never enter the warehouse instead of going through an absurb warehouse fee?
Love the Donut editing team 😂 thanks for always making these video the extra mile to be funnier and seamless 👌
I agree. I'm a video editor myself and admire their work.
A Final Destination Forwarder helps kill you by talking with Death.
You can't escape Death's design. 😂
Ebikeschool actually just did an 18 month update on the Chang Li truck he bought and it held up amazing. It was mainly used by his dad on their ranch to haul stuff around and the sort. They did upgrade the suspension, add a tow hitch, off-road tires and a few other small upgrades and it fufills it's role amazingly well for what it was designed to do.
would it be a better buy than something like a gator?
@@user-gm4kv2my4u I mean I don't know. I have no use for something like this truck or a gator. I was just mentioning what I saw another YTer experience with a different model of this truck from the same maker. Plus an electric gator is like 15k$+ and you have to spend a ton on accessories. With this truck in the video, you just need to replace the tires and suspension and you're good. Ebikeschool also wired in a solar panel on the roof of the truck so they only have to charge it on electricity like once every 3 weeks.
Seems like the thing is a lot better suited to puttering around a ranch in Florida, than it is to driving through a LA to Home Depot.
@@user-gm4kv2my4u probably not, I'd opt for something like a kei truck, unless you can find parts for this thing easier.
@@user-gm4kv2my4u probably not unless if you bought an actual Mitsubishi kei truck. But I mean I bought my kabuta diesel utv and it does great around the land. I'll use it for just cleaning up the place or riding to the gas station or sum
Thanks for giving the "True Cost" of bringing one of these in. Tons of others do videos with them but never detail the costs to get it here or "upgrade" it.
Great Video! Keep it up.
I'd love to see you do some mods to this like you did to the Walmart motorbike.
This should be the standard truck for any future truck business at Donut. Also a series about making it better
OMP - Oh My Pancreas!! After they hit a decent pothole. I foresee a cheap-metal impalement happening. 😳Let us pray for their safe excursions and ramp jumps. 🙏
I almost pulled the trigger on a walk behind tractor for $1400 which was a “steal”. Boy have I learned something😅! Thanks!!
I’m glad you made this video. My brother and his buddy bought a old Japanese van for 1500 and ended up paying 5000 more to get it over here. At least they got to keep the shipping container(this was years ago and it was cheaper to buy the whole container lol)
so for 6500 they got a new set of wheels _and_ a respectable starter home in today's market? Smart fellas.
So glad you guys didn’t skip over how you actually imported the car.
3:27 this reminds me of family guy where Peter was arguing with the cleaners guy
“I no have your shirt!!”
“You yes have my shirt!!”
Y'all used STG logistics in Compton, CA. I work with them regularly but my work is pretty consistent and standardized and usually involves 1 container to 1 full truckload. I recommend in the future y'all reach out to a smaller company like West Coast warehouse in Compton (they are my favorite to work with). They will put you in touch with the right people and will take care of you. The costs should not have been that high for a partial container load with drayage and transload. For reference, I am an oceans import manager for a logistics company on the East coast.
Good advice. Also, if you do something fun like this again, consider STRONGLY renting a shipping container. It is usually super cheap vs small freight. I've helped a friend import a bunch of cars and he managed to make it into a smooth process. Ended up being so easy he kept the container for a full year and basically loaned it out to other collectors doing the same thing. His first unimog cost something like $18k to shop to the states vs a few k for the container delivered to his shop.
I learned from this video that it must be good to own a warehouse.
Or a ship 😂
Location location
No it isn't. There is a lot of expenses that comes with it. And if you Rent it you, you also carries the risk of tenant not paying rent for almost a year and then file for bankruptcy.
I worked warehouse operations for the last ten years, I have seen more warehouse owners going bankrupt than I can count lol.
yea well you gotta stock that warehouse with whatever stuff you are.. warehousing. just owning one doesnt mean jack shyt lol
The lego minikit assembly sound effect for the total price was pure gold.
im dissapointed that your local man beast justin was not strong enough to pull that truck by himself
Do a series with this truck. Trying to make it better, upgrading with good parts and all and then test it.
I worked in the trucking industry about 10 years ago as a business development analyst. I'm not too surprised by the $4000 warehouse fee. I remember any time we had to incorporate drayage into our quotes (drayage are the trucking runs from the port to the warehouses), the truck route alone was usually around $1000, which I'm sure makes up a chunk of that $4K warehouse charge. A lot of that is driver pay because they have to wait around so much to get in and get loaded, then fight with LA traffic to get where they need to go. Then you're competing for warehouse space (with a big item BTW) along with everyone else who has stuff coming in to the port of LA. The last mile of delivery is always the hardest (that's what she said).
Highway Robbery
Been looking at these for a while. I really wanted to 4 door model, but I was unsure how much it would really be to import one. Other channels kinda gloss over it. This pretty much solidifies that it's not worth it lol. Glad someone did the hard part. Can't wait to see what mods you guys do to this thing!!
half the cost was from America eing scalpers not even china lmao.
it seemed like the biggest expense was getting it released from the warehouse in Compton, so maybe it would be cheaper in other ports?
Just so you know these are not road legal. You can never license it or drive it on a public road.
@@MrWolfSnackI’ve seen people still do it all the time up where I live, seems the cops are more interested in em then caring to stop em lol
there are cheaper and better options
Give it to Whistling Diesel for a durability test.
That was legit helpful. I was really wondering what the import process for something like this would be like
Dont buy the shit in usa unless you can buy it in 2000 dollor
Same, I saw a Spanish car the other day and wondered how the guy at my workplace got it here.
@@OccupiedMuffins Spanish car? Seat / Cupra, or something more obscure?
No. It's not that easy
Why....because we can that's why
Amen, brother!
Yeah as others have said. TURN IT INTO A BEAST! Reinforce the welds, get bigger electric motors/batteries, real suspension. You know what to do!
2000$ for this toy, 400$ shipping, 6000$ to pass the us customs!!! no wonder why everything is so expensive nowadays!
6:29 A bond is required by CBP for “all commercial imports valued at $2500 or more”. There are two types, single-entry for individual shipments and annual customs bonds for a 12-month period. Had to help my uncle ship a container and we ended up doing it all ourselves! Interesting process!
What goes into the $2,500 limit? Might get around this fee by ordering batteries stateside or separate purchase to squeeze under the limit.
@@1SCme the bond ensures that the CBP gets their import duty $$$ if the amount paid isn’t sufficient (it’s basically a guarantee by the bond issuer that CBP gets their cut without delay). I think if the value is $800 (De Minimis Value) or lower then duty $$$ is not taken by CBP!
@@agn4268 I only saw $2,500 as the lower limit, so if you ordered the upgrades separately, you should be able to avoid the bond, though you might lose any savings on other expenses. I would think the batteries would be available in the US if that was the item putting you over the top.
@@1SCme I would get the batteries separately, to be sure they were of adequate quality. And replaceable, when they're old or better (non - Li ion) batteries become available.
@@ReggieArford I don't know if the upgrade is just the batteries, or additional hardware like the charger. Seems a bit pricey to just be the batteries.
Aw man, you guys should have talked with Jason Torchinsky, formerly of jalopnik, he did an entire series of stories with one of these he purchased. He could have helped you with some of the logistics.
Autopian gang!
Your video was actually a very easy guide of the process while importing a vehicle around the globe! Thanks!
I have one of these I bought a few years back for our farm. While it’s had its fair share of problems, it’s been a workaholic for small projects. We work this little “truck” hard.
Definitely a short distance type machine, ideal for farm work and deliveries in small alleyways (probably it's intended purpose in China)
@@turnip5359 Correct. These are very popular in rural China where the local farmers bring their produce to the nearby towns to sell in the marketplace.
This actually put my childhood into perspective: My dad has been a mechanic my whole life and has owned a few businesses with one being an Import/Export Business. He'd buy cars from overseas, fix them up, and sell domestically/ship them back out. Being from California I've always wondered why there were lots of foreign cars in dad's garage and he'd even rebuild a few in our own garage at home. I never knew that clearance agents/freight forwarders were part of the process!😮
I actually work with a company that ships a lot of cargo internationally and Freight charges going even to other states gets expensive as hell. I remember one quote that i did where the customer bought about $3,600 worth of parts, and the shipping going from America to Kuwait was $8400 alone. so including all the duties, taxes and fees. the customer paid around $13,500. Insane
what if I import this car in single parts and then build it myself...? would this lower import costs? to Europe?
@@I-AM-MARKY-PRO-LIFE i think those fees are mainly an usa thing, i never heard of europe countries charging so much for littearly nothing.
You have to pay duty and taxes anyway for the each item, the duty itself for the car might be lower than for the most of parts, due to the anti dumping policy
American bureaucracy cost alone is enough to buy 2 of these trucks lol.