Yes, the email was from me. Again, we appreciate all your help in this. I do wonder if it is really possible to switch agents for this deal at this point, though. I understand that for an agent to represent you, La Hacienda has to have them on your official list of agents, that was part of our application to become licensed as importers. Putting someone else on that list may take time. This is a big part of the problem. The pedimento (customs papers) has to be dated this year or we won't be able to deduct the expense of the excavator from our taxes, and we'll take a big hit. As it stands, the excavator won't arrive at the border until the 7th, and our agent says it will take 5 days to clear, so that would be the 14th.
The good news is the customs agency does now say that the draft bill of sale i sent them would be enough to process the import, if the tax ID of the seller is added. I did it up using the invoice you posted as a template, putting in the same information in a similar fashion. Then i just tacked on a line saying 'received in payment - $xxxxx' (the full amount) and a place for the seller to sign, a place for us to sign, and space for a notary to sign it and seal it.
Legally that has to be enough. The customs agency does say they will have to take that and make another document from it that is formatted the way customs officials want, but say that's no big deal. And they asked for the seller's tax ID number, which i have to get (i sure hope they don't balk at giving me that).
At any rate, buying in the States is certainly worth it. If we tried to buy this machine here in Mexico, it would be nearly double the price.