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The Maui CEO: Import from China, Sell on eBay, and Live Wherever You Want
vBulletin Book Store > vBulletin books beginning with M
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The Maui CEO: Import from China, Sell on eBay, and Live Wherever You Want |
Author: John Tennant
Published: 2008-02-18 |
List price: $17.95
Our price: $16.15
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Usually ships in 24 hours
As of: September 06th, 2008 02:46:49 AM
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Customer comments on this selection.
 An Eye Opener
This book was great, I had no idea how to ship from another country or how to set up a website etc. until I read it. It was as if the author hols your hand the entire way.
 Excellent and easy to read book......highly recommended
Mr. Tennant's "Maui Ceo" is a no non-sense guide to getting started in the Import business. The book takes you step by step thru the process of setting up your business. The author gives great information on finding and selecting products, developing your own corporate identity and finding sellers for your products. Also covered are the details of shipping containers from foreign ports as well as warehouse information. Personal website development and E-Bay are also discussed in detail. The book as a whole contains pertinent information free of fluff and is a very easy read.
-Robert Johnson
Synergy Exchange Solutions
Awesome business book
First of all, it's easy to read yet packed with solid business and financial information. Second, Maui CEO is the ultimate expression of buying low and using e-commerce to leverage a small business. There are obviously different ways of going about this, and I think another reviewer misses this point. Using weight loss as an analogy, you can't be successful with Atkins if you follow only the parts that make sense to you. Likewise, if you import via LTL and store the stuff in your garage, you haven't lowered your risk: you've already lost, because you are acquiring your product from a distributor (i.e. not getting the lowest price) and you are selling a product (iPod headphones, or whatever) that does not have any competitive barriers.
I like the reviewer using specifics about what he didn't like or believe, but he misses the book's ultimate points on how to buy low. I don't even think a quality Chinese manufacturer will sell LTL quantities anyway.
To summarize the book's point in this area, 1) sell items that weigh more than 150 lbs so that UPS can't ship it (to reduce competition); 2) sell items that are more expensive which gives buyers more reason to buy online (like air conditioners or Jacuzzis)--the more money you save, the more incentive buyers have to buy online; and 3) the process of container shipping is clearly spelled out. To me, that's good advice.
Unlike today's hot book--The 4-hour Workweek--I believe Maui CEO contains nothing but meat--written in a way that makes fighting the big-guys possible and practical.
 Advice is either poor or simply not given
If you want to learn how to import, you won't here. There is no meat on this bone! There is no advice on how to really find a supplier and qualify them, and no advice on what type of products to import. From the looks of it he imports pianos. That's fine, but a poor product to start out with!
He talks about importing a full container (20 or 40 foot). You are nuts to do that. You need to start with a LCL (Less than Container Load, something like a pallet or two) which has a significantly lower risk. Getting a warehouse right away? Use your garage or an extra bedroom until you get a good footing.
He talks a lot about the tools on his website. His website is useless! He has links to eBay research tools that do not work. Also, if you sell primarily on eBay you don't need your own website (at least not at the start).
I was amused by a few lines on how you could reduce your costs by flying to China with cash to pay for your purchase ahead of time. This would reduce your invoice amount thus reducing your import duties. Then he says this is illegal and you would likely spend more on the plane ticket than savings on the duties. Huh???? What was the purpose of that?
There is maybe three or four pages with a bit of useful information. Overall, this is a train wreck. The people that give this 5 stars and try his "methods" will likely have a problem.
My advice if you do? Start small and keep your risk down to what you can lose. Find a good customs broker in your locale and get some help from them. They are experts at this despite what this guy says.
Lastly, he should spend a few bucks on an editor!! There are many typos, grammar errors and senseless sentences in this document. It's a disgrace. Is this what U of M puts out(he has an MBA and JD from there)?
A practical approach
I really like the author's practical approach. He covers all the things I've been thinking about, like Google search and AdWords, social media and viral videos. He's also made me rethink my basic business strategy when he talked about the Discipline of Market Leaders - again turning a framework into something a small business can relate to and act on. I've lived and traveled outside the US and love the international flavor of Maui CEO. I recommend it.
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