u/A-KindOfMagic

I’m looking for some advice from people who know the UAE tire/wheel business or hopefully might have experience with importing automotive products into Dubai/UAE.

I’m considering approaching a fairly large tire/wheel wholesaler in the UAE with a business proposal: basically, I would handle sourcing tires, wheels/rims and possibly other automotive products from the US, Canada, Europe, etc., and supply them to his existing business in the UAE.

There’s some history here. Around 18 years ago, he actually asked me if I could help him source/export tires from the US, so this isn’t completely out of nowhere. He is a family friend and has been in the business for roughly 30 years and has substantial capital and an established operation. So if the numbers make sense, I don’t think funding would be the obstacle, the proposal itself and whether I can demonstrate a real advantage would be the important part.

I’m now a Canadian citizen, which also makes it much easier for me to travel and potentially deal directly with suppliers in North America and Europe. My thought is that I could potentially give him access to products, brands, sizes, or pricing that are difficult or less competitive to source through his existing channels.

What I’m trying to figure out is how you would approach the pitch.

Would you focus primarily on:

• Better wholesale pricing?
• Access to US/European suppliers?
• Hard-to-find tire sizes or premium/performance tires?
• Fresher DOT/manufacturing dates?
• Wheels/rims that aren't readily available in the UAE?
• Ability to physically visit suppliers and inspect/source products?
• Or something completely different?

Also, for people actually familiar with the UAE market: where do the big wholesalers typically source their tires and wheels from? This is something that he will tell me himself but I'd like to go to him prepared, if that makes sense. Is there realistically enough price/availability advantage in sourcing directly from the US/Europe to make this worthwhile after shipping, customs, VAT, etc.? I know for a fact there was back in 2008 when I was in the states. The same guy visited me when I was there, and after he went back to the UAE he asked me to get some quotes for him which I did. Then he said that there is a BIG opportunity for him to source tires from the states for him and wanted me to help. I was a student at the time and I told him I'm not eligible to work outside of the campus so, I'm sorry.

I know lots has changed since then. One part of the idea I find particularly interesting is sourcing products that simply aren't available in the UAE, as well as finding special in-store/brick-and-mortar deals that aren't advertised online. There are suppliers and retailers in North America and Europe that occasionally have clearance, closeout, overstock, discontinued sizes, special promotions, or dealer-only/in-store pricing that you won't necessarily find through a Google search or an online wholesale marketplace. If I can physically go out and find those opportunities, that could potentially create a real sourcing advantage.

I’m not looking to start a tire shop myself at this stage. The idea would be to leverage an already-established wholesaler's infrastructure and customer base and become a sourcing/import channel for him.

If you were in my position, what would make this pitch compelling enough for a 30-year industry veteran to seriously consider it?

And if anyone here actually works in tire/wheel, retail or wholesale or importing, I'd especially appreciate your perspective on what I might be overlooking.

Thank you :)

It's a weird situation. I don't know if the bike is abandoned by the owner(it's got a flat tire), or it was stolen and then got a flat tire? the bike even has a U lock in the rack which makes me think it wasn't left by the owner.

anyhow I thought the best thing I could do was to post it here. If it is yours, let me know. It's left in a semi busy street so it won't be there for long!

I leaned it towards a pole so it seems like it is locked to something.

Hello everyone

Campfire comet is the only iem I have ever owned or tried. I liked them just ok.

Currently I own a ZMF Aelous, which I adore, and a bower and wilkins pi8 which I like a lot too.

Initially I was gonna buy Noble Fokus Prestige Encore but now looking to ad an iem to my setup rather than another tws that I don't how how long will last.

I listen to a lot of live Pink Floyd albums and my criteria are what I mentioned in my title. I don't listen to pop, hip hop or country, just classic rock, and a little bit of soul, indie/folk stuff.

So I'm looking for suggestion. I was something that's more euphoric than neutral I guess, but also not too v shaped and bass heavy.

So we have had a plumbing repair scheduled for this month. What I didn't expect was the extent and length of it.

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I assumed that this will take a few days for each unit, or a week or two at most. But now it seems they won't be done for at least a month. The water is cut off most of the day. We can't use the bathroom or shower during the day.

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This is a two bedroom/two bathroom unit. Same goes for the en-suite bathroom in my master bedroom. I no longer have privacy and comfort in the master bedroom, as the workers come and go almost every day, opening the door whenever they want.

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And on top of it, the work is loud. This has caused a great deal of inconvenience for us. Like half of the living room is currently unusable

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Given the extent of disruption, I thought a rent reduction in the range of 30 to 50 percent is fair, specially because of the intrusion of privacy for the mater bedroom. I asked the landlord for ~38% off, and they agreed only to ~18%.

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The landlord has been almost pretty nice to me and gave me a good rent reduction last year after I almost leased another unit for a much cheaper rent, snd they agreed to match that rent.

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So wanted to ask you guys if you think this rent reduction is fair.

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Thank you!

I'm trying to watch Project Hail Marry on its last few days of screening and being kinda picky about it. I've not been to Odeon before. If Scotia bank was Dolby or AVX for this show, I would pick it but it's just "regular". now I'm thinking if 70mm at Odeon, even if it isn't Imax will be more special than regular show at Scotia bank?

The prices are $28 for Odeon vs $18 for Scotia bank!

thanks for your suggestions

I even had forgotten that he existed, which is a shame. But once my ex roommate told me about him, I remembered him 😞

In short, A few yerars ago I had an issue with a roommate, Y and the guy I had subletted my room from, H gave this guy's contact info, A, so he could mittigate this issue between me and A as he knew her.

He did do that. Then a few months later H, who was A's(RIP) friend, tried to scam me out of my deposit, and even then he took my side and helped me on that journey. I was eventually able to get my deposit back from H partially thanks to A's help. This sub also helped me A LOT on that issue with suggestions.

Today I found out A was mu--ered early this year, after a meet up through a dating app. Ughhhhhhh Like .... I'm not unknown to tragedy specially this year. I'm just coming from my home country of Iran where while I was there our government murdered over 35 thousands of people in a week, and I have cried and still cry watching those people's faces to this day.

This one though is rough man. I just went through my whatsapp messages with him, and remembered how much of a nice guy he was. Seeing "This person is no longer on whatsapp" at the bottom of the chat was, just surreal.

I know some people are gonna suggest that I should contact for help, but I think I just wanted to talk to a few people. I like reddit, and I like this sub so just venting here should suffice. I'm staying with a friend thankfully till end of the month when I move to my own place so at least I'm not gonna be alone to go through this.

I hope you all are having a nice afternoon.

I'm heading out so smoke a cigarrete in his memory. Rest in Peace A. I hope the POS who did to you get's caught and faces justice soon.

27 months and still waiting. I have requested both web form and GCMS notes. My notes actually says my criminality is passed while prohibition has not started yet.

My question to you guys is that would I even benefit from asking our MP to reach out to IRCC? Or since my application is stuck in background check, there isn't much the MP can do or clear out for me by contacting IRCC?

I just checked the general online processing time and all it says is just to wait, 12000 people are ahead of you! 😞