www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I am looking to start a business in San Jose in the next twelve months or so. It will be a retail business and the inventory will be primarily imported from China. Does anyone know anyone that provides reliable customs brokering services.

Thanks

Brother Harddrive--I can't help you directly but I'm sure these folks can: http://www.amcham.co.cr/ << American Chamber of Commerce in Costa Rica
Should you wish to do the heavy lifting yourself, perhaps this will aid: http://cargo-movers.en.alibaba.com/prod ... _RICA.html
The customs brokers' (called agencia aduanera) job is listed here: http://www.costaricalaw.com/customs_law/taximport.php

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

I'm going to be selling Electronic Cigarette hardware and accessories. The Chinese invented it and manufacture 90% of it.

hey fellows.........get more familiar with this statement.....the US doesn't make anything anymore..it over...........ALMOST

we make top investment grade debt......

_________________
The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

So true....

Due to various factors, mid-grade manufacturing is returning to the US--our wage stagnation, more efficient manufacturing methods, the Chinese finally doing the right thing with their currency, etc. They are losing the bottom-end manufacturing to the Vietnamese, Bangladeshis and other ultra-low-cost areas. I don't have quotes or links to support this but a quick reading of international economics focusing on manufacturing and trade will confirm.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Sky-high transportation costs for both raw materials and finished goods is another reason for U.S. manufacturing to have some hope recently.

RAC

To the OP

E-cigarettes are already for sale in Costa Rica, in 12 months the market for them will be saturated.

I do not see them rolling of the shelfs like hot cakes in the US where butts are $6-$10 a pack.

In CR butts are about 2 bucks a pack

Guess you will make your coin with the batteries and the snuff

Sorry to be blunt, but I would rather invest in a phone store at the Mall San Pedro

Good luck, you are going to need alot of it

As far as needing an Import agent?
You could bring thousands of E- Cigs in a couple of suitcase.... there goes the middle man

Think of something else

the cheapest wholesale prices I can find are over 10 bucks.....what are they going for now in SJ...?

_________________
The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

+1

Your plan to sell electronic cigarettes is shaky.
I would like to see you do something with a better chance of success.

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It is cheaper to pay now and get it over with.
It is also easier to get them to leave.

Preferably something with an unserved/poorly served market with much higher barriers to entry. Nothing springs to mind but then I'm not entrepreneurial.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

There was an article in Costa Rica newspaper this past week that the President of Costa Rica was outlawing them being used, along with the non smoking ban.

A link to the article would be helpful but how exactly do you ban something like the eCigarette? It can be broken down to several pieces, all innocuous parts by themselves, doesn't emit anything but water vapor and doesn't suck any/many carcinogens into the human system. Is anybody gonna ask the current Police/OIJ system to investigate and CR prosecutors to pursue cases? I discount nothing but this seems to be using Hellfire missiles on CR oxcarts.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

This is Costa Rica we're talking about.
The law makes life easy for the enforcers (if any).
If it looks like a cigarette the rules can be enforced.
This saves the LEO from hearing "Honest officer, this is not a cigarette" .

_________________
It is cheaper to pay now and get it over with.
It is also easier to get them to leave.