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Blog

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June 21, 2022 at 2:04 pm

What to Consider When Using Sea Freight for Freight Shipping

Sea freight shipping is an affordable and environmentally-friendly shipping alternative for shipping items internationally for multiple reasons. Here’s what you should keep in mind when deciding if sea freight is the best shipping alternative for your company.

Your Costs

The costs for shipping items via sea freight are some of the most affordable shipping rates available. When shipping internationally and or with large and heavy items, the average cost of sea freight shipping can be as much as four to six times cheaper when compared to other types of shipping methods.

If you have a small shipment that doesn’t require an entire container, you can group your items with other shippers’ goods to reduce your expenses even more.

Your Shipping Options

Another advantage of sea freight is that there are minimal restrictions about what items you can ship. Sea freight can accommodate heavy or oversized items that can’t be transported using other shipping methods.

Since ships are designed to safely transport dangerous or volatile cargo, they’re an excellent option for safely shipping items that are potentially dangerous. Your items will be sealed and locked to ensure they’re not a danger to the ship’s crew during their travels.

Your Potential Destinations

Sea freight allows you to ship items across the globe. If you need to ship items to a destination that’s difficult to reach, sea freight is a reliable shipping method that ensures that your items get there safely.

Your Ideal Environmental Impact

If you like to utilize practices that minimize your impact on the environment, sea freight is generally regarded as one of the most environmentally friendly shipping methods.

Ships have lower carbon footprints and fewer gas emissions than other shipping methods. New technology continues to make new ships even less detrimental to the environment.

Get Started with Sea Freight Shipping

Ready to start using sea freight shipping to transport your goods? Contact AMR Group at 702-800-6385 or request a rate online today.

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Blog, Tradeshow

Posted

February 14, 2020 at 9:56 am

What to Look for in Quality Trade Show Freight Forwarders

AMR Group Is a Leading Choice for Trade Show Freight Forwarders

Trade shows are essential for new and established businesses to connect with customers and network with other companies. Choosing the right trade show shipping company makes all the difference in a stress-free trade show. Instead of worrying about your materials making it to the right booth on time, use these tips to choose a shipping company you can trust.  

Tips for Choosing the Right Trade Show Freight Forwarders

Not All Shipping Companies Are Equal
A company that focuses on trade show shipping knows the ins and outs of the process. They should also have experience shipping all over the world and be able to offer you over one kind of shipping service to meet your needs. The right trade show freight forwarders will offer:

  • Air Freight: Send items with a short turnaround.
  • Sea Freight: Ideal for large items in situations where you have plenty of time. 
  • Truckload & LTL Shipping: Gets your products from ports to the final destination.
  • Warehouse Storage: Never worry about where to put your goods between shows.
  • Shipment Tracking: Check to see where your cargo is and when it’s expected to arrive.

Once you’ve picked the right trade show shipping company, you can focus on your business and the show, rather than stressing about where your products are and if they’ll arrive in time. 

Mitigate Drayage & Marshal Yard Fees
Two factors that your shipping company won’t have direct control over are drayage (materials handling between the truck and your booth), and fees from waiting in the marshaling yard to unload the truck. 

A local union will usually perform drayage, and experienced trade show shipping companies will have standing face-to-face relationships with the union. Good relationships can prevent misunderstandings during the last leg of shipment and make sure your products get to the booth without delay or incident. 

Long-standing shipping companies delivering multiple truckloads may get the standard marshal yard fees discounted or waived. You can rely on an experienced shipping company to navigate these fees and processes.

Experience and Outreach
A shipping company with thousands of events served in over sixty countries has more than just experience. They also have a wide network of partners working for you to make sure your shipment arrives safe and on time, as expected. Experienced agents can move your shipment with efficiency across the globe, so you don’t have to deal with paperwork and multiple points of contact. When a shipping company is working worldwide, you can trust they’ll know where your cargo is and when it should arrive.


Focus on Customer Service 
When your business is counting on high quality displays to connect with customers and businesses, expect 24-hour-customer-help via both phone and email. A staff agent should be on-hand to make sure your shipment gets to the right booth and provide support for you and your team. No matter where in the world your trade show might be. 

AMR Group is a top choice for exhibitors looking to hire trade show freight forwarders for both domestic and international trade shows. Contact us at 702-800-6385 to discuss your needs, or request a free, online quote.

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Tradeshow

Posted

February 13, 2020 at 9:29 am

Tradeshow Logistics Tips for First-time Exhibitors

Our Tradeshow Logistics Company Can Handle Your Exhibit Shipping Needs

If you’re attending your first tradeshow, handling all the tradeshow logistics for a successful exhibit can be a bit nerve-wracking. These tips will help you properly prepare for your show and ensure you feel ready to effectively promote your product or service to potential customers: 

1. Start with a Small Exhibit
Since it’s your first trade show, you might be tempted to set up a large exhibit so you can showcase as many of your products or services as possible. However, it’s best to start with a small booth and a moderate number of products or demos.

This gives you a chance to learn more about tradeshow logistics so that you can use your knowledge to adapt your exhibit. You can see what products or displays do well at the tradeshow and which ones are a miss. Experiment with the design and layout of your exhibit until you find the best configuration for your business. Once you have a better understanding of effective tradeshow logistics, you can start to expand your exhibit. 

2. Recruit Experienced Staff for the Show
You may only have one chance to create a solid first impression with prospective customers. If you’re using your internal staff for the show, choose experienced employees who are comfortable with customer interaction and thoroughly understand the ins and outs of your company’s offerings.

Depending on the size of your company and your employee availability, you might need to use a staffing agency to staff your tradeshow exhibit. Should you need to go this route, make sure you use an agency with staffers who have ample experience in your industry and working tradeshow exhibits. 

3. Request Shipping Quotes for Your Tradeshow at the Appropriate Time
Many businesses utilize a company that ships tradeshow materials to make sure they have everything they need for their exhibit (without having to worry about moving everything themselves or setting up their own booths). If you decide to use a tradeshow shipping service, you need to make sure you request a shipping quote at the appropriate time.

Ideally, you should obtain quotes for shipping your materials a month or two prior to your event. This will give you ample time to compare quotes and decide what company you want to use. If you request shipping quotes prior to two months before your event, rates might change due to fluctuating fuel costs and your quote won’t be as accurate. 

Hire a Tradeshow Logistics Company

AMR Group is a tradeshow logistics company that will handle all aspects of shipping and exhibit delivery for you. Contact us today at 702-800-6385 for more information.

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Blog

Posted

February 10, 2020 at 10:19 am

What Newbies Should Know About Tradeshow Shipping

A Newbie’s Guide to Tradeshow Shipping

As a beginner, tradeshow shipping can be a daunting task. You need to find a tradeshow and event logistics partner, familiarize yourself with shipping regulations and ensure your cargo gets to the desired destination in time. Although overseeing tradeshow & events logistics can be quite difficult, you can still get all your exhibition materials delivered successfully. Here’s what you need to know in order for your first tradeshow shipping to go on smoothly.

1. Have All Important Information
Before shipping your goods, get your facts right about all the important details concerning your tradeshow and shipping. Know all the deadlines to ensure you meet them and avoid penalties and fines. These include stipulated move-in and move-out dates, as well as the stipulated times for both advance warehouse shipments and those to be shipped directly to the show.

Knowing your dates lets you know how much time you have so you can prepare materials and shipments adequately. Also, familiarize yourself with shipping regulations to ensure you acquire the right permits; although this can be handled by your tradeshow & event logistics partner. Make sure you have the contacts of your carrier’s customer care, general contractor and the show decorator, just in case problems arise.

2. Have a Packing List of All the Necessary Items
Prepare a packing list for all the necessary items you are going to need for your tradeshow, and ensure you pack them all. Don’t forget to include staples and staplers, markers, shrink wrappers and scissors to help you unpack and set up your booth much faster.

Use packaging materials that stand out, and label your event pieces appropriately for easy identification. Also, carry along your shipping information so it can be easy to track your cargo in case of any delays.

3. Ship to An Advanced Warehouse
You have two options when shipping your materials in preparation for your tradeshow: shipping to an advance warehouse or shipping directly to the show site. If your materials arrive early, you can ship them to an advanced warehouse where they’ll be kept until the day of the show. When shipping to the show site, your materials are delivered directly to the venue.

It is recommended to always ship to an advanced warehouse. You’ll have more time to rectify any issues with your freight and prepare for your exhibition. Goods shipped to an advanced warehouse are also prioritized when unloading and are attended before those shipped to the show site directly.

4. Material Handling/Drayage Costs
Material handling/drayage refers to the transit of goods to and from the tradeshow venue. When budgeting for your tradeshow, ensure you factor in drayage costs which may vary depending on the type of shipment, time and the amount of handling needed. Drayage cost not only includes transportation, but also clearing and storage if empty cartons after you have set up your booth.

To avoid incurring high costs, ensure your shipment’s details are correct and that you observe the stipulated dates and deadlines for deliveries and move-ins. Also, you can ship small boxes on a pallet, or consolidate all your materials and avoid shipping in multiple small boxes.

Contact Our Tradeshow & Event Logistics Company Today

It goes without saying that the success of your shipping depends on the tradeshow & event logistics partner you work with. AMR Group has all the needed expertise and professionalism to successfully deliver your exhibition materials globally. Contact us today to get a customized shipping rate and learn more about how we can help you.

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Shipping

Posted

February 4, 2020 at 9:45 am

Tips for a Successful Heavy Haul Shipment with a Tradeshow Transportation Company

Tips for Minimizing Problems During Heavy Haul Shipping

Heavy haul refers to wide loads that exceed the set measurement standards for loads in terms of weight height or length. This can make your tradeshow shipping stressful as it requires extra effort to ensure cargo reaches its destination as expected and in good shape. However, working with a competent tradeshow transportation company can ease the burden of the whole process. To help you ensure your heavy haul shipping faces as little hurdles as possible, here are helpful tips to follow:

1. Inform Your Carrier in Advance and Get Information Regarding Your Permits
Shipping such enormous loads comes with loads of responsibility and challenges. It is, therefore, prudent to inform your tradeshow transportation company in advance the details of your shipment to allow for early preparation. This eliminates the last-minute rush that comes with your carrier trying to make adjustments to accommodate your heavy haul. 

Since most carriers always handle the permits and include the costs in shipping charges, you want to confirm that this is true. Otherwise, understand the legal requirements for shipping your cargo and obtain the necessary permits.

2. Get Your Measurements Right
The measurement details of your load determine the type of permits you require to transport your cargo. Ensure that you not only have accurate measurements, but also the serial numbers, the make and model of your cargo to make the process easier. Keep in mind that even a slight error can greatly alter your routes, permits and costs.  In case of incorrect details, you’ll have to reapply for another permit using the right dimensions which will cost you time.

3. Know Any Special Requirements You’ll Need
Heavy haul requires special handling due to the size of the load. Establish what you’ll need to facilitate the loading and offloading of cargo. Whether you need a forklift for pallet-stacked items or a crane for the large irregularly shaped items, you should ensure they are available beforehand. Also, establish if you need flags or tarping, and how to secure your cargo if it is fragile.

4. Plan Adequately
Shipping heavy haul needs a lot of early planning for it to be a success. Consider taking advantage of the time by getting everything ready for the shipping early. This includes getting the right tradeshow transportation company early, obtaining the permits, getting the necessary loading and offloading equipment and running your routes early.

While you may have prepared well, understand that everything may not go as planned. Hence, you should prepare for an unexpected circumstance such as foul weather, construction zones which may change the truck’s routes, and permit difference for different states and counties.  

5. Work with The Right Company
Engaging the right tradeshow transportation company for trucking services is essential in ensuring that your load arrives at its destination safely and on time. You want to look for adequately insured professionals with experience in heavy haul. The trucking company you choose should also come highly recommended and have minimal to no injury claims, and with favorable payment terms.

Ship Your Heavy Haul Goods with Our Tradeshow Transportation Company

To eliminate the inconvenience and costs from delays, you want your heavy haul handled by an expert tradeshow transportation company like AMR Group. Contact us today for reliable and efficient heavy haul shipping services.

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Cargo Insurance

Posted

January 31, 2020 at 3:13 pm

Does Cargo Insurance Affect Tradeshow Freight Rate?

Get a Tradeshow Freight Rate from AMR Group

The United States is a huge market, offering true diversity in cultures, industries and locations. Several venues in the U.S. play host to exhibitions and conferences all year round, from Miami in the southeast to Anchorage, Alaska, almost 5,000 miles away. As exhibitors ship their items from all corners of the world, one question that always crops up is the escalating tradeshow freight rate. Does cargo insurance add to the cost, and how can you bring down the cost?

What Is Cargo Insurance?
Every tradeshow exhibitor needs a tailor-made cargo insurance coverage to provide the best protection possible when shipping in cargo. You need a shipping company that ensures your shipment moves without damage. Due to the delicate nature of the tradeshow industry and the extreme weather conditions often experienced across the nation, some circumstances are often beyond the control of your freight company.

When you purchase cargo insurance, you can rest assured a broader range of risks is covered. The cost of replacing your tradeshow booth can far exceed your yearly tradeshow budget, and that’s a risk you don’t want to take. Cargo insurance protects your investment and gives you peace of mind. Ensure the policy terms cover shipments into the tradeshow, within the show site, and out of the tradeshow.

How Can Cargo Insurance Lower Your Tradeshow Freight Rate?
It’s strongly recommended you purchase cargo insurance with a company that is experienced in shipping tradeshow exhibits and products. They understand the intricacies in this industry and will more likely handle your items with the utmost care they deserve. Here are some questions to ask when choosing cargo insurance coverage and bring down your tradeshow freight rate:

  • What is your deductible?
  • Does the amount of your deductible make your cargo insurance more cost-effective?
  • Does your policy cover concealed damage when a delivery receipt was signed off “clean”?
  • Are your exhibits covered when on the show floor?

In general, your cargo insurance should cover damage during transit, loss during transit, damage or loss while on the show floor, water damage, breakage, pilferage, and concealed damages if the inspection determines that the damage might have occurred in transit.

Work with the Experts!
Cargo insurance is designed to respond to unforeseen accidents or events that affect your goods while in transit. AMR Group has been shipping tradeshow and event exhibits to more than 60 countries for several years. With an international network of partners and agents, you can expect exquisite services from one of the industry’s top logistics companies in the world. AMR’s cargo insurance is customized to cover your tradeshow exhibits into and out of the tradeshow as well as coverage while on the tradeshow floor (up to 30 days). Contacts us today to begin the conversation with one of our friendly cargo insurance experts or request a tradeshow freight rate.

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Shipping

Posted

December 18, 2019 at 10:28 am

Tips for Shipping Freight During the Winter

Winter Freight Shipping Tips

When winter is in full swing and your tradeshow exhibition is just around the corner, you may start loosing sleep because of the shipping mishaps that winter brings. Not only can it lead to delays, but your exhibition goods can easily get damaged by the frigid temperatures. But, you don’t have to put your business on hold just because it is a chilly season.

Whether you are shipping via road, sea or air, you can still get your freight to its destination undamaged and in time for display with the right tradeshow transportation company. At AMR Group, we’ve compiled these few tips to help you make the duration of your winter shipping a success.

Plan Ahead, and Schedule Your Shipping Earlier

Adverse winter weather, like too much snow or ice, may lead to the closure of ports, disruption of flights and impaired road transport. Make sure you’ve flexible plans in place so you can quickly make adjustments without hurting your delivery time. Although you can control other aspects of your shipping, the weather can be unpredictable.

Plan ahead by ensuring you have everything required for your shipping, and prioritize time-sensitive items by having them shipped first, just in case there are delays. By doing everything earlier and allowing some time to react to unforeseen circumstances, you ensure your freight is delivered in time.

Know Your Shipment

The nature of your shipment determines how you are going to ship them and what safety measures you’ll put in place to ensure its safety in the extreme winter weather. Items, such as food, chemicals and electronics, are vulnerable in extreme cold and need protection against the low temperatures.

Using vacuum-sealed packaging will protect your goods from moisture damage even if they are insensitive to temperatures. You may also need tarping, and heated trucks for items that get damaged if frozen. While climate-controlled shipping may seem more costly, it’s better than having your goods damaged.

Communication, Communication, Communication

Being in constant contact with your tradeshow transport company when shipping freight either by road, sea or air is important. With AMR Group, your dedicated operations contact will keep you updated every step of the way. You’ll always know your freight’s transit situation, any challenges occur as well as the expected time of arrival of your goods. By communicating with all the parties involved, you’ll be prepared for any challenges and mitigate the effects of any hurdles your shipping may face.

Work with The Best Tradeshow Transportation Company

AMR Group has experience anticipating challenges and finding solutions. We are reliable, efficient and offer you value for your money to help you ship your goods. By working with our experts, you won’t have to worry about much of the delays that come with shipping during winter.

Overcome Winter Shipping Blues by Partnering AMR Group

Working with an experienced tradeshow transportation company like the AMR Group will help you ship your goods successfully regardless of the season. Contact us today for all your tradeshow shipping needs.

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Shipping

Posted

December 18, 2019 at 10:07 am

Combating Seasonal Freight Shipping Rates

Combating Seasonal Freight Shipping Rates

You may have noticed tradeshow freight shipping costs are skyrocketing. There are several contributing factors affecting seasonal freight shipping rates, and it’s sometimes difficult to identify any specific parameter that makes up the bulk of the increase. However, it’s clear that when the demand for freight forwarding services increases, the cost increases dramatically, and it can be cheaper to ship one direction than the other. 

Seasonal Freight Shipping Rates

As the increase in demand from retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers increases for the holidays and new year, you’ll realize LTL and truckload rates equally increase. The shipping industry’s peak season starts with back-to-school goods and fall fashion items and ends with holiday shipping. Retail stores always want to stock enough products they expect to sell for Christmas and Thanksgiving way ahead of time. 

Factors Affecting Tradeshow Freight Forwarding Costs

The stability in shipping rates, like every other expense, is a legitimate concern for tradeshow exhibitors. The country’s shipping capacity was already getting thinner way before the recent boost in manufacturing. Coupled with the restricted hours of service governing carriers, there is an increased shortage of equipment and hyped shipping rates. Other factors that contribute to the high shipping rates include:

  • The ELD mandate that aims to enhance the safety of drivers and simplify tracking and sharing of records of duty status (RODS). 
  • Natural disasters and weather patterns like hurricanes, snowstorms, wildfires, etc.

The tradeshow freight forwarding rates may increase subtly or drastically, depending on market conditions like demand/supply and fuel prices.

How to Manage your Freight Rates

Here are some very simple steps you can take to help keep your freight costs in check: 

  1. Avoid shipping several boxes of marketing materials. Instead, distribute them electronically. Utilize interactive technology and smart graphics to showcase some of your bulky products instead of displaying everything in the booth.
  2. Be smart and creative in your logistics planning this time of year.  Plan to reduce the overall weight and volume.
  3. Design custom exhibits with lightweight display systems that pack down tight and light. This helps to reduce the number of crates and weight you’ll have to ship to and from the tradeshow.

If you’re looking to save on your tradeshow freight forwarding costs, AMR Group has a long-standing track record in handling tradeshow exhibits and products worldwide with zero failure. Whether its small boxes or large crated exhibits and products, we’ve got you covered. We ship to and from various locations around the world, including France, UAE, Russia, UK, Germany, Norway, India, Japan, Canada, China, Indonesia, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and the United States. Contacts us today for any inquiries concerning tradeshow freight forwarding!

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Shipping

Posted

December 18, 2019 at 10:03 am

3 Ways to Overcome Holiday Shipping Challenges

Overcoming Holiday Shipping Challenges

A whopping 2.5 billion packages were shipped during the 2018 holiday season. With the 2019 holiday shopping season right around the corner, now is the time to make sure that you’re prepared for any shipping challenges associated with preparing for your vendor or tradeshow events. Here are a few things you can do to make sure your event materials arrive on time and within budget throughout the holiday season and into the new year.

1. Make Sure to Keep Your Materials and Supplies Well-Stocked

One way to minimize the amount of time it takes your tradeshow materials to arrive at their final destination is to check that you have the materials on-hand. If you don’t, you’ll have to re-order supplies and wait for them to arrive before you can even prepare them for tradeshow freight forwarding.

Not only does this add to the total time it takes to send your materials to your intended destination, but your incoming shipments may potentially be delayed due to high holiday shipping volumes. Instead, try to anticipate what items you’ll need throughout the holiday season, and order them ahead of time. 

2. Increase Your Shipping Budget for the Holidays

Not only does a higher than normal package volume potentially delay your tradeshow shipments, but you also have to account for the days package and tradeshow freight forwarding companies might be closed around the holidays. If a company closes its operations for a day or two, this will impact the arrival time for your materials.

One workaround for this potential problem is to increase your shipping budget for the holidays. Often, the cheapest shipping options are the first affected by holiday shipping woes. If you have extra funds to upgrade your event shipments to a quicker delivery option, this will help you ensure your materials arrive on time during periods where standard shipping options may be too slow for your needs.

3. Utilize a Company That Specializes in Handling Tradeshow Shipments

Consider utilizing a company, like AMR Group, that specializes in handling tradeshow shipments to see your event necessities make it on-time to their intended destinations. AMR Group has a variety of shipping options that can help your items arrive on time.

4.  Overseas Holiday Schedules May be Very Different from those in the U.S.                            

Of course, we all understand that Christmas is not a holiday in most Middle Eastern countries so there may be limited delays due to closures.  But in Europe for example many countries take many more days off for to celebrate the holidays.  Some countries may include days off that Americans are not familiar with.  An example of this is Boxing Day celebrated the day after Christmas in the UK and other Commonwealth countries.

AMR Group has ample experience shipping tradeshow materials and also knows how increases in holiday shipping volumes have historically impacted delivery times for events around the holidays. We can provide recommendations that will help your materials arrive on time and within your budget. Please contact us at 702-800-6385 or request a rate.

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Follow These Tips to Ensure Your Tradeshow Goes Off Without a Hitch

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Blog

Posted

October 18, 2019 at 9:49 am

Proactive Planning Tips to Help Your Next Tradeshow Go Smoothly

Proactive Planning Tips to Help your Next Tradeshow Go Smoothly

Even the most experienced business travelers are often challenged when it comes to planning for tradeshows. Hundreds of companies from different countries attend these events, so you must put your best foot forward to avoid wasting time and money. Here are practical travel tips for your next tradeshow.

Charge All Electronics Before Traveling
Nowadays, you want to stay connected with friends and business partners at all times, because anything can happen. You can’t risk being inaccessible when people need you most. Charge your gadgets before leaving the house.

Pack Wisely
Check the weather forecast as well. The weather will dictate which type of clothes you need. In addition, remember to check to see if there is a dress code for the tradeshow.

Packing a mobile pantry is also a great decision. Tradeshows often mean long days for exhibitors. Keeping snacks on-hand will help you stay focused and energized throughout the day. Better yet, bring snacks for your entire booth team! They will love you for it. Keep in mind that for international shows you should try to carry these items in your luggage instead of shipping.

Plan for Transportation Fare
Traveling to convention centers from airports can be tricky. A cab is an excellent means of transportation, but it can be expensive. Public transit systems, such as buses or trains, are cheaper and often safer, as there are more people around. Apps like Uber and Lyft are also ideal because they are often cheaper than taxis and their apps offer security features to ensure you have a safe ride.

Ship Your Exhibit Materials Early
The best thing you can do to prepare for a tradeshow is ship your event items early, so they arrive before you do. AMR Group is one of the leading tradeshow logistics companies in the world. We have a secure international connection of agents and partners and are ready to assist with all of your shipping needs. Contact us today at 702-800-6385 to learn more.

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