I MADE CONTACT WITH A GERMAN AND WE HAVE AGREED TERMS, BUT AM AFRAID HE MAY NOT SHIP THE EXACT USED MACHINE WE AGREED UPON AND OR HE MAY EVEN SHIP SCRAP.HOW DO I PROTECT MYSELF TO ENSURE THE MAN WILL NOT DUPE ME AND HE WILL SHIP THE EXACT MACHINE HE ADVERTISED ON HIS WEB SITE?

Visit germany and make sure you make use of an agent that understands dutch. Let me know d state?

@nthnymarce: I dont have german visa and dont intend getting one now because of the hassles.why do i need an agent that speaks dutch instead of german.Its Nurmberg.
thanks.

Sorry,I mean german, somebody must be onground to oversee d transaction. On alternative,u can profer a cif transaction with a bank gurantee.once its confirmed in the ports,ur bank wil release d funds.we made such mistakes in d pastand u must not fall a victim. We ordered for 7trucks(7.5tons),3 is main to be cooling vans,then 4 container bodies but we saw a reversed order @ lagos ports.

Your last contributor was right: import with a Letter of Credit (LC) on CIF terms. If you have the cash to make a spot purchase (paying cash via SWIFT), then you can, AND SHOULD, order with an LC. Give your bank the money; they will open an LC for you at a small fee (1.75% - 2%). If the German ships, you will have to accept (after going over the shipping documents to see if what is shipped matches what you requested) before your money will be paid out to him. If you are dis-satisfied, you can reject the shipment and your bank retains your cash.

One problem though is that the machines are used machines.

This creates the problem of capturing details of the exact working condition of the machines on the LC. That is why an Agent at the German warehouse would be helpful. He would ensure that the machines shipped are in a condition you can accept.

In the future (or if your market or usage permits) consider buying new machines instead of used ones, as this is a lot easier to describe on an LC transaction. My company, Caldwell Ghana Limited, will be pleased to supply you any kind of machinery on a deferred payment arrangement with a Deferred LC.

That  I am sure will represent the safest import solution you can get: buy now, pay later even from abroad.

Send me as your agent, i speak german fluently after residing there for over 3 years,resident in Milan,Italy ,i'll charge you a fee not much but the german would ship the stuff and pay with letter of credit as advised.

May i know,the type of Machinery you are Importing? I have long year experience with Printing Machines.

Contact me with this email: adanimagbagbe@yahoo.com