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Are there any Xuquiu tubas owned by any forum members? I have seen the name mentioned from time to time, usually in the same sentence as Jin Bao.

I'm looking for an Eb compensator, and both Xuquiu and Jin Bao have them, price is about the same ($1950 in silver, delivered), both websites use the same photo, so maybe one is the ultimate supplier for the other, or they are the same company.

One difference is the shipping: JinBao is shipped direct to me, and Xuquiu is shipped to a port of entry (Oakland, about 30 mi. away).

Xuquiu:


Jin Bao:

For most my stuff, I use a forwarder and have them pick up the stuff from the factory.

For those insisting to ship to a national harbor, I make them address it to the forwarder
(for customs reason) and then have'em ship it to me.

That might thou cost you more than the price difference of having JinBao ship directly

I do in fact pay less having 5 m^3 shipped from Taiwan than have the same cargo shipped domestic

For the potential hassle involved (on so many levels), I think you're way better off ordering through a dealer in the US. That service and their experience is surely worth the few extra bucks.

bort wrote:For the potential hassle involved (on so many levels), I think you're way better off ordering through a dealer in the US. That service and their experience is surely worth the few extra bucks.

+1

Quite apart from the problem of ensuring you don't get a dud, if you're not already familiar with the process of clearing an item through customs, it's not worth the hassle (paperwork, showing up at the port of entry to clear your shipment through customs) and the potential costs (duty, CBP merchandise handling fee, misc. customs fees, which can run into the hundreds of dollars if your shipment is selected for customs inspection).

pgym wrote:.......which can run into the hundreds of dollars if your shipment is selected for customs inspection).

Very true...

The dealers does actually do a job....Or at least some
The forum will point you in the right direction

Warranty claims to china after a purchasing a single instrument can be a tough deal,
and the shipping part of it you've already starting to know a little bit about

pgym wrote:
Quite apart from the problem of ensuring you don't get a dud, if you're not already familiar with the process of clearing an item through customs, it's not worth the hassle (paperwork, showing up at the port of entry to clear your shipment through customs) and the potential costs (duty, CBP merchandise handling fee, misc. customs fees, which can run into the hundreds of dollars if your shipment is selected for customs inspection).

I had to do that when I had an Alex shipped from Germany. It was not difficult, just a bit of a hassle, finding the U.S. Customs office and walking it through (the customs agent opened the shipping box and had me remove the tuba, I filled out some forms and was on my way). Why is it that shipping from China straight to Oakland would be any different? Customs fees were zero on a tuba coming from Germany. Should be the same coming from China, since it is the class of item that determines the fee. There were zero fees added on, just the original shipping charges (shipper was DHL, and shipping was arranged by Alexander and prepaid by me).

I haven't looked into IMPORTS to the USA, but I have been working with a contact for export from USA to Australia who was recommended by Qantas airways. SHipping from USA since 9/11 has become a nightmare - if not impossible to arrange without a "known shipper".

Not quite to the point of shipping but, to this point I am being given outstanding service on arranging the USA to Oz route.

My contact is:


Pamela Parsons | Director of Logistics
Consolidators International, Inc.
8900 Bellanca Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90045 ▪ USA
Tel: +1.310.649-6160 | Fax: +1.310.649.6249 | Mobile: +1.310.869.1825
Email: pamela@cii-usa.com" target="_blank | Website: http://www.cii-usa.com" target="_blank

They have a global network. Could be well worth a try - mention my name, if you like.

OTHERWISE - There are people in the USA selling the Jin Bao who might have some in stock, not require any import work by you and provide back-up and you would not have to buy 5 or more as I think you would have to from the factory and save time and quite possibly money.

My personal advice: deal with people who have built a reputation for fair and honest dealing - let them do the hard yards - ( THOUGH be co-operative rather than demanding) it is worth it.

PS: Will have more on what I am importing and from whom later. I think I'm going to be having a lot of fun soon!

dave wrote:Why is it that shipping from China straight to Oakland would be any different?

It may be different because individual shipments, regardless of the port of origin, are picked at random for inspection, and no differentiation is made between personal and commercial shipments. Additionally, the percentage of shipments inspected that originate from a given country may vary based on a number of factors, including the history of smuggling attempts and counterfeit goods found in shipments that originate from that country.

Depending on the port of entry, the inspection may take place on site or at an off-site facility. An off-site facility may not necessarily be located in close proximity to the port of entry.

Finally, note the following from the US Customs and Border Patrol publication,"Tips for New Importers and Exporters":

Under Title 19, section 1467, of the United States Code (19 U.S.C. 1467), CBP has a right to examine any shipment imported into the United States and it is important to know that you, the importer, must bear the cost of such cargo exams. Per the CBP regulations, it is the responsibility of the importer to make the goods available for examination-- "The importer shall bear any expense involved in preparing the merchandise for CBP examination and in the closing of packages" (19 C.F.R. 151.6). Household effects are not exempt. No distinction is made between commercial and personal shipments. In the course of normal operations, CBP does not charge for cargo examinations. However, there may still be costs involved for the importer. For example, if your shipment is selected for examination, it will generally be moved to a Centralized Examination Station (CES) for the CBP exam to take place. A CES is a privately operated facility where merchandise is made available to CBP officers for physical examination. The CES facility will unload (devan) your shipment from its shipping container and will reload it after the exam. The CES will bill you for their services. There are also costs associated with moving the cargo to and from the exam site and with storage. Rates will vary across the country and a complete devanning may cost several hundred dollars. The CES facility fulfills the needs of both CBP and the importer by providing an efficient means to conduct exams in a timely manner. CES facilities are discussed in part 118 of the Customs Regulations.

So, in a sense, you got lucky. Thank your lucky stars or whomever/whatever it is you attribute your luck to, and move on.

dave wrote:Xuquiu:


Jin Bao:

Looks like Xuquiu altered the color balance a bit and tilted it slightly when they used the same photo that Jin Bao is using. Maybe fiddled with the curves a bit in Photoshop. But, yes, these are the same photo.

Makes me think either they are marketed by the same people, or made by the same people. My bet is both.

Rick "who'd choose based on a dealer's reputation and the integrity of their return policy more than anything" Denney

I would not guarantee that the tuba from Xuqiu is the same as the one from JinBao. I know for certain that while the JinBao 700 Eb has nylon (with metal insert) valve guides, there are other Chinese compensated Eb sold with metal valve guides. That would indicate there is at least two factories making this model.

The JinBao 700 is known to be a nice playing tuba*, so would definitely go for that one.

However I would strongly recommend you buy from US dealer rather buying direct as the Chinese do not pack the tubas very well for shipping. If it is roughly man-handled there is a high likelihood of sustaining bell damage inside the case - I have received two tubas so damaged since I started importing. The only relatively safe way of shipping from China is on pallet, or in container as part of batch which is what the dealers will do.

*I have been using myself as my main tuba for the last 6 weeks and am playing with Championship band in contest this coming Saturday

Neptune wrote:*I have been using myself as my main tuba for the last 6 weeks and am playing with Championship band in contest this coming Saturday

pgym wrote: So, in a sense, you got lucky. Thank your lucky stars or whomever/whatever it is you attribute your luck to, and move on.

Maybe I was not clear. The tuba I received from Alexander was selected for inspection. It just meant that I had to go to the customs office where they opened the box, I removed it (it was buried in styrofoam pellets), filled out their forms and was on the way. It was as simple as that. Another shipment I received from Australia containing castings for a live steam locomotive also was selected for inspection, this time I had to go to the SF customs office to explain what it was and verify its duty free status, and again it was fast and not a problem. I think in both cases, customs was really just looking for drugs, contraband, terrorist materials, etc. So while as a lawyer you might want to give advice to people to leave this to the professional importer, in reality it is not a problem for the avg. person to go to customs and retrieve their goods.

dave wrote:Maybe I was not clear. The tuba I received from Alexander was selected for inspection. It just meant that I had to go to the customs office where they opened the box, I removed it (it was buried in styrofoam pellets), filled out their forms and was on the way. It was as simple as that. Another shipment I received from Australia containing castings for a live steam locomotive also was selected for inspection, this time I had to go to the SF customs office to explain what it was and verify its duty free status, and again it was fast and not a problem. I think in both cases, customs was really just looking for drugs, contraband, terrorist materials, etc. So while as a lawyer you might want to give advice to people to leave this to the professional importer, in reality it is not a problem for the avg. person to go to customs and retrieve their goods.

Sounds to me like you went through a routine informal entry verification, not a CPB exam. BIG difference.

With a CPB exam, all the paperwork has to be filed BEFORE the inspection takes place, and the importer is permitted to open the packaging in the presence of a CBP agent to visually verify its contents, but not is permitted to touch, handle, or remove anything--including packing material--from the container until it has cleared customs.

Sure, you can clear customs on your own. If you're feeling lucky and/or have got the time and are curious to see your tax dollars at work, go for it.

mclaugh "whose experience on three of the five occasions I've cleared goods imported for personal use in person has been vastly different than dave's, and who now leaves it to the professionals as a result"

Neptune wrote:I would not guarantee that the tuba from Xuqiu is the same as the one from JinBao.

There are no guarantees. I notice did not guarantee that it isn't, either. But I'll bet a medium-sized Chinese feast that the photographs are the same, though the one from Xuqiu has been fiddled with. That, of course, means nothing--pictures are as easy to appropriate as ideas.

Rick "Actual item may vary from pictures" Denney

Rick Denney wrote:But I'll bet a medium-sized Chinese feast that the photographs are the same, though the one from Xuqiu has been fiddled with.

I have got no doubt it is the same picture modified either.

I was just indicating that it is still not necessarily exactly the same model from both sources (although it could be?). And the Chinese supplier is not necessarily the manufacturer either.

Neptune wrote:

Rick Denney wrote:But I'll bet a medium-sized Chinese feast that the photographs are the same, though the one from Xuqiu has been fiddled with.

I have got no doubt it is the same picture modified either.

Dang it! I was hoping you'd challenge me successfully.

Rick "hungry and needing an excuse to buy a medium-sized Chinese feast" Denney

Rick Denney wrote:

Neptune wrote:

Rick Denney wrote:But I'll bet a medium-sized Chinese feast that the photographs are the same, though the one from Xuqiu has been fiddled with.

I have got no doubt it is the same picture modified either.

Dang it! I was hoping you'd challenge me successfully.

Rick "hungry and needing an excuse to buy a medium-sized Chinese feast" Denney

Rick, If you are in the UK, come and visit and I'm sure Mei will cook you a Chinese feast!

Jonathan "who enjoys a mixture of delicious English and Chinese meals cooked by his good wife"

Neptune wrote:Rick, If you are in the UK, come and visit and I'm sure Mei will cook you a Chinese feast!

Count on it. Of course, it took me 50 years to make the first visit that extended outside the international transit lounge at Heathrow. It might be a while!

Rick "not doing much international travel these days" Denney