ambyzown:

I'm being forced to eat my words by posting on this forum again, but I couldn't help but say something in response to Larenz.
We have excellent mechanics in Nigeria who can fix heavy equipment for you, but you will be helping them a great deal if your equipment isn't so Hi-tech. You are very correct in your business analysis and the redundancy factor, that is the textbook approach to business management, but you have overlooked one critical point. Your potential Market I see you are siting your quarry in Cross rivers state, so that means your target market is the south east, assuming yours is the only quarry there, can your target market take 1920tons of granite daily? Thats 64 trailers per day. This is key to the success of your plan, as this is the figure you have used to determine that you can afford a dozer with an airconditioned cab for your operator.
Don't get me wrong, I would really love to get a good-looking aerodynamically streamlined dozer with ABS and skid control  But my competitors are using $35,000 D8k's  and can afford to crash the market with lower rental rates because they can buy 4 machines with the same amount it will cost me to buy 1 state-of -the-art dozer. So technically they'll be making 4 times what I will.
If your competitors are JB and Setraco, by all means buy brand new equipment. And I like your strategy of using a machine for just 4years and then selling it. Maybe I will be opportuned to buy one off you when you decide to sell at rock bottom price
D8N's are very recent machines so you can expect them to be expensive.
I am more interested in D8k's as they are rugged and basic. The parts are readily available and I do not have to buy from CAT offices alone. Also the engine is the same as the D8H which Dumez used when they were in Nigeria so there are a lot of mechanics trained by Dumez out there looking for work.
I'm located in Benin City Edo state, and I'm into equipment rentals.
Cheers guys.

Kafin:

@Larez,

You will have to forgive me for my earlier comments, that was my state of mind after reading through the thread.

No where in your earlier posts did you acknowledge the points that Ambyzown raised, nor did you discuss your mitigations. On a second thought, you dont need/have to. But considering the informations that you have provided, I would expect some hints. Please be my friend (you are obviously a big-boy, and could help me in a number of ways) and not an enemy.

Best Regards,
Kafin

mufasaus:

I really enjoyed this conversation between all of you. I am highly interested in this bulldozers. I have tried my hands on so many businesses in Nigeria and been burnt so many times. Auto, Boat, Computers and Eletronics equipments. You can not trust even your own blood and I am getting tired of staying overseas. Been in the US for over 22 years.

My question to you forumites is "Can this be done without your presence in Nigeria?. I have found out 99% of businesses other than real estate requires presence in the country. I am looking to build something first before leaving for Nigeria permanently.

FYI,
I stll have a very good job paying extremely well and this is not something to leave for uncertainties. I just dont have a life here.

Thanks for your responses.

amastar:

I been following this thread for a while, I will like for someone to please help me out with this question. I have heard that the older the better for the Dozers, in that case what will be too old. For instance will a 1969 CAT D8 be too old? Please help me out so i don't make a mistake. Thank you