The light bulb deal (las week's news)

[J D Sauser]

Base on news articles in the HOY papers and HERE too, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the government had acquired 10 millions of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs to be distributed in a swapping program (eliminating incandescent bulbs) throughout the country (DR).

And it's truly happening! I was in a not so bad barrio just West of Penetracion al Muelle Av. in Puerto Plata to find a good bunch of homes bearing a sticker sign signaling that these homes were saving energy using CFLB's which had indeed been installed swapping about 4 to 5 normal bulbs in each home... FREE! (FREE? Well, sort'a, after all they take away the old bulbs... wouldn't we be surprised to see the pulgas starting to swamp the market with "slighlty used" or "package missing" incandescent light bulbs soon?

But then, after going back researching the news articles, some numbers compelled me to stop short of hollering "hallelujah" from my balcony.

Here are the numbers: It's 10 Millions of bulbs for about USD 18.5 Million initial investment to acquire them. That's USD 1.85 a pop. I can get them at the super market in Puerto Plata for less, buying ONE by ONE.
Also, a 5 minute search effort on the net soon revealed offers from vendors at that same price (USD 1.85/piece) when you buy only 50 or more. I am almost tempted to drive that seller into total hysteria for asking if they couldn't take that price down just a little bit more for... erm... 10 Million units .

I think these deals should be found under 1.00 USD (at least on fleabay I COULD) and in these quantities directly from a manufacturer, and if they (the gov) are not to be assumed stupid, I would suspect that's what they in fact may have done... so somebody may walk around with 8 to 10 millions of USD out of that deal...

Morale? My grandfather and your parents were right, we should have studied LAW instead of pursuing a technical career and stuff... I just can't seem to get into politics and get rich so quickly building homes and consulting to builders and developers...

... J-D.

[Hillbilly]

I figure that "someone" had around maybe a million US$ to spread around....That's the way it works...

HB

[J D Sauser]

I understand that's the way it works, and not just here... but it's so blatant I just wonder how newspapers still seem to refuse to pick up on stuff like this.

... J-D.

[PICHARDO]

Originally Posted by J D Sauser

Base on news articles in the HOY papers and HERE too, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the government had acquired 10 millions of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs to be distributed in a swapping program (eliminating incandescent bulbs) throughout the country (DR).

And it's truly happening! I was in a not so bad barrio just West of Penetracion al Muelle Av. in Puerto Plata to find a good bunch of homes bearing a sticker sign signaling that these homes were saving energy using CFLB's which had indeed been installed swapping about 4 to 5 normal bulbs in each home... FREE! (FREE? Well, sort'a, after all they take away the old bulbs... wouldn't we be surprised to see the pulgas starting to swamp the market with "slighlty used" or "package missing" incandescent light bulbs soon?

But then, after going back researching the news articles, some numbers compelled me to stop short of hollering "hallelujah" from my balcony.

Here are the numbers: It's 10 Millions of bulbs for about USD 18.5 Million initial investment to acquire them. That's USD 1.85 a pop. I can get them at the super market in Puerto Plata for less, buying ONE by ONE.
Also, a 5 minute search effort on the net soon revealed offers from vendors at that same price (USD 1.85/piece) when you buy only 50 or more. I am almost tempted to drive that seller into total hysteria for asking if they couldn't take that price down just a little bit more for... erm... 10 Million units .

I think these deals should be found under 1.00 USD (at least on fleabay I COULD) and in these quantities directly from a manufacturer, and if they (the gov) are not to be assumed stupid, I would suspect that's what they in fact may have done... so somebody may walk around with 8 to 10 millions of USD out of that deal...

Morale? My grandfather and your parents were right, we should have studied LAW instead of pursuing a technical career and stuff... I just can't seem to get into politics and get rich so quickly building homes and consulting to builders and developers...

... J-D.

JD, the CFL program is aimed at assisting lower income and poor families to get engaged in the soon to come energy savings programme of the gov.

The CFL bulbs are not in one wattage only, but depending on location and usage, they vary from the lowest to the highest that are available in the market.

The news reports in the DR are always missing most of the important and for the most part, essential part of the programme. The CFL programme is not ten (10) million bulbs, but way above that by a long margin. The first loads that were received are already being distributed along an educational backing to the users about energy savings and the impact in their budget.

About your post above with the link to an Ebay offer for equally energy savings bulbs at great savings:


24 Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs 23w=100w CFL Save75%
price: US $14.95
Shipping costs: US $18.00
US $28.50 Canada
Standard Flat Rate Shipping Service
Service to United States & Canada


Now let me ask you were do you think the DR buys the CFLs?
How do you think they arrive to country?
Do you have an idea of shipping costs regarding the lack of weight for the loads, yet shippers in contrast charge per volume when weight is under certain conditions?
Do you really think that those distributors were willing to provide a warranty for the minimum stated operational time of the bulbs in question to an order far exceeding the 10 million mark?

Did you know that the bulbs in question and purchase order is a contract made nation to nation with co-funding for the contract?

Did you know that Cuba is the largest supplier under that contract?
Do you know the terms of the loan that was approved via a third nation?

Canada is just to the north and by land, we?

[sollie]

Originally Posted by PICHARDO

JD, the CFL program is aimed at assisting lower income and poor families to get engaged in the soon to come energy savings programme of the gov.

The CFL bulbs are not in one wattage only, but depending on location and usage, they vary from the lowest to the highest that are available in the market.

The news reports in the DR are always missing most of the important and for the most part, essential part of the programme. The CFL programme is not ten (10) million bulbs, but way above that by a long margin. The first loads that were received are already being distributed along an educational backing to the users about energy savings and the impact in their budget.

About your post above with the link to an Ebay offer for equally energy savings bulbs at great savings:


24 Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs 23w=100w CFL Save75%
price: US $14.95
Shipping costs: US $18.00
US $28.50 Canada
Standard Flat Rate Shipping Service
Service to United States & Canada


Now let me ask you were do you think the DR buys the CFLs?
How do you think they arrive to country?
Do you have an idea of shipping costs regarding the lack of weight for the loads, yet shippers in contrast charge per volume when weight is under certain conditions?
Do you really think that those distributors were willing to provide a warranty for the minimum stated operational time of the bulbs in question to an order far exceeding the 10 million mark?

Did you know that the bulbs in question and purchase order is a contract made nation to nation with co-funding for the contract?

Did you know that Cuba is the largest supplier under that contract?
Do you know the terms of the loan that was approved via a third nation?

Canada is just to the north and by land, we?

So PICHARDO. How much would you estimate the price per bulb the programme

is paying ? This is a good programme, right? No room for graft in this deal? Who is co-funding the contract? What does Cuba charge per unit? How many bulbs to assist lower income and poor families are we talking about? Do the math for us if you will.

Sollie

[tht]

Here, since July 23rd.

[windeguy]

It is quite clear that the price the government is paying for these bulbs is much higher than it should be for the 14 and 18 watt replacement bulbs mentioned in the article posted by the green team when someone can buy a 4 pack in the US for the price the government is paying for one.( Or is customs doubling the cost )

Did I understand that Cuba is supplying a large part of this order? It must cost a huge amount of money to ship them all the way from Cuba, don't you think? I do not believe that comments about shipping costs of volume versus weight in a shipping container from China or elsewhere would stand up to scrutiny and justify the excess costs for these low wattage bulbs. Just how many bulbs would fit into a shipping container and what is the worst deal you could get on such a container to be shipped to the DR from the absolutely furthest point?

[cobraboy]

Originally Posted by windeguy

It is quite clear that the price the government is paying for these bulbs is much higher than it should be for the 14 and 18 watt replacement bulbs mentioned in the article posted by the green team when someone can buy a 4 pack in the US for the price the government is paying for one.( Or is customs doubling the cost )

This is not correct.

n:vision 14 Watt Soft White Compact Fluorescent Bulb (CFL), 4 Pack - 5M8144 at The Home Depot

Home Depot has them for around US$1.77 ea., plus prevailing tax.

It may not be the best price, but there are some distribution costs. It doesn't sound to me like a royal screwing.

Besides, almost NOTHING gubmint does anywhere is nearly as cheap as a person can do for themselves.

[J D Sauser]

Originally Posted by PICHARDO

JD, the CFL program is aimed at assisting lower income and poor families to get engaged in the soon to come energy savings programme of the gov.

The CFL bulbs are not in one wattage only, but depending on location and usage, they vary from the lowest to the highest that are available in the market.

The news reports in the DR are always missing most of the important and for the most part, essential part of the programme. The CFL programme is not ten (10) million bulbs, but way above that by a long margin. The first loads that were received are already being distributed along an educational backing to the users about energy savings and the impact in their budget.

About your post above with the link to an Ebay offer for equally energy savings bulbs at great savings:


24 Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs 23w=100w CFL Save75%
price: US $14.95
Shipping costs: US $18.00
US $28.50 Canada
Standard Flat Rate Shipping Service
Service to United States & Canada


Now let me ask you were do you think the DR buys the CFLs?
How do you think they arrive to country?
Do you have an idea of shipping costs regarding the lack of weight for the loads, yet shippers in contrast charge per volume when weight is under certain conditions?
Do you really think that those distributors were willing to provide a warranty for the minimum stated operational time of the bulbs in question to an order far exceeding the 10 million mark?

Did you know that the bulbs in question and purchase order is a contract made nation to nation with co-funding for the contract?

Did you know that Cuba is the largest supplier under that contract?
Do you know the terms of the loan that was approved via a third nation?

Canada is just to the north and by land, we?

First of all Picardo, I applauded the the underlining mindset of the program. It's a small step and it's cost, inflated or not, only goes to show what urgently necessary future programs may come to cost to this and many other nations.

Yet, IF you buy not bulb by bulb, not even "just" boxes of 96 bulbs (for half the price over the internet), no, 10'000'000 bulbs at once, and not as suggested by gleaning the field of all Home Depots State wide, you DO get as SUBSTANCIAL discount. And if they get shipped from our neighboring "La Isla"... cargo by ship, a container or two at USD 2000.oo (over prized) won't add much more than USD. 0.ooo4 per bulb... can you spell NADA in English . Hey let me ten-fold that, just to be on the save side: USD 0.oo4! Still, not yet one CENT of a Dollar! Would you like me to 100-fold that shipping for you so it'd be 4 cents a bulb, so somebody can spread USD 396'000.oo into Miami's booming Bayside developments... discreetly?
Customs? Well, this is the DR... so, probably... this is a good way to document the skim, but then, wait a minute... whom does the DR customs belong to... oooops, now wouldn't that be the... erm... government?

Anyways... you didn't mean to make me believe that 10 Millions of bulbs bought at a factory in Cuba or anywhere have to come more expensive than I can buy them one by one HERE in the DR in a super market?

Yet, I repeat, it is a nice program which shows a growing sensibility in the right direction. But yet again, it's arithmetics are threatening to show, that countries like these will maybe fail at resolving the bigger issues, because money seems more important to a few who swore to serve it's country.

Originally Posted by tht

Here, since July 23rd.

Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one with a calculator .

Originally Posted by cobraboy

This is not correct.

n:vision 14 Watt Soft White Compact Fluorescent Bulb (CFL), 4 Pack - 5M8144 at The Home Depot

Home Depot has them for around US$1.77 ea., plus prevailing tax.

It may not be the best price, but there are some distribution costs. It doesn't sound to me like a royal screwing.

Besides, almost NOTHING gubmint does anywhere is nearly as cheap as a person can do for themselves.

HD sells ONE by ONE with a hefty profit margin... and that's exactly my point. And they are expensive too. If you want to save about 40% quick and easy by buying home style "Wholesale" check the internet (hint: e-bay)... and these yet only are re-seller's re-sellers...

I am tempted to bet, that if I put ONE week of my investigative work into researching manufacturers around the world and calling in bids, I could get them delivered at a DR port of entry for under USD 0.99 each (</= USD 9'900'000.oo fer the whole mess). But then yes, CoralBoy, I sure ain't the Gubmint, now am I.


... J-D.

[windeguy]

Originally Posted by cobraboy

This is not correct.

n:vision 14 Watt Soft White Compact Fluorescent Bulb (CFL), 4 Pack - 5M8144 at The Home Depot

Home Depot has them for around US$1.77 ea., plus prevailing tax.

It may not be the best price, but there are some distribution costs. It doesn't sound to me like a royal screwing.

Besides, almost NOTHING gubmint does anywhere is nearly as cheap as a person can do for themselves.

Yes, but HOME DEPOT is a retail store selling to the public in small quantities while they make a substantial profit. Any government purchasing huge quantities from the "lowest bidder" can do much better than we can walking into a Home Depot.

Doing a quick search of Ebay, I found 24 Sylvania 13 Watt compact fluorescent bulbs at a price of $27.39 including shipping anywhere in the US. That is a $1.14 per bulb and that seller is making a profit! That is where I see the corruption.

24 SYLVANIA COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS CFL - eBay (item 220264015775 end time Aug-07-08 19:51:38 PDT)