Six hundred and ninetieth chapters to buy on behalf of shipping

Li Weidong came to Bangkok again and met with Song En, the chairman of the Thai Agricultural Association.

President Song En, I heard that you are not satisfied with the current terms of the contract? Hope to make changes. Li Weidong asked directly.

Song En smiled and nodded: We do have a small request. Mr. Li should still remember that this batch of orders worth 5 billion baht originally belonged to the Japanese Kubota Company, right? But because of some special changes , and finally the order was transferred to your company.

Of course Li Weidong knew what Song En said, and the farmers' protest was the ghost behind Li Weidong's backstage.

I only heard Song En continue to say: The reason why we chose to cooperate with Kubota at that time was because we wanted to build a railway connecting Bangkok and Chiang Mai. This railway can greatly promote the economic development of our country, and Kubota has Will help us get the railroad built.

Although Kubota did not get the order in the end, they still made a lot of preparations for this railway. Among them is a batch of trains, which are intended to be used on this railway.

Now we need to transport this batch of trains back to China. According to the original plan, Kubota will be responsible for the transportation cost, but since Kubota has lost the order, they are not obligated to transport these trains to Thailand.

Since your company replaced Kubota and got the five billion baht order, I hope that your company can also perform duties on behalf of Kubota and transport this batch of trains back to Thailand.

It turned out to be for us to pay for the freight! Li Weidong nodded suddenly, and then thought about it again. This Thai even bought the train, so why can't he afford the freight?

So Li Weidong said: Although Japanese trains are very advanced, they are not cheap, right?

I don't know the specific value. Song En shook his head, and continued: The Japanese side provided us with these trains for free. We are only responsible for transporting the trains back to China.

Giving it away for nothing? Li Weidong was taken aback for a moment, thinking that there is still such a good thing, the Japanese can be so kind, and they don't need money to give away the Thai train for free!

Seeing Li Weidong's questioning expression, Song En explained: The batch of trains given to us by the Japanese are not new, but have been eliminated by Japan. The Kyushu Shinkansen in Japan two years ago is exactly open for business,

The replaced passenger train was given to us.

Kyushu Shinkansen? Li Weidong carefully recalled that the newly opened Kyushu Shinkansen a few years ago used the latest 700 series electric train units.

After World War II, with the development of automobile technology, the carrying capacity of automobiles has become larger and larger, and road transportation has gradually become a main way of commodity transportation.

In Europe, countries are small in size. If you drive a truck, you can transport goods to all parts of the country in one day. In the United States, the gradual improvement of the highway system in the mountains has also allowed road transportation to flourish.

At that time, railway transportation was considered by the West as a backward and inevitable transportation method.

However, the Japanese decided to regain railway transportation and build faster and higher-standard railways. This decision was not only controversial in Japan, but also ridiculed by European and American countries.

In the end, Japan took the opportunity of hosting the 1964 Olympic Games and successfully built the first Shinkansen, which is the Tokaishima Shinkansen connecting Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka.

This Shinkansen seems to be announcing the rise of Japan to the world.

At that time, the original 0-series EMUs were used, with a running speed of about 200 kilometers per hour, which is equivalent to the intercity EMUs we use now, but the stability of the vehicles is far worse, at least mineral water will dangle.

After entering the 1980s, Japan developed the second-generation Shinkansen, the 200 series of electric trains. The speed of this series can reach 240 kilometers per hour, which is similar to our current ordinary trains.

In terms of stability, the Shinkansen of the 200 series has been able to put a cigarette case without falling down.

In the mid-1980s, Japan developed the third-generation Shinkansen, the 100-series electric train.

I have to say that the Japanese are really confused about the naming of the Shinkansen. The original model is called the 0 series. 300, but it is called 100 series. I really don’t know what the Japanese thought at that time. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is absolutely unbearable.

The Shinkansen 300 series in the early 1990s had a running speed of 270 kilometers per hour, and the subsequent 400 series and 500 series have improved in performance. During this period, Japan also developed the E2 series and the E3 series, among which the E2-1000 EMU is the prototype of the CRH2 electric EMU of Harmony.

Entering the 21st century, the Shinkansen 700 series is officially put into use, which will also be the main model used in Japan in the future. By 2022, the Japanese Shinkansen will still use this series.

After the 700 series, the research and development of the Shinkansen also slowed down. This is like the national power of Japan. After entering the lost thirty years, it can only rely on its old capital and cherish the memory of the glorious past.

When the 700 series was first put into operation, it replaced the 100 series EMUs. Thinking of this, Li Weidong immediately asked: Mr. Song En, is it the Shinkansen 100 series trains that Japan gave you that they just eliminated?

How is this possible! How could the Japanese give us the Shinkansen trains! Even the outdated Shinkansen trains would not be given to us.

Song En shook his head contemptuously, and then said: Japan has adjusted the Shinkansen and increased its transport capacity, so the passenger transport of ordinary lines has been reduced accordingly, and a batch of 183 series trains have been eliminated, and they are given to us. .”

The 183 series is Japan's main diesel model! If it is relatively new, it can be used for decades! Li Weidong said.

The Japanese told us that 90% of the vehicles are new. If they are carefully renovated, they can be used for another 50 years. Song En replied.

Renovation? Li Weidong instantly guessed the intention of the Japanese.

The Japanese often donate some second-hand machinery and equipment to Southeast Asian countries, including second-hand trains.

Japan's railway system is very developed, at least before the appearance of China Fuxing, Japan's railway system can be called the first in the world.

Therefore, the second-hand trains eliminated by Japan and sent to Southeast Asian countries are still high-end goods, which are much more advanced than those old trains in Southeast Asia.

But the trains of the Japanese are not given away for nothing. Although the train is free of charge, the subsequent repair and maintenance fees are all charged, and they are still charged according to Japanese standards.

For example, in terms of train parts, Japanese original parts must be used, all of which must be imported from Japan, and even the repair personnel must be Japanese technicians. The round trip fee plus working hours and travel expenses is definitely a lot of money. .

Even if the trains do not cost money, the Japanese can earn back the money through subsequent maintenance, even more than simply selling cars.

Until 2000, Japan's per capita GDP was higher than that of the United States, so Japan's labor cost was higher than that of the United States at that time.

With Japan's labor costs, if the eliminated trains are scrapped in Japan, the money sold for scrap iron may not be enough for the labor costs of recycling.

It is definitely more cost-effective for Japan to directly send second-hand trains to Southeast Asian countries, and then earn a subsequent maintenance fee.

Li Weidong used to make second-hand machinery and equipment, so he naturally knows the way inside it.

So Li Weidong asked; President Song En, the cost of renovating the train shouldn't be cheap, right?

Song En nodded: Although the Japanese's renovation quotation is very high, it is still within the acceptable range. However, according to past experience, the final cost may be three to five times the quotation! After all, the train technology is mastered. In the hands of the Japanese, they can easily find an excuse to increase prices.

If the maintenance cost is too high, it's better to just buy a new one! Li Weidong said with a smile.

We have done actuarial calculations. If the maintenance cost reaches five times the actual quotation, it will really cost about the same as buying a new train. Song En replied.

The Thais have also done business with the Japanese for many years. They are less routinely tricked by the Japanese, and more often, so they naturally know what medicine the Japanese sell in their gourds.

Even Li Weidong, who resells second-hand machinery and equipment, knows how the Japanese make money by selling second-hand machinery. How could Thais who have been tricked many times not understand!

For example, the real repair price of the train given away by the Japanese for free this time must be far higher than the original price quoted by the Japanese.

This is also a habit of the Japanese doing business with backward countries. First, they give a relatively normal price, and then find an excuse to increase the price.

For example, when buying a set of equipment, the original quotation was 10 million packages for installation. When the equipment was bought, Japanese technicians came to install it, and they began to find faults. For example, your place is too cold in winter, too hot in summer, and too dry in spring. Autumn is too dry, in short, this equipment is useless.

If you want to use it, you can. First solve the problems of too cold in winter, too hot in summer, too dry in spring and too dry in autumn. If you can’t solve it, you can spend money and let Japanese engineers improve the equipment.

Anyway, the technology is in the hands of the Japanese. If you buy something, if you want to use it normally, you have to rely on the technical services provided by Japan, and you have to pay more. This is clearly bullying the buyer who has no technology.

Li Weidong thought for a while, and then said: President Song En, since you already know that the train that Japan gave you is to earn your money, why do you still accept it? And you have to spend money to transport the train back.

After all, our Agricultural Association is an official organization. We must consider the friendly relationship with Japan. We can't directly refuse the gift from Japan. Song En replied with some helplessness.

Understandable! Li Weidong nodded.

In the past few decades, Japan has always been the largest investor in Thailand. Even if Japan's investment led to the outbreak of the Asian financial crisis, Thailand still did not dare to offend Japan, the rich father, so the trains sent by the Japanese, even tomorrow Knowing that it was a trap, Thailand could only accept it with tears.

However, the items sent by Japan do not include postage, and Thai people have to pay for the transportation themselves, which is more depressing.

If things are better than before, then it’s fine to spend money to transport them back, but these trains are clearly loss-making goods, and they have to pay maintenance fees to use them when they are transported back. Naturally, the Thais are not willing to pay this money.

It’s like a door-to-door recycling of waste products. If it’s a profitable product, the waste collector will definitely be happy to come to the door. If the thing is heavy and worthless, and the floor is high and there is no elevator, not only can’t sell it, but the seller has to pay a moving fee .

The Thais couldn't refuse the Japanese, and they didn't want to be taken advantage of to pay the freight, so they found Li Weidong and planned to transfer the freight to Fukang Agricultural Machinery.

This additional freight was not included in the original contract. From the perspective of a commercial contract, Li Weidong could of course refuse.

But from the perspective of doing business, Li Weidong really can't save the freight.

If Li Weidong does not agree to bear the freight, let alone the possibility of cooperation in the future, even the current order will encounter trouble. The order of 5 billion baht has only completed more than 2 billion baht, and Li Weidong still has to earn the remaining 2 billion baht.

So Li Weidong asked: Mr. Song En, how much is the freight for this batch of trains?

From Japan to our Thailand, the shipping cost is about 50 million baht. Song En replied.

That's equivalent to 10 million yuan! Li Weidong nodded silently, which is within the acceptable range.

I took over a business of 5 billion baht from the agricultural association before, and paid 50 million baht, which is only 1% of the rebate, which is less than the regular kickback.

But at this time Li Weidong had other plans.

I just heard Li Weidong ask: Mr. Song En, I can bear the freight. But after these second-hand trains are shipped to Thailand, does your country know that it will cost the Japanese to repair them?

Song En shook his head: The maintenance fee is too expensive, we can't afford it!

Then what does your country plan to do with these second-hand trains? Li Weidong continued to ask.

Song En spread his hands: Let's find an open space and put it there, you can't sell scrap iron!

I think that since your country doesn't use it, you can actually sell scrap iron. Li Weidong said with a smile.

Even if you sell scrap iron, someone has to be willing to take it! Song En shook his head: If it can be sold as scrap iron, then the Japanese themselves will sell it as scrap iron, and they can earn a little bit, so how can they give it away? Give me!

Japan's labor cost is high, waste recycling is not cost-effective, and even loses money. But other countries are different, such as China, our labor cost is very low, and our waste recycling industry is very developed. Li Weidong said.

You mean, sell this batch of trains to you as scrap iron? Song En asked.

Our bid is definitely higher than scrap iron! We can quote according to the scrap special price just now! Li Weidong continued: Mr. Song En, if you sell this batch of trains to me, not only can you save 50 million baht in freight, You can make some more money!

Song En thought for a while and asked, Why did you buy these second-hand trains?

To save money! Li Weidong showed a sincere expression, and continued: The freight between China and Japan is much lower than the freight between Thailand and Japan. If I directly buy this batch of trains and ship them to In China, the cost of recycling is much less than 50 million baht. This way I can save a lot of money.”

Shipping goods from Japan to China is several times shorter than shipping to Thailand, and the shipping cost is naturally much cheaper.

In addition to the distance gap, there are more shipping flights between China and Japan, which also greatly reduces freight costs.

The types of trade between China and Japan are relatively complementary. The industrial products produced by both sides are exactly what the other side needs. Therefore, not only the trade between the two sides is very frequent, but there is no need to worry about vacancy when shipping back and forth, and the freight rate is naturally reduced. .

However, the industrial products produced in Thailand do not have what Japan needs. The ship owner either goes back and forth with an empty ship, or goes to a third place to pick up the goods. This kind of one-sided supply and demand relationship will increase the freight on the contrary.

This is like taking a taxi to a remote place. The taxi driver will consider that he will not be able to get the guests on the return trip, so he must pay more to get out of the car. The same is true for the shipping fee, because you have to return with an empty ship, so you will be charged more.

Song En thought about it carefully and agreed with Li Weidong's statement of saving money, but he still shook his head.

It's not right, this batch of second-hand trains is something Japan gave me anyway. If we sell them for money, it will be tantamount to not giving the Japanese face, and it will damage the friendship between our country and Japan. Song En said Said.

If you think about it, someone gives you a gift, and you sell it for money, and sell it as scrap. At the very least, it is very disrespectful to the gift giver.

Disrespect between people, at most, if you don't communicate with each other, you don't know this person. But disrespect between countries has become a diplomatic issue.

What's more, Japan has always been Thailand's largest financial backer.

Li Weidong can see that Song En still wants to sell these second-hand trains. It is estimated that Song En can find a way to make a fortune from the sale of the cars. It's just that Song En is really worried, and it's hard for the Japanese to explain.

So Li Weidong said: President Song En, how about this, I will pay for the front of the train to help you transport it to Thailand, how about selling the carriages of this train to us as scraps?

For something like a train, it all depends on the front belt, and it doesn't matter whether the carriages behind are pulling people or goods. You take the front of the car, and if you want to use it in the future, you can repair it a little, and then you can use it with the carriage. This can also explain something to the Japanese.

As for the carriages, I brought them back to China for waste recycling. The number of carriages must be several times that of the front of the car, and the freight of the two is similar. This way I can save a lot on shipping too!

Only selling carriages? Song En frowned and thought for a while, then said; If it's just carriages, there shouldn't be any problem. But at this price...

President Song En, please don't worry, you are satisfied with the price! Li Weidong replied with a smile.

There is almost no need to consider overloading in weight for ocean transportation, but it is necessary to pay attention to the volume of goods. In general, the overload of ocean transportation is due to the fact that there are too many containers, not that the containers are too heavy.

In this respect, the cost of transporting a locomotive is about the same as that of a carriage, since both are about the same size.

Perhaps the price of the transport compartment is even more expensive, because some compartments are larger than the front of the car, and there are many glass windows in the compartment, which are easy to break, so you need to be more careful when transporting them.

A car head needs to be matched with eighty-nine cars, so if only the car head is transported, the freight is only one-tenth of the original, and the freight of 50 million baht will instantly become 5 million.

Of the 45 million baht saved, even if Li Weidong used half to buy the remaining carriages, he would still be able to save 20 million baht.

What's more, when the carriages are transported back, they can be dismantled and sold for scrap iron!

The Japanese train carriages are not made of ordinary metal, they must be alloys, and the price is more expensive than scrap iron. Maybe Li Weidong can make a small profit after going back and forth like this.