Bonded warehouse options?

**mikehende** · 11-02-2009 06:24 PM

Can anyone explain to me please if there is a way to use bonded warehouses for domestic shipments? Reason being, I would like to purchase products wholesale from a supplier located in another state but want to inspect the products before paying for it due to the many COD type scams, I called up Hellman's bonded warehouse but they said this is only for International shipments, thing is, I have heard of people in the US being able to do bonded warehouse transactions so I am trying to find out how this is done? Any leads? Thanks.

**peteVA** · 11-02-2009 07:53 PM

Yes, there are some. You can talk to your bank about escrow wire transfers or letters of credit. You can often have an attorney or accountant arrange escrow inspections for you.

**mikehende** · 11-02-2009 08:00 PM

Don't understand your answer Pete, can I use a bonded warehouse for domestic transactions or are you talking about alternative solutions like escrow and L/C?

**rpermana** · 11-02-2009 10:14 PM

for international shipment, yes. u can. But not sure about domestic shipment. Maybe you can try other ways such as:
1. Getting SGS surveyor at the other state to inspect the material before they are being shipped.
2. Do you have friend or relative staying there ? Then ask for their favour.

**peteVA** · 11-03-2009 01:32 AM

All of the above. Do you want a bonded warehouse, or do you want to know the goods are as they have been described?

**mikehende** · 11-03-2009 07:40 AM

I want to know the goods are as described before paying for them but the seller does not want escrow or COD for his own protection and I don't want L/C as this process takes way too long.

**mikehende** · 11-03-2009 09:18 AM

Appreciate it Garry but this does not help the problem at hand

**peteVA** · 11-03-2009 02:20 PM

There is always "fly and buy".

**mikehende** · 11-04-2009 08:46 AM

besides "bonded" warehouses, isn't there some other warehouse option where a seller can ship the goods to and then I can go inspect then pay?

**peteVA** · 11-04-2009 01:15 PM

You can do some searching for terms like "shippers service(s)", "shippers warehouse" "shippers transfer" "public warehouse", etc.

Every metro area has at least one local company that will receive and do as instructed with just about any commodity. Say you ordered a hot tub from a distant location and wanted it actually set up in your back yard. They would receive the freight from a common carrier, hold it if there was a scheduled date involved and then not just "tailgate" deliver it to your home, but uncrate it and set it up in the desired location.

In some cases they will also contract for the plumbing and electrical, if desired by the shipper, even paint the base purple, if that is on the work order.

Most of these are local, but they would be known by the common carrier terminal managers for the interstate carriers. You could call any LTL carriers in whatever area you want this to take place and they could help you out. The manager of dispatcher could help you, but they can be very short, don't expect a long conversation. Plan what you are going to say and make it short. If you're lucky, you'll get a phone number off the wall.