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Post by smokinguitarplayer on Jun 25, 2014 18:53:05 GMT
I ordered my kit in March with an expected delivery date of Mid-May ...there were some delays and it was pushed back one month. It is now 6-25-14 and my kit is at the Philadelphia airport "trying" to clear customs. It was shipped only a few days ago so the air freight system works fine. But ... I believe Kevin said to me that shipping by air freight you don't have to worry about customs ....WRONG ... you can avoid customs by shipping by UPS or FEDEX air but not just commercial air. I suggest to everyone out there to insist on Fedex Air shipment ..you will have a much happier experience. I finally relented and had to hire a freight forwarder/broker to handle the customs etc. I hope to use them for delivery to my town so I don't have to fight the Philly Airport traffic and road maze down there. This would have been WAY easier if I had known about this customs situation in advance as I would have had plenty of time to have it all set up and ready ...I have really had to scramble to get the paperwork back and forth, back in forth, phone calls, faxes, more emails , even more emails and faxes, ... frankly, I'm still not sure if I'm "done" with all this but one way or another it'll be here in beautiful downtown Shillington PA someday soon. Here is the picture of it as it was shipped . Hope it still looks like this !  and here is the donor ....  2006 Burgman 400 as instructed for easiest build. Sooooo ... sometime soon I will get started and hope to post as I go. I have been told that this is the 3rd or 4th unit in the US .. not sure .. .maybe somebody knows for sure. Regards... FB |
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Post by erik on Jun 25, 2014 20:46:39 GMT
Nice pics! Scott does a great job packing his products. I hope you will have it soon in good condition.
Nice An400 too! does the windshield look similar to the demo version?
br,
Erik
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Post by edvb on Jun 26, 2014 0:38:53 GMT
Yes, Good luck with having it delivered unscathed.
Well mine was the first in the states as it belonged to Kevin that sold it to me. It started as a Eco Exo that was converted to a Eco Exo R. Then Jimmy got his about the same time mine was shipped around Feb 19 2013. Roger was next and he got his frame around June 25 2013.
Scott will have to chime in what others have been shipped at this time.
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Post by unclemark on Jun 29, 2014 21:28:15 GMT
I ordered my kit in March with an expected delivery date of Mid-May ...there were some delays and it was pushed back one month. It is now 6-25-14 and my kit is at the Philadelphia airport "trying" to clear customs. It was shipped only a few days ago so the air freight system works fine. But ... I believe Kevin said to me that shipping by air freight you don't have to worry about customs ....WRONG ... you can avoid customs by shipping by UPS or FEDEX air but not just commercial air. I suggest to everyone out there to insist on Fedex Air shipment ..you will have a much happier experience. I finally relented and had to hire a freight forwarder/broker to handle the customs etc. <snip> OUCH, that just might be some costly bad advice. Sorry to hear it. I hate to be Captain Hindsight but I would've been tempted to refuse shipment. Let it go back then paid again thru FedEx. Probably worked out cheaper. A friends experience importing an aircraft engine from Canada with forwarder/brokers taught me that lesson. One of the few mistakes I didn't have to make myself. Meanwhile, we're all still waiting for that other shoe to drop. |
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Post by roger32849 on Jul 1, 2014 14:27:04 GMT
I picked mine up from Logan airport in Boston. The air freight folks gave me the documents to take over to customs, a 10 minute ride adjacent to the airport. The agent took the paperwork, was gone for about 15 minutes and my total customs bill was around $5.00. It was simple, easy and uncomplicated. I took the paperwork back to the air freight terminal and they loaded in my pickup and I went home with the kit. Refusing a shipment is ridiculous especially when it is sitting right there at the airport. Hiring an agent to do this very simple process might be okay, but really... It was drop dead easy for me. It isn't like you imported something questionable... It is a kit car minus the motor... Not a gray market vehicle, not a complete car, or motorcycle, it is a frame and some GRP panels.
When you import anything, the idea is to take possession of it, and not to prove a point by refusing it. Get it in the garage then file an amended customs declaration form if you think you paid to much duty. My two cents...
Roger (in California on tour)
Worcester, Massachusetts
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Post by unclemark on Jul 1, 2014 18:58:50 GMT
And we all hope FB's goes just as smooth. The part I doubt is that it goes just as cheap. From my friends experience some brokers like to hold your shipment for ransom. Sighting mysterious and exaggerated fees similar to a mortgage escrow's closing costs. Once I personally felt forced into using a broker, I'd of refused shipping. I see nothing ridiculous about that.
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Post by smokinguitarplayer on Jul 2, 2014 15:15:36 GMT
Roger, you didn't have to deal with PHILLY !! Everything is a hassle down there ... I was going to try to do the paperwork and then was informed that the Custom's office, which is downtown and probably an hour to get there and parked, WAS CLOSED FOR 'MEETINGS' ...then they changed the story and told me over $ 2000.00 and it had to go through a broker ... no worry ..I have the kit and all is well ... Whenever you deal with this stuff in Philly it is always a problem ... it is NOT the city of Brotherly Love trust me. Everybody is nasty down there.
FB
PS ...I ship things every day . shoudl I have refused the shipment, Scott in England or Kevin would have had to "eat" the return shipping and who knows what else.... that is just not an option.
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Post by edvb on Jul 2, 2014 16:47:12 GMT
Well good for you! Do you have it at home now? Was everything intact and no damage?
Yes, shipping is a two way street and you need to look out for each other even when things do not go as planned.
My dealing and shipping with Kevin was perfect and now all legal to drive on the road.
Was yours powder coated before shipping or the bare frame?
Good luck on your build.
Edward.
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Post by smokinguitarplayer on Jul 2, 2014 21:03:06 GMT
Ed ...I have it in my workspace which is torn apart but soon to be organized as the build starts. I was advised to get the kit without powder coating ...I think maybe it wasn't even an option ...so I have a bare frame I suppose. I haven't unwrapped it ....that might be tonight and the picture taking will commence.
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Post by smokinguitarplayer on Jul 20, 2014 11:48:35 GMT
tHE KIT IS IN MY WAREHOUSE , UNPACKED, INVENTORIED and I decided to give all the bare metal frame etc. parts a coat of paint to keep the surface rust to a minimum while I do the dry build. (I call it a warehouse but it's actually just a huge garage)   |
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Post by roger32849 on Jul 20, 2014 14:02:06 GMT
There really wasn't a "real" necessity to paint the frame. There is a bit of welding to be done and a significant amount of drilling to do and that sort of negates the purpose of the paint. My frame was left in my basement during the build (6 months) and no rust to speak of. If the paint you applied is from a rattle can you will need to sand it all off before you powder coat. If you paint, you will need to at least sand it smooth.
Did you get the floor pan aluminum sheet yet? I know you mentioned it was not in the pallet from Eco-Exo. Mine was also not included but Kevin Patrick took care of it.
Well...... What are you waiting for, break out the tools and start the process... You could easily be the third US builder to complete an Eco-Exo-R. I look forward to your posts and progress.
Roger
Worcester Ma
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Post by smokinguitarplayer on Jul 21, 2014 14:08:30 GMT
I will bead blast the entire thing before powdercoatiing no problem ... it WAS starting to get a lot of surface rust and I use to restore old Porsches and have a very strong aversion to rust! ... Floor pan ... yes they send me an entire sheet ... I'm starting to get my parts / act in order ... today working on the steering rack ... did you have to do any rebuilding to that ? Mine does not look so good.
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Post by erik on Jul 21, 2014 15:44:12 GMT
The steering column needs to be shortened as like in the manual. I made a bush out of the An400 steering bar which has the ideal Internal dia. just dremel away the internal weld seam. The steering rack itself was dirty but in very good condition. You need a pair of track rod extensioners and it's good. keep in mind you don't have the female connectors with the steering column stalks which are a pain to get. I went for the An400 switches which saved a lot of rework on the loom and they are designed to be weather proof.
good luck and have fun!
Erik
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Post by roger32849 on Jul 21, 2014 19:04:46 GMT
My steering rack was a lot like Erik's, "dirty but in great shape". After I shortened the steering shaft to the proper length and welded an external sleeve all I needed to do was degrease the rack with some IPA and that was all. The boots were really good and as I said the rack was very tight.
Roger
Worcester Massachusetts
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Post by roger32849 on Jul 21, 2014 19:05:39 GMT
My steering rack was a lot like Erik's, "dirty but in great shape". After I shortened the steering shaft to the proper length and welded an external sleeve all I needed to do was degrease the rack with some IPA and that was all. The boots were really good and as I said the rack was very tight.
Roger
Worcester Massachusetts
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