US residents buying motors from #ebikes.ca (grin-tech) have to individually jump through the customs hoops of importing products from china? Between this and shipping the batteries, seems like an opening for a partner on this side of the border.
@enobacon So, this is what inspired me to try importing LvH - bypassing canada and Splendid
What I discovered was it's only an opportunity if the manufacturer can handle it
in the case of LvH (and probably most brands), "being the manufacturer" actually means they're sending specs to an assembler in China, who sources the frame and components and paint locally
So the distributors are waiting on the manufacturer who's waiting on chinese factories and logistics and everybody wants paid up front
@enobacon Which is how I come around to "we need to be able to get it locally"
Not because chinese manufacturing is bad but because china -> denmark -> london -> canada -> US is way too many borders to cross and drivers to pay for something as technically simple to manufacture as a bicycle or even an electric motor
@pleaseclap I've got a few more motors to buy still and bikes to mod, based on my current n+1'ing rate. The budget on this project is like whatever I would've spent on a 2nd car for 10yrs. IDK if I'm then selling some at a loss and/or building a bikeshed, hiring staff... Let me know who is winding motors.
aaaaaaaaaand today UPS is here with one box that says "2 of 2" on it, wanting $160 extra for brokerage fee or just trump's dumbass tariff on parts for #ebikes 🙄 But is that supposed to cover both boxes or now what?
@enobacon I need to emphasis COULD more here. I have no idea who - if anyone - is actually doing any manufacturing. I just know many have the ability and wish they would.
Add comment