Putting a motorcycle together in Colombia...

jorgegdiaz says on Apr 20, 2008, 19:19:

... let me know if it works !

"To err is human - and to blame it on a computer is even more so."Robert Orben

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tejasmarcos says on Apr 20, 2008, 19:32:

i think you could start a biz with that idea. however, i do not see why you wouldn't go for the higher end market for the biz idea.

* test the process a few times with the less expensive models, then work up to models that have more resale margin. there have to be some bike freaks here that have $$ for more exotic/hard to find bikes.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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bradenmiami says on Apr 20, 2008, 19:58:

* test the process a few times with the less expensive models, then work up to models that have more resale margin. there have to be some bike freaks here that have $$ for more exotic/hard to find bikes.

DEAD ON what I was thinking... I would do my bike as the first one just for shits-and-giggles and to see if it works. If this works, I figure that one person like myself could travel back for one weekend a month and do probably three bikes each month. Not a bad little profit margin if you work the numbers on a higher-end bike.

I'm REALLY interested in hearing any input on why it won't work, or information I have that might be incorrect - play the devil's advocate people, and prove this theory wrong.

The "lovemedellin website" is a piece of crap made by some moron who has only been to Medellin once...you'd be better off reading the Lonely Planet advice from a guy who never even came here!

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tejasmarcos says on Apr 20, 2008, 19:59:

robi? you out there?

* i saw a pretty trick harley this weekend with monkey bars. i have not seen one like it in two years here. i also see a crew of harley riders come through parque lleras from time to time. now that i think about it, there is a club of sorts here for riders. i'll try to dig it up....

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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bradenmiami says on Apr 20, 2008, 20:11:

I have found several websites and rider clubs, but nothing too good or impressive yet. I know if I could get this to work, it would be good to get in the loop with some of these local groups to make some sales...however I still would want to keep this small, personal and only with bikes I am very familiar with (Honda/Suzuki/Yamaha)

I can understand why it would keep the "normal" consumer away, and cause them to just pay inflated prices to buy new here....I'm just having a hard time believing that it would be this "easy". Easy to me that is without the travel restrictions being a US citizen, having storage/sassembly places on both ends, both USD and COP incomes to balance out the cash flow situation to buy in one place and sell in the other, and bike assembly knowledge.

I'll give it a few days to see what other related information turns up on this post, and to do some research here with the customs offices and Transito or wherever else I will need to go to get info...

The "lovemedellin website" is a piece of crap made by some moron who has only been to Medellin once...you'd be better off reading the Lonely Planet advice from a guy who never even came here!

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robi666 says on Apr 20, 2008, 20:14:

Sweet, let us know more...
In another thread someone said that you cannot import used part.
Also, I do not understand how they can register it. The title is of a used bike. So, how?

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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bradenmiami says on Apr 20, 2008, 20:18:

Well...see...that's what I was thinking regarding the used parts, and I need to find out WHERE to get this info. Nothing would suck more than to show up to claim my skid and Customs says a big F-you and "send it home"! Maybe he was insinuating that you send it all down as "NEW parts" for the "wrecked" frame/engine.

And I'm not sure about the registration/titling process, but he was very insistent that it would work just fine as long as it came down as mentioned above. I guess I need to understand the process better, and that is where I will just need to talk to the right people.

The "lovemedellin website" is a piece of crap made by some moron who has only been to Medellin once...you'd be better off reading the Lonely Planet advice from a guy who never even came here!

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vicshere says on Apr 20, 2008, 20:23:

if this could be done believe me Colombians bikers and gringos bikers would have been all over this a long time ago...total bullshit if you ask me

listo

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bradenmiami says on Apr 20, 2008, 20:32:

There must be something I didnt catch about how to do it.... Paragraphs 4,5,6 of the following document specifically state the evidence regarding used parts: http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Reports_Publications/2004/...

I'm thinking of going back and hashing it over with him and some of the other shops again - I can see how to EASILY get in all the pieces and the frame unstamped and register them as new. But the motor is a different thing. Not sure how it would work...but he was sure!

And I don't know Vic...I hear ya...but if you looked at the complete process, it would be a total hassle for most all Colombian Bikers and most gringo bikers (the low amount there are down here in relation to the overall biker community) are just too lazy and would rather pay-out just to buy one new here at the 40% inflated prices new. I think there could be something to this, just need to figure out how?!?!

The "lovemedellin website" is a piece of crap made by some moron who has only been to Medellin once...you'd be better off reading the Lonely Planet advice from a guy who never even came here!

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RAAAY says on Apr 20, 2008, 20:36:

Used parts are a no no here...........

" Bans/prohibitions: No tariff categories appear on the prohibited import list, except for used bags and sacks of vegetable fibers. Items previously prohibited are now permitted under license. However, no import licenses are approved for used automotive vehicles of any kind, used parts and accessories for tractors and automotive vehicles, or used tires, which in practice are all considered as prohibited items for import into Colombia. Furthermore, imports of old or used clothing, closeouts, irregulars, rags, and scrap cordage of textile material wastes are subject to prior import license approval which, in practice, is not granted. "
http://www.buyusa.gov/colombia/en/doing_business_in_colombia.html



Furthermore....If you were to go to all this trouble............just bring the bike in on a temp permit, and report it stolen. No fees to bring it in, and you then have all the parts you need.

.

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

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robi666 says on Apr 20, 2008, 20:40:

You may be right Vic, I am skeptical too. But this thing deserves to be investigated. It is Colombia after all...

Brad, you may find someone who already did it and have a look at his bike and a deep talk.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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bradenmiami says on Apr 20, 2008, 20:45:

....just bring the bike in on a temp permit, and report it stolen. No fees to bring it in, and you then have all the parts you need. THEN no ability to use the frame and engine due to the registered numbers...therefore ousting the use of those items and back to square one. Plus, wont be able to get multiple bikes in on temp permits for the purpose of business.

I think it is doable with a nice bike getting all the parts in, even partially constructed as new...its that motor/frame where I am deadlocked. I need to talk to more people before being convinced it will work.

The "lovemedellin website" is a piece of crap made by some moron who has only been to Medellin once...you'd be better off reading the Lonely Planet advice from a guy who never even came here!

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robi666 says on Apr 20, 2008, 20:46:

The easiest thing to do is still:
buy a wrecked bike of the same kind in colombia, with colombian papers
bring in your bike on temp permit
use your bike parts to reconstruct the colombian one, or just press print the colombian bike frame number on your bike
report your bike as stolen
run the "new" bike with the colombian papers

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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bradenmiami says on Apr 20, 2008, 20:53:

not bad...if you're looking for a one-time thing, no resales and no business opportunity.

The "lovemedellin website" is a piece of crap made by some moron who has only been to Medellin once...you'd be better off reading the Lonely Planet advice from a guy who never even came here!

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vicshere says on Apr 21, 2008, 06:19:

robi666 says on Sunday April 20th, 2008 20:40:

You may be right Vic, I am skeptical too. But this thing deserves to be investigated. It is Colombia after all...

...rob I agree...but I still think this whole things smells......a lot ifs and buts....but yea go ahead and do it and let us know how it works.....I could be a future customers......I personally have no problem tearing down my bike and putting it together ....so having to pay a mechanic for me is not required....but even for 1,500 bucks I am defiantly a customer and I will put the bike together....I just want the bike here and with the paperwork.....but I am not going to spend 10,000 bucks to bring my bike here..thats crazy

listo

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tejasmarcos says on Apr 21, 2008, 06:40:

brad - prove the method and it appears you will have no competitors.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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Lowell says on Apr 21, 2008, 06:59:

How about bringing a bike in on a tourist Visa, swap out parts to another bike and then wreck the bike and report it as totaled?

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

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untreated says on Apr 21, 2008, 07:00:

OK, you might get away with this scam once. But if you are dreaming about doing it three times a month, there's no way. You would be breaking the law, and within a few months you would be in deep doo doo. How many thousands of Colombians with US citizenship would have done this already? For starters, it's prohibited: AGAINST THE LAW, to import used vehicle parts, let alone start a friggin' business. To sum it up, you would certainly have to be crazy to do it.

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tejasmarcos says on Apr 21, 2008, 07:04:

just find your bikes at banks who are bringing in loads of default inventory. i would even bet that you could find bikes with very few miles on them whatsoever, similar to demos. that should qualify as new.

* if i build a frame off 1962 corvette with all new or refurb parts, is it a used car when complete? not in my books, but maybe this is a grey area. i bet there is alot of money to be made in "grey" areas here in Colombia.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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vicshere says on Apr 21, 2008, 07:06:

find your bikes at banks who are bringing in loads of default inventory
you mean in colombia

you dont live here do tejas??????

where do you guys come up with this shit

listo

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dwr says on Apr 21, 2008, 07:19:

www.shakomotors.com

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miamimike says on Apr 21, 2008, 07:25:

vicshere says on Sunday April 20th, 2008 20:23:

if this could be done believe me Colombians bikers and gringos bikers would have been all over this a long time ago...total bullshit if you ask me
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My thoughts exactly Vic. In 1995, I searched long and hard for a way to ship my used 1993 Harley Police Bike to Colombia for resale but after talking to a few well known freight forwarders/consolidators who know what "end is up" in Miami, I dismissed the Idea.

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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tejasmarcos says on Apr 21, 2008, 07:26:

hmmmm. importing bikes to Colombia. let's see - that would require sourcing them from.......... maybe the USA? what better place to find greatly price reduced product.

* i live in mde, vic. i worked in the banking industry for over 10 years. i can put my hands on just about anything in the USA for roughly 15-20% below "wholesale" cost.

brad - have you ever seen the movie "pirates of silicon valley"? when everybody tells you "you must be crazy", there is probably an opportunity to make profits. just ask steve jobs.....

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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vicshere says on Apr 21, 2008, 07:33:

cool tejas I will go to MDE ...can you get me a nice bike around 400-650 cc....cruiser style not into race bike style or cross country /offroad .....it doesn't have to be new up to 10 years old will work for me...as long as it is good working order and not all bent up from an accident...sounds like you have your own business idea....hey I am a good customer at the right price....
so tejas how about posting some of those 20% below wholesale prices on here and we will be the judge of your good prices or not

listo

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vicshere says on Apr 21, 2008, 07:35:

mike I have a 1980 Suzuki in storage in Toronto just waiting for a long trip to Colombia....I have not to date yet heard of a sure fired way to get this thing here at a reasonable cost....not including shipping....

listo

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vicshere says on Apr 21, 2008, 07:35:

mike I have a 1980 Suzuki in storage in Toronto just waiting for a long trip to Colombia....I have not to date yet heard of a sure fired way to get this thing here at a reasonable cost....not including shipping....

listo

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tejasmarcos says on Apr 21, 2008, 07:44:

"cool tejas I will go to MDE ...can you get me a nice bike around 400-650 cc....cruiser style not into race bike style or cross country /offroad .....it doesn't have to be new up to 10 years old will work for me...as long as it is good working order and not all bent up from an accident...sounds like you have your own business idea....hey I am a good customer at the right price...."

- ask brad. he is the guy on the hunt right now. i just think it is worth fully investigating vs. an instant dismissal. but then again, i am an eternal optimist when it come to biz and new ideas.

so tejas how about posting some of those 20% below wholesale prices on here and we will be the judge of your good prices or not

- do a search for banks in a any desired source location and do not ignore credit unions. alot of them are now putting their repo inventory online. after that, start making calls and develop a relationship with the disposition manager at that bank or credit union. i personally know a guy in florida who is shipping out 3-4 cars (like new repos bought from banks) to russia & other parts of europe and is making somewhere between $10k-15k per month doing so. he now has banks calling him to dispose of their repo products.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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vicshere says on Apr 21, 2008, 08:01:

what the hell is MDE...thought it was short for Medellin...guess its short for Maryland ...so you don't live in Colombia and you don't work for a Colombian bank take your shit post and comments and take em to another thread and stop posting worthless shit on this thread which has nothing to do with the topic of the post...what a bunch of crap

THIS WHOLE COMMENT NEEDS TO BE RE-PHRASED.
THIS IS RUDE AND UNCALLED FOR.

listo

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webmanco says on Apr 21, 2008, 08:08:

Things are being done one way or the other. TejasMarcos said he USED to work for a USA based bank. On his profile it says Lives in: Colombia Medellin

Let´s be positive. I am as well interested in a better motorcicle.

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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Gator says on Apr 21, 2008, 08:16:

If it did not work there goes the "bike". forfeitures and/or fines by DIAN. I would agree with several others in that it was that easy many Colombians would be in the business.
But you never know. I assume you all know that DIAN pays for information leading to arrest and seizures.

But then NO Colombian would ever turn in a gringo for persos.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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robi666 says on Apr 21, 2008, 08:21:

Untreated
"OK, you might get away with this scam once. But if you are dreaming about doing it three times a month, there's no way. You would be breaking the law, and within a few months you would be in deep doo doo. How many thousands of Colombians with US citizenship would have done this already? For starters, it's prohibited: AGAINST THE LAW, to import used vehicle parts, let alone start a friggin' business. To sum it up, you would certainly have to be crazy to do it."

You're right.
Anyway, I can tell you that swapping old Colombian Toyotas with new Venezuelan Toyotas happens everyday in the Guajira. Not MDE and not motorbikes anyway...

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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webmanco says on Apr 21, 2008, 08:23:

And later on those illegal 4X4 brough from Venezuela became legal.

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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robi666 says on Apr 21, 2008, 08:28:

Perfectly legal. They keep the frame (with the number on it) and the part of the engine where the number is printed. All the rest is new.
That's why they always say: "Guajiros que se respecte tiene su Burbuja".

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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tejasmarcos says on Apr 21, 2008, 08:54:

vicshere - mde is the airport code for medellin. however, let me spell it out for you - M.E.D.E.L.L.I.N. - does that help?

also - let me hold your hand and help you understand - this is not my post. if you grab the mouse beside your computer and scroll all the way to the top, you will see bradenmiami posted this topic. also, vic - when i say "mouse", i do not mean a real mouse. i mean the computer mouse. is that clear? if not, i can send some pictures for you to view.

also - brad mentioned he may want to continue to do this if he is successful, therefore he would need a good purchase source. i mentioned repos as a way to increase margins. if that is not clear, i can once again send you some fotos and crayons so you can understand it better. ok?

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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vicshere says on Apr 21, 2008, 08:58:

tegas you don't know what your talking about go to the off topic zone and post your worthless posts / comments ok...do us all a favor....if I have like I stated above...why in the hell would I want to buy another crap bike from an American bank so I can have it sit there till someone figures a way to bring it to Colombia....and who the hell cares about Russia and Europe..this is a Colombian board god dam it

listo

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tejasmarcos says on Apr 21, 2008, 09:01:

vic - calm down. this post is not about you. take er easy old man. if you have medication sitting around the house, NOW might be a good time to take a dose and chillllllllllll out amigo.

;)

* remember - positivity is the light of hope.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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dwr says on Apr 21, 2008, 10:58:

I believe Tejas is sitting in Medallo.

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vicshere says on Apr 21, 2008, 10:59:

dwr i think your on to something

listo

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robi666 says on Apr 21, 2008, 11:00:

Tejas, when are you back in Medellin?

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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Brians says on Apr 21, 2008, 11:07:

Robi I think Tejas said he might try to make his second trip in January next year.

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Albatross says on Apr 21, 2008, 11:11:

... just sittin' back, enjoyin' the show here on PBH Smackdown.

“Democracy - a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H.L. Mencken

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Apr 21, 2008, 11:18:

Vic, keep it civil. There's no need to use offensive and rude language to make a point.

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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tejasmarcos says on Apr 21, 2008, 11:46:

desi - the problem is that he rarely makes a point! he sounds disgruntled, crotchedy and on the brink of a breakdown. amazing how some people use hostility as a way of fooling the self one has control.

brians - i just saw reports of a large fire in phili here on the local news channel - here in medellin ;)

vic - we can still be friends! just calm down and try to be positive. some people here on pbh actually enjoy the notion that they might forward themselves and their lives in their non native country of Colombia. are you having some issues in Bucaramanga? we can talk about it if you like. i'm here for you ;)

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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vicshere says on Apr 21, 2008, 11:53:

tegass you sound very MC as a matter of fact I can bet you are one in the same.....that's the problem here people (unlike a few of us) have various usernames.....its a bitch when you have to hide behind a username to say what you really mean ...

listo

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Brians says on Apr 21, 2008, 12:30:

wow

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DodgerDogs says on Apr 21, 2008, 12:30:

some people worry too much and bitCH too much.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.Martin Luther King:

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vicshere says on Apr 21, 2008, 13:20:

yupper a member since Jan 2008 you know it all about PBH

listo

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tejasmarcos says on Apr 21, 2008, 13:30:

vic - i've been around here for more than 2 years - same name amigo. sorry about the disruption, bem.

*anybody else have input for this worthy idea and biz idea?

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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Brians says on Apr 21, 2008, 13:36:

Comon Tejas everyone knows you are actually GIB.

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vicshere says on Apr 21, 2008, 13:39:

GIB no way GIB is way too smart for this place......unlike me too dumb to know when to move on

listo

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robi666 says on Apr 21, 2008, 13:59:

I think that Tejas is Miguel_Clavo. It is funny how M_C stopped posting and Tejas just appeared from the middle of nowhere.
The fact that his handle is two years old does not mean anything.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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tejasmarcos says on Apr 21, 2008, 14:07:

man - you guys are killing a post that actually has merit.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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bradenmiami says on Apr 21, 2008, 14:11:

Just got on for the first time since last night...uyyy...glad I stayed away. TM, I'll go for the love side of our love-hate relationship today and tell you thanks for at least trying to keep this on track and offer valuable insight. As for the rest of you, thanks for the jack...jajaja

BTW... I have NEVER said this works, nor that I am going to do it. I simply saw a gleam of light when I received some information and wanted to get to the bottom of it, because if there IS a way to do it on the up-and-up...well...I am a businessman and this is right up my alley!

Anyway...

The "lovemedellin website" is a piece of crap made by some moron who has only been to Medellin once...you'd be better off reading the Lonely Planet advice from a guy who never even came here!

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tejasmarcos says on Apr 21, 2008, 14:23:

i personally think you might be on to something. good luck...

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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dwr says on Apr 21, 2008, 14:24:

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vicshere says on Apr 21, 2008, 14:28:

now bare boobs are allowed again as an avatar....cool have to pull mine out again

listo

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bradenmiami says on Apr 21, 2008, 17:09:

...actually its more of a side shot and an artistic rendering, rather than the porn you will probably put up! jaja

The "lovemedellin website" is a piece of crap made by some moron who has only been to Medellin once...you'd be better off reading the Lonely Planet advice from a guy who never even came here!

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