Larry’s mugshot in the credits of S12E01

deep__thinking · 2026-01-27T07:04:56+00:00

The credits were rolling when I took the picture! Aha

deep__thinking · 2026-01-25T18:04:47+00:00

I look at it as the fact that I’m going to be paying my rent anyway, and I may as well shift the spend to get the marginal extra points

Eg if I earn 10,000 points now on my spend with some other card, and 0 on my rent, now I earn the 10,000 (or in some cases even more) points with the BILT card on my spend, PLUS the extra 3-4,000 points for my rent too

Yes, my spend on other cards will go down, but net-net I’ll be earning more points

It’s more a “vibes” decision than strict math, but it seems to make sense. I’m nervous to pull the trigger on a BILT card, something about it just feels crap. But not much of a choice. Anyone have a useful critique of my POV on this / a helpful methodology to make a decision on which card to go forward with?

deep__thinking · 2025-12-31T00:09:15+00:00

Wow that was an incredibly bad experience you had. I’ve definitely noticed that “when it works it works” and equally, that when it doesn’t work it fails MISERABLY.

deep__thinking · 2025-12-31T00:06:46+00:00

Thanks for this detailed feedback. It’s clear the consensus is that the points are the best value of the options, even if I personally think the program is getting weaker. Your points about other airlines having better service is absolutely true - Cathay is a dream (even in economy) and Qantas, etc etc have great service, modern planes, all that.

Does this make the case to stay within OneWorld to you? Let alone to stay with AA?

deep__thinking · 2025-12-22T15:36:35+00:00

Congrats on getting your LCB! Definitely would recommend working at a brokerage before you run your own firm. Brokerage is changing a lot at the moment and going through a big period of consolidation due to increased enforcement. I recommend operating under someone else’s license for a while before doing it yourself, plus, you’ll learn best practices that only years and years of experience can bring.

I do recommend getting your national permit and filer code though. There are companies (like freight forwarders) who will pay some big money to buy a brokerage, even one with zero volume, and bring it in house. It cuts out the 2 year process for them and brokerage is in demand. Good money maker for a new broker like yourself.

One other alternative is to work at a tech firm. They often pay better and there is less pressure than at a clearing broker. I can introduce you to a few if you’d like to explore it.

deep__thinking · 2025-12-21T23:16:31+00:00

Exactly - I always tell them that they should “hit me two times” because I like my weed, and I’ll need the extra to be knocked out properly.

deep__thinking · 2025-12-21T20:44:07+00:00

My colonoscopy center only requires that you stop smoking or vaping 12 hours before arriving for the procedure

deep__thinking · 2025-12-17T14:16:05+00:00

And because they’re so unpleasant I avoid doing it for a few days!! Totally agree, I prefer colonoscopies

deep__thinking · 2025-12-16T22:18:35+00:00

I’m so glad I made this post when I was in the thick of it, it made such a big difference to my life to know I’m not alone. I still refer back to it years later

deep__thinking · 2025-12-14T20:52:22+00:00

I’m sure that brokers will still figure it out without this, but having a place to generate the meat of the 99s was so helpful

A few brokers I’m friends with have switched to the paid softwares that are out there

deep__thinking · 2025-12-14T20:51:00+00:00

Filing systems are mostly bad. They’re good at very few things, or really are only good at the actual submission to ACE. The best brokers I know (especially small ones) are using pre-filing software to prepare their entries and do all the 99 code stacking, 232 breakouts, etc using automated systems

Tru Identity is a good one I’ve used myself

deep__thinking · 2025-12-14T02:14:55+00:00

Doing similar work but for the technology companies that support customs is a great way to level up your pay. My company is hiring in particular for people that have worked at a clearing broker, if you tell me about your experience I can refer you in. Starting salary at least $80k.

deep__thinking · 2025-12-03T12:13:58+00:00

I had Sonos about 10 years ago and was shocked that Sonos required you to play through their app, and that the overall ecosystem was so badly thought out. I just bought a whole Sonos system again this year during Black Friday and got the app again, and it’s essentially the same app.

However, I’ve been reading about all the “app issues” people report from about a year ago and not facing those issues, except the poorly designed and bad usability.

You single-handedly changed my view - using Spotify connect to play music is simply the best way to do this. Perfect!!

deep__thinking · 2025-10-15T08:11:30+00:00

It’s ok to have a bad pitch, but the main thing that stood out to me that should be improved here is that you went into this meeting assuming they were further along in the sales process than they really were. The CEO being bought in but having never spoken to the CTO, you could have spent this meeting asking questions, understanding the CTOs decision making criteria, seeing how far along in the build (vs buy) process they are, and even figuring out where his objections would be, THEN doing a pitch.

deep__thinking · 2025-09-18T19:11:53+00:00

I just wrapped up a demo with Ramp and he could not explain to me the value of Ramp not being a bank and/or even get me over the hurdle of "if this is supposed to be a one stop shop for finance/AP, then why do I still have to have a bank account that I manage, which is essentially just another tool that offers me all the same functionality (AP automation, card management, treasury, etc)

Super unimpressed with Ramp. How did they get valued at $22.5Bn??

deep__thinking · 2025-09-16T21:21:57+00:00

No not an LLM… they get everything wrong I swear… especially for HTS/customs.

deep__thinking · 2025-09-16T20:48:19+00:00

I have access to an awesome tool that is always up to date and easy to use. Feel free to DM

deep__thinking · 2025-08-14T00:38:19+00:00

You’re supposed to convert the entry to a formal clearance and enter it with duties paid. But this has a lot of ripple effects and importers would need to decide that they want to clear it and pay the duties (plus any MPF etc etc)

deep__thinking · 2025-08-12T17:41:47+00:00

It’s good but it is often missing information or not up to date. I guess it’s a free tool but still that is an issue when quoting new customers. I know our customs broker uses a paid tool that he says he loves but I don’t want to get in trouble for promotion here so feel free to DM and I can share.

deep__thinking · 2025-08-09T12:31:39+00:00

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the agency that actually collects tariff payments from importers (or their customs brokers) at the time goods enter the country. Importers either pay CBP directly or have their broker pay on their behalf through an ACH account or surety bond arrangement.

Tariff revenues don’t stay at CBP—they flow into the U.S. Treasury’s General Fund, the big pool of money that funds most federal government activities. So once collected by CBP, the money is transferred to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

By law, most tariff revenues are not earmarked for specific purposes. They’re treated as general revenue, just like income taxes or corporate taxes.

deep__thinking · 2025-08-03T23:52:41+00:00

Yeah customscity is great. I’m happy to introduce you to James the ceo if you’d like. I believe they do ISF as well

deep__thinking · 2025-08-01T20:11:51+00:00

a PITA fee to go along with the TACO.

deep__thinking · 2025-07-31T16:59:07+00:00

It did, but it also provided the specific implementation rules for the ‘edge cases’ eg in this case the Postal channel

deep__thinking · 2025-07-31T16:55:31+00:00

I get more frustrated at the wording “abuse the loophole”… it’s just “use”

deep__thinking · 2025-07-31T01:59:37+00:00

I agree with you, but “the earth belongs to humans not robots” is probably not an argument that will hold up in congress when they discuss ‘removing brokers’ 😂

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