Front Doors on Alibaba (2 Viewers)

[Living in the Past]

Sounds to me like somebody needs a “free” vacation to Australia, & bring em back In cardboard boxes as checked bags !!

(brought a complete Slee 6” lift kit back to Alaska, for the cost of a companion ticket on a business trip !!!)

Think it was back in the nineties a international pilot was bringing 60 series cable locker axles from Japan into Phoenix. He was able to bring them on flights he was the pilot. Just about the time I heard about them he stopped doing it. Never heard the reason why. Probably were not going all the proper channels. Maybe an airline executive
got wind. Not a part that would ever caught not having any type of VIN. If I could have picked up a set for $600 I would have.

Doors would be tricky as baggage but not as tricky as an engine, H55F/transfer case, couple split transfer cases with hand brakes, FF rear axles and two cable locking diffs, I think this is most the heavy items but there is more. If I had any real money invested I would be sick about now. Most everything was never offered in the US market those that were are difficult find.

 

[Racer65]

So the ten pieces is actually ten sets? That changes everything. How does that tariff work? When I bought an used H55F and transfer case in Australia don't remember paying anywhere near that much. Is non commercial different or where tariffs raised a bunch since 2017?

25% tariff on goods from China. Australia is different.
To bring anything back as luggage these days assumes you can actually travel there. Australia is closed to foreign travelers and China requires 3 week quarantine at your own expense. The good old days aren't coming back for a while.

 

[Living in the Past]

25% tariff on goods from China. Australia is different.
To bring anything back as luggage these days assumes you can actually travel there. Australia is closed to foreign travelers and China requires 3 week quarantine at your own expense. The good old days aren't coming back for a while.

I have smaller items that could probably carry in luggage I going to have sent thru the post. Been informed to expect a delay with the package sitting at the
Melbourne Airport for at least two weeks. Last year I sent a few items to friends in Australia. The one to Melbourne last showed being in New Zealand for a month. Took about a month and half total to get there. Sidney took just over a week. Victoria, Melbourne in particular was hardest hit by Covid. Last message I had with my friend with the parts they have been back in lock down for a while. He requires a permit to travel. According to him they want 80% vaccinated before opening up. While I would like to travel to Australia I would need to passport. At this point I don't see any rush on getting one.

 

[Racer65]

We've talked a bit about shipping congestion. If you're curious, here's what it looks like.

 

[merbesfield]

We've talked a bit about shipping congestion. If you're curious, here's what it looks like.

I read the article and what struck me as interesting is that, according to the article, even with the huge backup, import throughput is down .8% from previous year.

"Total throughput for the port was 954,377 TEUs in August, down 0.8% year on year due to the decline in imports and a 23% plunge in loaded exports, offset by a 17% surge in outbound empty containers."

 

[Racer65]

I read the article and what struck me as interesting is that, according to the article, even with the huge backup, import throughput is down .8% from previous year.

"Total throughput for the port was 954,377 TEUs in August, down 0.8% year on year due to the decline in imports and a 23% plunge in loaded exports, offset by a 17% surge in outbound empty containers."

I have a feeling September is different:

Record backlog of cargo ships at California ports

Some 65 container ships are stuck outside the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, amid trade bottlenecks.

www.bbc.com

 

[merbesfield]

I have a feeling September is different:

Record backlog of cargo ships at California ports

Some 65 container ships are stuck outside the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, amid trade bottlenecks.

www.bbc.com

I think you are right, numbers should go up.

 

[aktundra]

Bump
Any shipping update ?

 

[Jetlander]

Inquiring minds want to know! I’m desperately looking for a good, rust-free, set of doors for my 6/77.

 

[Racer65]

Bump
Any shipping update ?

The doors are now at the port in China. We're working on booking a LTL shipment to Oakland. Shipping is still extremely strained and container space hard to come by, but I'll get it out of there in January. Once Chinese new year hits on Feb1st, everything will come to a halt, so it must move out in January.

 

[ThatDude]

The doors are now at the port in China. We're working on booking a LTL shipment to Oakland. Shipping is still extremely strained and container space hard to come by, but I'll get it out of there in January. Once Chinese new year hits on Feb1st, everything will come to a halt, so it must move out in January.

I’m Aussie based mate, and happy to assist you if you need from here. Have ordered plenty off your site, big fan.

**edit: sorry, just read the full context of the chat above and realised you were replying to someone about their experience buying from Australia, not trying to bring them through here to save the tariff on goods from China at all! As you were…

 

[cruisermatt]

Looking like they are producing more and more variety of replacement panels and based on the stamping equipment I'm seeing Im hopeful the quality is going to be nice. They're not messing around.
Hopefully the steel alloys are not garbage. Time will tell on that.

All the South American body panels I’ve dealt with have been hand made, hand-hammered, poor fitup, or too thin material.
The smaller stamped pieces like bezels, cowl vents, are always thin and chintzy

 

[Racer65]

Looking like they are producing more and more variety of replacement panels and based on the stamping equipment I'm seeing Im hopeful the quality is going to be nice. They're not messing around.
Hopefully the steel alloys are not garbage. Time will tell on that.

All the South American body panels I’ve dealt with have been hand made, hand-hammered, poor fitup, or too thin material.
The smaller stamped pieces like bezels, cowl vents, are always thin and chintzy

You're absolutely right about the South American body parts. If you check the Bad Sellers forum, you'll find many horror stories tied to such parts and the poor vendors that try to carry it. This is why I've refrained from carrying any body parts until now.
I'll reserve final judgement on the Alibaba doors until it arrives in my warehouse, but all indications are that these are made in a real manufacturing facility. Body stamping isn't anything new to China. GM, Ford, BMW, Mercedes, Tesla are all there. GM actually sells more cars there than in the US.

 

[cruisermatt]

You're absolutely right about the South American body parts. If you check the Bad Sellers forum, you'll find many horror stories tied to such parts and the poor vendors that try to carry it. This is why I've refrained from carrying any body parts until now.
I'll reserve final judgement on the Alibaba doors until it arrives in my warehouse, but all indications are that these are made in a real manufacturing facility. Body stamping isn't anything new to China. GM, Ford, BMW, Mercedes, Tesla are all there. GM actually sells more cars there than in the US.

I follow the Instagram page which is quite bizarre but has some very cool production clips and pics.

 

[tstepp920]

I follow the Instagram page which is quite bizarre but has some very cool production clips and pics.

What is their IG

 

[brianrb100]

You're absolutely right about the South American body parts. If you check the Bad Sellers forum, you'll find many horror stories tied to such parts and the poor vendors that try to carry it. This is why I've refrained from carrying any body parts until now.
I'll reserve final judgement on the Alibaba doors until it arrives in my warehouse, but all indications are that these are made in a real manufacturing facility. Body stamping isn't anything new to China. GM, Ford, BMW, Mercedes, Tesla are all there. GM actually sells more cars there than in the US.

If you want, ask them to supply you with a material certification. This should tell you the chemical composition, tensile and yield strengths, elongation, and what mill produced it. If they send you one and you need help interpreting it, let me know.

What I like most from what I've seen is they 3D scan original parts to reproduce them. That's a good sign. I really want them to make tubs for '78 and older.

Brian

 

[Rustic76]

What is their IG

It is @sophialeeparts
I’ve had my eye on their parts for a while. They have quite the selection of FJ45 parts that are super tempting.

 

[ThatDude]

Their indicative wholesale pricing list can be found here
Sophia Lee sheetmetal parts - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/sophia-lee-sheetmetal-parts.1272910/post-14229196

 

[jestlurnin]

We need 55 floors! How does one put in a request?

 

[Pierps]

@Racer65 I know you said you'd refer back to this thread to prioritize who gets doors from your first shipment. FYI I found a good used OEM set (set me back $2,400! hahaha I'm an idiot), so you can cross me off the list. I'm really looking forward to hearing how the doors work out for everybody though!