Importing into Atlanta port 5.5 hrs away?

[coralfarmin]

I am considering using this port.

I understand the paper work logistics ect of importing & would visit the port in advance to become familar with the area that the paper work will take place.

I also understand the doa possiblity due to flight delays etc..

Now what I'm looking is input into this possible endeavor.

I can provide the facility to house the livestock.This would consist of a 22x30 double inflated layer commercial greenhouse purchased from a local supplyier containing 300 gal rubbermaids sprayed with expanding poly foam by a local company.6 300 gal vats and a sump will be connected to make up 2 1000 gal systems with 22x15 worth of sqft still open.I could add another greenhouse in the future since ground is not a issue.2 would be ideal since they could be shaded at seperate levels then.

at any rate to get back on track...If I haul say 20-50 gal worth of water in a insulated container for rewatering/acclimation at the port if needed on clams/sps mainly , would this be a unrealistic goal.
thanks
www.tropicalmarineimports.com

 

[coralfarmin]

not even 1 experianced importer wants to reply to this post ??

no input to obstacles that may get in my way other than the obvious ??

I quess I'll just have to find a appropriate forum at RC & try for some input .

 

[JT]

I think the problem is that no one understands just what the heck you are asking.

Thank you, drive through.

 

[coralfarmin]

Mainly input from a experianced importer .
Sorry if it is not clear what Im asking thats why I posted to get input into what I might not know to help clear my understanding of the process.
I was actualy hoping someone may have done something similar and could contribute unknown info as to obsticals that may get in my way to help with my planning.
I just tryied to sum up that I knew the obvious obsticals in my first post to save time.
I know that Atlanta is one of the newer ports so this may be why not many others have established a name importing from Tonga ,Bali,Vietnam,Fiji etc into this area.
There might be other reasons than just that this is why I inquired.
I feel the slight distance is overcomeable.
I just havent figured why not many others are importing from the above destinations into this area.
Are you a importer?

 

[Anonymous]

There are lots of stores that get fish through Atl every day. I doubt you will need to transport water for a five hour trip.

 

[JennM]

I didn't understand the question. I use ATL for my shipments but I'm not an importer. so I didn't have anything to contribute. I just show up, pick up my boxes, take them the 1-hour trip back to my shop, and acclimate/tank them - and that's it.

No need to get hostile.

Jenn

 

[coralfarmin]

thanxs Rover

do they mostly transship or actuly import ?
I wasnt sure if I could get direct flights that were the same amount of time as the Lax wholesalers from the popular tropical destinations or which airlines to use from each.
Thats due to unfinished research on my part if anyone reading could help with that issue it would be great
But so far I have only researched Fiji & Indonesia.
Now I have to find what airport & airline is used in Tonga the Solomons & Veitnam.Anyone?
I have read manys posts in this forum & U seem to have given the most constructive input.
Thanxs again Rover

 

[coralfarmin]

Hostile?? sorry if it has come across that way that was not my intention.
But to be bold but honest after reading most of the posts in this forum you seem to be the queen of hostility when there is any debate you seem to almost thrive on it,it appears.
Sorry if I am out of line or my post was misleading but you have cut down alot of people in this forum while patting yourself on the back,granted you have helped alot also.

 

[JennM]

Where the hell did that come from?

Debate? Me? Here? No I defer most of the point-taking to my more learned colleagues here. I'm just a LFS owner - no diving, no collecting, no importing experience... so I don't engage in a fight I'm not equipped to win. It's better to remain silent and be thought the fool than to speak and remove any doubt.

I am, however, quite opinionated, and I make no apologies for that. This is my livelihood. If it's a subject I'm versed on, I'll offer up my thoughts, such as I have in recent queries regarding livestock wholesalers. I'm also civil. I am not going to rehash that here, but I did so in a polite manner and my responses were misconstrued as being hostile. I also don't have a very high tolerance for nonsense, so you may have read some of my responses to that, but I have since decided not to waste time and energy on it.

You are the one who decided to take your toys and go to RC when you did not receive a suitable answer to your rather cryptic question. Now we attempt to answer and you give out more grief.

Here's the answer I was in the process of typing when you decided to insult me.... being the "queen of hostility" (perhaps I need to add that to my sig line ) I contemplated just erasing it, but just to show you that I'm not all that, I'll post it to you anyway.

***************************************

Well I'm not Rover but I'm at the airport myself, every week. The majority of live fish shipments that I see are purchases from west coast wholesalers. Every Tuesday the "usual suspects" all gather. Stock lists come out over the weekend, we order, stuff is packed Monday and shipped and all the LFS-types pick up on Tuesdays.

I've seen the local wholesaler make pickups there but I've never seen the procedure they go through to get them cleared. I think some in the local ATL area transship or import themselves but I've never seen that firsthand either.

If you were going to re-bag or re-pack I think you'd need a facility to do that because to my knowledge there is no such place at the cargo warehouse at the airport. The Atlanta wholesaler is about 5 minutes' drive from the airport.

Hope this helps.

Jenn

"Queen of Hostility"

 

[coralfarmin]

btw..I have recieved some very helpful recent e-mail direct due to this post.
Please keep it coming.

 

[dizzy]

I'd say you need to talk to Jeff Koutnik. I have seen several posts by him claiming to get stuff real cheap by doing what you are talking about. I think you better hurry because the new legislation is going to make most of what this hobby does illegal. If you are just getting in the biz, a better plan might be to start looking for a new line of work. The sky is falling. The sky is falling. :wink:

 

[JennM]

I'd say you need to talk to Jeff Koutnik. I have seen several posts by him claiming to get stuff real cheap by doing what you are talking about. I think you better hurry because the new legislation is going to make most of what this hobby does illegal. If you are just getting in the biz, a better plan might be to start looking for a new line of work. The sky is falling. The sky is falling. :wink:

Now Mitch, you're not looking to stir that pot are you??

You can be the King of Hostility... 8O

 

[coralfarmin]

I hope you dont consider me nonsense...or a fool??

btw I have not posted this at RC.But it is just common knowledge that there is alot more activity over there thats why I was going to.
there just was not a forum appropriate I thought.
Mabey this was not a appropriate one either I just thought it was.

sorry if I offended you jenn
thanxs for you input

 

[dizzy]

I'm just amazed that some of y'all have not picked up the fact of how serious this legislation is. As far as the king of hostility. That honor would fall to Steve or John. I see it as a dead heat.
Mitch

 

[coralfarmin]

no Im not just starting.Just starting to consider importing.I am not currently in business.
I will worry about the legislation bridge when they build it.

IMO all that will do it create more poachers & smugglers.

every year we try to help eradicate cocaine in mexico production goes up ALOT
I feel this will be similar.Supply & demand are the driving force.That will just cause more doa cause the methods used to smuggle and the people already in poverty will look at their resources as a pot of gold.

thanks dizzy for your input

 

[JennM]

No I was not referring to your posts as nonsense, but since you said:

But to be bold but honest after reading most of the posts in this forum you seem to be the queen of hostility when there is any debate you seem to almost thrive on it,it appears.

I can only assume you were referring to some exchanges with another poster who is not a member of the trade, but who considers himself its savior... That, in my opinion, is nonsense. That and in months/years past I have had some heated exchanges, but they certainly aren't unique here. We've got lots of strong personalities with lots of strong opinions and many decades of personal experience -- as well we have lots of people with NO experience, who think they can tell those who have worked all their lives in the trade, how they should be doing things. That combination makes for some seriously polaraized debates. Why you opted to single me out as the "Queen of Hostility" is rather curious, but then again, we female types are rather outnumbered here. We're few but we're all pretty vocal Perhaps we can all have equal standing as "Princesses of Hostility"??? :lol:

Yes there is a lot of activity at RC, and I don't spend much time there, but last time I looked -- and I admit I have not looked in a very long time -- there was no industry-specific forum. If there is one, I'll happily stand corrected.

This forum IS appropriate for the type of question you asked, the fact is most of us don't know the answer to the question. I didn't fully understand the question until I read Glenn's response to it.

And I think I've explained ad infinitum, why livestock purchasing questions aren't usually met with much response - we all want to keep our own little piece of the pie... that really shouldn't be that hard to understand. Perhaps once you are on this side of the question, you will understand.

Jenn

 

[JennM]

I'm just amazed that some of y'all have not picked up the fact of how serious this legislation is. As far as the king of hostility. That honor would fall to Steve or John. I see it as a dead heat.
Mitch

I've been following that thread with interest - but alas I don't feel qualified to speak my input into that thread (see aforementioned proverb about speaking and being thought a fool...)

Steve CC'd me on his letter to Congressman Case, and I replied with my comments. If there is something tangible that I can do, then I'll do it. I'm not just standing on the sidelines but at the moment I don't think there is much I am able to do.

Mitch you can be the Duke of Flames

Jenn

 

[coralfarmin]

jenn thanks for your input agin

I have actuly used the same transshipper that sunpet uses for alot of stuff.
They import about 60 boxes(not transshipped) direct from Jakarta far as coral goes per month(I think).I dont know why they dont try to improve their stock.
I see the need for it in this area.

 

[JennM]

no Im not just starting.Just starting to consider importing.I am not currently in business.
I will worry about the legislation bridge when they build it.

Maybe I'm not caffeinated sufficiently yet... but I'm confused so please bear with me...

You aren't "just starting" but you aren't "in business"... am I wrong interpreting this as you are presently a hobbyist, contemplating the business? Most of us begin this way... but there's a world of difference between being a hobbyist, and being in the trade.

If you wait until they build the legislation before it becomes your concern, you'll be closing the barn door after the horse is gone. Your bridge analogy is backward ... they won't be building the bridge, they will be burning it.

Jenn

 

[JennM]

jenn thanks for your input agin

I have actuly used the same transshipper that sunpet uses for alot of stuff.
They import about 60 boxes(not transshipped) direct from Jakarta far as coral goes per month(I think).I dont know why they dont try to improve their stock.
I see the need for it in this area.

I understand what you are saying but I *think* that like myself, many (most?) LFS in this region, find better quality and value in buying from the west coast. I've perused the local wholesaler, yes there is the odd "find" but the prices are sometimes comparable with my RETAIL prices. Can't make a living on that.

Personally I avoid that particular middle man in favour of another. Buying from the coast I get the quality, low/no DOA, the animals weren't stressed to the max by an extra long ride and they had a few days' rest and food along the way.

If one could get similar quality and price locally (ie: ATL) I think it would work but the big question is, is it feasible? Something tells me that if it was, it would be being done by more than one major importer/wholesaler.

That's just my semi-educated take on it.

Jenn