Giant ###### update.

May 2, 2008, 3:37 PM

###### had dinner with coworker and her parents. Coworker's dad has a vinyard in Croatia and wants ship some wine back to Miami. ###### wants to throw his connections around.

Coworker?s Dad,

It was a pleasure to continue our conversation about importing your spirits and wine from the former Yugoslavia to Miami last evening, and I am glad we are following through on this and I am more than happy to help in any way that I can.

My understanding is that you have approximately 500 6 bottle cases in Dubrovnik and would like to send them to Miami. You told me that you will take care of the packing and crating of the product at your end in Croatia. I am sure that you understand that shipping, either by air, or probably by sea in this case, can involve a great deal of ?handling? and ?movement? and therefore it is contingent of you to prepare the packaging accordingly; it can be a rough trip??My suggestion to you is to have someone that does this professionally involved.
There may be some additional cost having an outside party pack, however, there is the security and comfort of knowing that they have both experience and expertise in doing this and liability coverage in the event that something goes awry.
You are, after all, shipping glass and liquids, so extreme caution should be used in preparation.

You told me the product is of mixed spirits: Grappa, and predominantly wine, which will be used for personal consumption only, and will not be marked for sale.

It sounded like to me that there is no rush or hurried time frame to the sending of the goods, but, you would like to see this accomplished on the short-term rather than the long-term.

I believe you will need at the minimum two or more contacts for this venture. You will need a shipper, which may or may not provide storage, especially in America, and loading and unloading of the shipment [stevedore] as it travels to it?s destination in Miami.
You will also need assistance in importation, permitting and Customs here in America, and possibly in Croatia, especially since alcohol is involved, and not an insignificant amount of it. Special ?permits? and ?taxes? may be required, and I hope a lawyer is not needed, as that will increase the cost significantly, however, they are sometimes the best value given the unique set of circumstances and products that we are dealing with here.
Often times the shipper has direct contact with Companies or personal who specialize in this area, and may be willing to offer a reference or suggestion, and possible oversight, that may expedite or help facilitate the movement of the product(s) through the various intermediaries and layers of bureaucracy.
My experience is that is the most important person of all.

To me, it seems like that best course of action going forward is to put you in contact with several of my contacts, and then let you people work out the details without my involvement, unless it is needed or desired by either party.
The people I put you in touch with are ones that I am personally familiar with, if that is any consolation. You will find them to be reliable, honest, and straight-forward and professional in their dealings with you. As you wisely pointed out at dinner last week, trust is everything---- I might add reliability and accountability to that as well.
These people have these traits and I ?vouch? for them.

Nick Paulitz is the shipper. He is located in Switzerland and winters here in South Florida. He is a great guy and easy to work with.
Rudy Ruiz, is the former President and CEO of Bacardi Spirits, and is currently the President of Southern Wine and Spirits in Miami. He is highly regarded and well respected in the industry, to say the least, and he is well connected and a good resource in this instance. I would trust his advice and council.

Please let me know if everything I have put down here is moderately accurate, and please feel free to correct and point out any deficiencies if you see any, and we?ll move forward from there. I?ll then pass along the information, and probably this e-mail, to my contacts, and you people can work it out from there. I am uncertain as to where the boundaries are, and what responsibilities fall under whose purview, but, it will all work out in the end. This project doesn?t sound that complicated, at least not at first glance, however, one never knows???

Last evening you said you were going to Dubrovnik on the 13 May, and I see no reason why we should not have most of this moving forward by that time. You told me yesterday Coworker?s Mom left last evening and I know you look forward to joining her soon for a lovely summer in Europe; bloody lucky you.

I look forward to your reply soon, and it is a pleasure for me to help you.

With best wishes, I am,

Giant A. ######

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Giant ###### update.

Ooooo, I love these.***

STERLING?***

######, not turd.***

oh...but he was in the band...***

"bloody lucky you"?

^^^Has crush on coworker Giant A ###### is banging^^^^***

^^^Obvious statement of the day^^^

you're so right. i've been denying it all along.

Re: ^^^Has a crush on Giant ###### a coworker is banging^^^^*****

Pauly can help co-workers dad get the stuff to Miami.***

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