savings on expensive products bought in the United States.

Joshua Bate Trading has been set up almost exclusively to help Bermudians beat the Island's high prices.

The company will arrange for the purchase, shipment and delivery to Bermuda of overseas goods above a certain price range.

All customers have to do is dial a free `1-800' number -- one of the few operating in Bermuda -- and tell the firm's owner, Mr. Joshua Bate, what they want.

Mr. Bate formed his business almost a year ago and runs it from his home in Randolph, New Jersey.

"People can make great savings by purchasing in the United States,'' he said.

"For example, one Bermudian saved himself $1,100 by using me to buy a new 22 cubic feet refrigerator.

"The total landed price, including freight and delivery, came to $1,300, whereas the same product would have cost him $2,400 in Bermuda.'' Mr. Bate is aware that his service is likely to infuriate local traders and does nothing for Bermuda's balance of payments.

But he said Bermudians had a right to obtain the best value for their money.

"People in the US say `buy American' and people in Bermuda say `buy Bermudian', which is only natural,'' he said.

"But everyone has the right to get the best deal they can and I'm offering them the means to get that.'' Any money which Bermudians saved on foreign purchases was likely to be pumped back into the Bermudian economy anyway, he added.

The main expense of his business is operating the free `1-800' telephone number, which cannot normally be dialled from Bermuda.

"They are available from Bermuda but you have to have the patience of a saint to get it all done,'' he said.

"I had to negotiate with a few long distance carriers before one would provide the service and then had to wait a few months before it was connected.'' All calls on his `1-800' number cost him $1 per minute.

"It's very expensive to run,'' he said. "I try to reduce costs by using the fax as much as possible.'' Mr. Bate, 30, has got hold of a local mailing list and is sending out several flyers advertising his service. Advertisements have also appeared in the local press.

He is operating on small profit margins in order to attain high volume and build up a client base.

"I'm not making much money at the moment, you can be sure of that,'' he said.

Mr. Bate has worked for a US retail firm and also in the construction and marine industries.

Joshua Bate Trading specialises in supplying building materials and marine supplies, as well as household appliances and entertainment systems.

"I founded my company with the goal of helping Bermudians find more direct sources for their needs,'' he said. "In the past several months, I have achieved many of my goals. I have saved my clients a lot of their hard-earned money on everything from dishwashers to marine engines,'' he said. "I have a reputation for being able to find just about anything.''