Posts by Sophia Cook4

James Mitchell11 said:I haven't caught up on the previous posts yet... but I'll just say this—whenever I see "made in China" on a label, my hair stands on end and I pass on it immediately!

I feel the exact same way about "made in China" labels, but unfortunately, we’re living in an era where everything is imported from China—from the raw materials used in manufacturing to the finished goods themselves. The other day, I realized they’re even selling garlic from China in our supermarkets... I mean, come on... it's freaking garlic.

Michael Hayes8 said:I tracked down some inventory—ceramic souvenirs from a factory out in Savannah, Delaware, via Fujian FOB (not entirely sure which specific port in China we're talking about here), using 20ft containers at $2,500 and 40ft ones at $4,000

I’m trying to figure out if these numbers actually hold water or if I'm dreaming here.

Also, quick side note: does anyone here handle imports for the Memphis area?

From what I can gather, the closest export port in China would likely be XIAMEN. You should hunt for suppliers who can give you an FOB XIAMEN quote or at least specify the exact port.
A 20ft container based on FOB XIAMEN might be maybe $100-$200 cheaper, whereas the 40ft price seems a bit too low (though these are prices from four months ago, so they aren't really comparable).
If you need a freight forwarder who can handle both ocean freight to the Port of Long Beach and trucking over to Mostar, send me a PM—I might be able to help.

fadedwolf81 said:From what I’ve gathered, air freight rates—at least when you're working with Chinese forwarders—are sitting somewhere around $3.80 per kilo.

Hmm, well, that’s pretty much the same ballpark as here in the States.
Right now, you're looking at roughly $5 USD/kg plus fuel and insurance. Depending on the final destination, it rarely drops below $7–$8 USD/kg once everything is tallied up. Just remember, whether it's air freight or any other mode of transport, they always bill based on volumetric weight.

I’ll add my two cents regarding imports from China and organizing freight.

In most cases, transit times for 20', 40', and 40'HC containers coming from China hover around 30-35 days; for LCL shipments, expect an additional 7-10 days on top of that.
When dealing with Chinese suppliers, it is best to stick to FOB terms specifically tied to a designated loading port (and make sure it actually *is* a port). This ensures the container arrives at the Port of Los Angeles exactly as you planned, preventing unexpected local port fees from hitting your bottom line.
For instance, some suppliers sell goods on FOB Shenzhen terms—common for IT equipment—but Shenzhen isn't a port; it's a city that primarily exports through the Port of Los Angeles or Chiwan.
Every state in China has its own specific ports for container exports.
Similarly, you'll often find that a sales agent might be based in New York City or Hong Kong while the actual factory is located elsewhere. They might quote you FOB Port of Hong Kong because shipping from there is cheaper than, say, Seattle, or faster due to direct service to the Port of Los Angeles. You pay for the goods, hire a freight forwarder, and then realize the cargo is stuck somewhere else entirely, resulting in massive unexpected costs.

It is especially critical to insist on FOB loading port terms for LCL shipments.

Why?
Because Chinese exporters often ship containers to northern ports like New York City simply because it's cheaper for them. This leaves you footing the bill for the extra inland transport of the container or LCL shipment to your destination, which can end up costing more than the original ocean freight from China to the West Coast. They do this because they are high-volume exporters with deep discounts on northern routes, and looking at a map, they figure New York City and Los Angeles are close enough.🙄
Always use a freight forwarder that maintains offices in both the US and China. It guarantees much more transparent pricing and faster information flow, avoiding those bloated markups and document fees that tend to spiral out of control.

Most importers start by requesting samples to verify quality, but even that isn't foolproof. You can get a perfect sample, only to have the container arrive with goods that look nothing like what you approved.
Sales tax applies to all imports, and depending on the tariff code, you may also be hit with customs duties. You should always verify this via the official US Customs website at http://www.cbp.gov.

An importer in Chicago bringing in textiles, for example, must clear customs the same day the container leaves the port, typically through Local Waste Management facilities.
Keep in mind that Customs officials can demand lab testing, which can cause significant delays. If an analysis reveals a violation—like prohibited substances or toxic materials—they can ban the sale entirely. That’s a nightmare scenario: you’ve already paid for the goods, you can't return them to the supplier in China, and on top of that, you're stuck paying for the disposal or destruction of the product.

That's all from me for now.

Best regards,

Angela Wright said:As far as I know, Dr. Jefferson is back from her residency. I’d also suggest Dr. Cavala. If you need a gynecologist, Dr. Koss is the gold standard, though she’s spread so thin right now she can barely take on new patients. You also have Dr. Warren - Buffett and Dr. Rockefeller at that clinic; they’re both excellent.
As for dentists, Dr. Penn is top-tier.

Look, I spent years seeing incompetent doctors because I was too lazy to switch, but now that I’ve moved, I actually want to find someone decent instead of running into the same group of crazies again...

Thanks a lot.

Apologies if this isn't the right sub for health topics... mods, please move this if necessary.
Since I relocated to New Zealand a while back, I’ve been looking to transfer my medical records over from the Silet Springs community clinic.
Does anyone have recommendations for a good gynecologist, dentist, or general practitioner in that area?
🙂

Elizabeth Sanchez60 said:I have this horrific allergy to rings. I wore a ring my boyfriend gave me for over two years without a single issue, but a few months ago everything changed. I started switching it between fingers more often, and suddenly, within just a few hours, I’m breaking out in scabs and blisters. It looks gruesome—like high-degree burns between my fingers. I tried testing different metals since I’ll eventually need to wear both an engagement and wedding ring, but even cheap costume jewelry triggers it.
I haven't worn anything for weeks now, but this "burn" between my fingers just won't heal...
Does anyone know of anything that might help?

I didn't deal with any allergies until I was about 12 or 13.
But back then, I caught cellulitis from a wasp sting and ended up hospitalized on penicillin. (I was getting daily penicillin injections for two weeks.)
Ever since then, I've become allergic to all kinds of jewelry, regardless of the material. Now I can't even put on a belt or jeans without wearing an undershirt underneath.
I read somewhere that antibiotics and penicillin can actually trigger these kinds of allergies.

I used to see my gynecologist in a small town outside of Chicago—absolute top-tier professional, honestly.
The thing is, I’m allergic to excessive body hair, so I always keep things trimmed with a trimmer. When I went in for my first exam with him, he actually made a comment like, "My, what a lovely hairstyle you have; it's nice to see someone with an eye for design." (Good grief, just be professional). Since then, I refuse to see a male OB-GYN. I’d much rather pay extra to switch to my current female doctor than ever step foot in his office again.

ica said:I need a recommendation for a gynecologist or specialist who takes insurance, so they can write me prescriptions and referrals for tests.
I see a private doctor, Dr. Marton—she’s absolutely wonderful, five stars, I don't want to switch—but everything there is strictly out-of-pocket. The health insurance fund doesn't subsidize anything. I don't mind paying $267 for a check-up every six months, but when she prescribes medication, it's all private prescriptions, and the drugs are sooo expensive. It just blows my budget.
Just recently, one single pill cost me $167 (which is a massive hit).
So, I'd love to find someone covered by insurance whom I can register with, provided they're good, so they can handle my exams, prescriptions, and referrals.
Oh, and I'd prefer somewhere that isn't packed, where you can actually book an appointment without waiting too much....
Thanks for the help!

I know a gynecologist at the Peachwood Community Health Center, Tanjica Pavlek.
She takes insurance, but she also sees private patients. An exam will set you back $50, but everything else—prescriptions, referrals, etc.—goes through insurance. The best part is there's NO appointment system; you just show up whenever you want and wait your turn (it might take about half an hour).

She’s phenomenal. She explains everything clearly. If you're a bit paranoid like I am and want every possible referral, she won't hesitate to give them to you, along with recommendations on where to go for testing.
🙏