Biondi is #1

[keithwwalker]

Still trying to break through the translation barrier to get Biondi to get me an estimate of the crating costs and total cost. I have asked for his bank information. Getting closer (I hope). Lots of FedEx things can be done online. The US Govt. customs form can not.
kww

[Fatfishblu]

What would be great is if someone who ordered from Biondi before compiles a list of how to properly order from Biondi. Aw, what the heck, I'll do it.

1.) Contact Biondi to let him know what item you want. If you speak Italian, you may call him by phone. He or his son will tell you to e-mail your list of parts you want.

2.) Biondi will review your order and e-mail you back a receipt, including the total for all parts.

3.) Once you review Biondi's receipt, you may e-mail him back and approve the order. Biondi will then send you his banking information where you can have the funds transferred from your bank to his in Italy. Now, he expects you to pay HIS banking fee for overseas transactions. I believe this to be around 30 Euro. Nowhere on my bank form did it give me the option of picking this up. So, I just added 30 Euro extra on my order.

4.) It will take 2-3 days for Biondi to check his bank to make sure the appropriate funds have been deposited and then he will prepare your order for shipment.

5.) When your order is complete, Biondi will e-mail you the dimensions of the package and the weight. This is very important information needed to give to your shipping company. In my experience and research, I found that FedEx is the only company that will pick-up packages from Biondi. UPS and DHL require drop-offs, which Biondi will not do.

6.) You have to set up an account with FedEx in order to have something picked up and shipped overseas. FedEx should call Biondi to arrange a pick up. Make sure you coordinate this event with Biondi. Sometimes he may be out of town on business and not in his shop. When I ordered from Biondi, he and his son had to go out of town for a week for some auto show.

7.) FedEx will pick up your package. Biondi was kind enough to snap a quick picture of it loading on the truck and e-mailed it to me.

8.) Sit and wait for your package to arrive in the US at customs. FedEx will call you stating you have to fill out the appropriate customs from and translate the contents receipt. You should already know what the items are otherwise you wouldn't have ordered them. I typed out the receipt rather than write it out. Makes it clearer. Customs shouldn't give you too much of a bother. I'm sure these parts have been scanned, x-ray'd, dog-sniffed, etc. to make sure it's safe. Anyways, fax these forms back to FedEx ASAP to the given number.

9.) Parts should arrive a few days later. When I ordered parts from Biondi, FedEx picked them up on Thursday, they arrived in customs on Monday, at which time all forms were filled out and faxed back, then the package arrived at my door Tuesday morning. All in all the entire process for me took 3 weeks.

PM me if you have any questions. I'll be happy to help. In fact, I'll be ordering more parts from Biondi for another project this Summer. Biondi's parts are exceptional! You WILL NOT be disappointed. This experience is well worth it. Good luck!

[Fatfishblu]

FYI: I communicated with Biondi via e-mail using an English-Italian translator app on my phone. You can also use Google translate.

[Alfiat]

Looks like dealing with Biondi is getting better. I tried last winter and even had an Italian speaking friend call them to get parts for my super... no luck at all. Seemed to him they did not want to be bothered and were annoyed.

[Fatfishblu]

It's not difficult ordering from Biondi. You just have to realize that things work in Italian time. Sit back and relax. You will get your parts.

[Alfiat]

I was willing to wait - that was not the problem. I was told they no interest in dealing with shipping to America. Waiting would have had little effect. But it seems things have changed and I'm very glad for that!

[keithwwalker]

Biondi seems caught in this infinite loop. I agree that I will arrange shipping, and request total cost and bank account information for transfer - and then Biondi insists that they do not provide shipping - which I acknowledge. I am on the third loop...

Isn't there someone on this forum that can provide a good Italian translation? I have ordered things from Taiwan and China using machine translation - I am not the problem, maybe Google is.

[keithwwalker]

Man, someone should draft up a PDF ordering formset for them, with conditions of sale. It would be for our benefit, and theirs.

I have heard of French auto parts operations in France being dodgy, but that was about tax evasion. Biondi is asking for a bank transfer, so they can't be dodging tax.

Well, I guess I will (or will not) hear back from them next week.

[keithwwalker]

Stay tuned....lol This ride isn't over yet!

[August]

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithwwalker Still trying to break through the translation barrier to get Biondi to get me an estimate of the crating costs and total cost. I have asked for his bank information. Getting closer (I hope). Lots of FedEx things can be done online. The US Govt. customs form can not. kww

[keithwwalker]

I was able to get Biondi to provide the package dimensions, and now have to work out the money transfer and FedEx. I have a handle on both, just will take another week or so.

Thank you for the offer August! I still may need some help...

[Fatfishblu]

Don't freak out if you don't hear from Biondi after you transferred the money. Milano is on different time than us so it generally takes over 24-hrs. for the bank transfer to get finalized. Biondi goes to the bank every couple of days. I think it was like 4 days before I heard back from Biondi that the money was deposited. You're well on your way.

[concept 101]

Quote:

Originally Posted by August Dear Keith Biondi is the best supplier of body parts. I have tried a lot of suppliers. The parts are perfect. If you some help let me know. Best regards August

[AlfaDrone]

I made a few comparative reviews about panels in my blog:

1) trunk floor (Biondi vs. Erik vs Wolf);
2) jacking point (Biondi vs. Erik);
3) Vent boxes (Erik vs. myself )*

* yep, just because Biondi's vent boxes were not ready yet, so I built them fron scratch, but now that they are ready... well, Erik loose again and I've learned my lesson

Shortly, as a member of this board said and August pointed out above "the Biondi pieces are definitely the pinnacle standard in quality IMO"

(IMO too).

[keithwwalker]

Some bank information for international money transfers to Biondi.
As always, this information may not be current, so always confirm this information with Biondi:

EMIL BANCA Credito Coopertiva
Piazza unità d'Italia nr.3 CAP 40058
Malalbergo - Bologna - Italy
Telephone +39 51 872474
Fax +39 51 872942

http://www.emilbanca.it
(Biondi sent me the wrong internet address)
Here is the local branch that you will send the transfer to:
Filiale di Malalbergo
email:
malalbergo@emilbanca.it

Here is the transfer information (where you see "XXXXXXXXXXXX ", that is Biondi's account number, I am not listing it here for obvious reasons!)

EURO IBAN

ABI 07072
CAB 36880
C/C XXXXXXXXXXXX payable to BIONDI GIANCARLO
CIN (C)

IBAN IT 58 S 07072 36880 XXXXXXXXXXXX

CODICE SWIFT ICRAITRRTS0

Note that the last alpha numeric in the codice swift is a ZERO, NOT the letter 'O'!!!!

If you wonder what those codes are, here is some information:
Coordinate_bancarie
and in English:
International_Bank_Account_Number

ABI e CAB - WordReference Forums

banking-information-provided-italian-bank-account.html

My bank only required the following information for the transfer:
Swift Codice
IBAN #
account #
Bank name and address
Recipient name and address

My bank did not require the CIN#, which may not be correct (letter 'C') as provided by Biondi (the CIN is also in the IBAN, imo). It is different than the CIN# listed in the IBAN# provided by Biondi (letter 'S').

I believe that the IBAN # Biondi provided is the correct number, as the IBAN checks out with the following sites:

Here is a UN administered site where you can verify the IBAN codes (you need Biondi's account number C/C to run this test:
United Nations CEFACT TBG 5 Finance Domain
and another:
Iban Checker - ecbs.org

The most important information are the Swift and IBAN codes (codice). Get that wrong and you could lose your money.

My transfer cost $30, which is about 1.7% of the transaction value in my case. You Alfa guys parts will cost more than my Scorpion parts - it only needs floorboards and rockers from Biondi, nothing large. Consequently your money transfer costs should be <1.5%

Compare with Paypal, which asks the recipient for 3.9% and fees for such a transfer, you will see that Biondi is probably doing all of us a favor.

I will post when the transfer goes through. I don't think there will be any problems (knock on wood...).

Next step is to figure out how to get LCL freight (less than container load) to really cut down on shipping.

Biondi's packaging size is greater than FedEx's combined length width girth formula and that shoots up the cost to >$1000. FedEx ship freight is about $300. I also have an enquiry into DHL on LCL ship freight.

Keith Walker