Complaints piling up against Parallel Importers

[Mysupercar]

Extracted from The Straits Times Friday, 18 May 2007 H10 - Home

 

"189 grievances in 4 months, according to consumer watchdog.

 

Parallel Importers might be giving authorised car agents a run for their money,

but they are also notching up the bulk of complaints from buyers.

 

 

>> WATCH LIST:

 

Vehical Parallel Importers with 5 or More Complaints

 

Jan to April 2006:

-Auto Magic 9;

-Car Resources 13;

-Chip Guan Credit 6;

-GV Credit 7;

-Hua Yang 6;

 

 

Jan to April 2007:

-Carmax 5;

-Cars Motor Enterprise 10;

-Chuan Car International 5;

-Golden Vision 5;

-Hua Yang 9;

-Kent Corp 10;

-Koh Brothers 19;

-Motor Traders 10;

-Pinnacle Motors 10;

-Shun Heng 11;

 

Source: Consumers Association of Singapore."

 

---

 

It's good for the consumers to know all these infamous PI.

 

Is your PI one of these?

 

Any close encounter and experience with them?

 

Perhaps the list should be longer than that, and you would like to share?

Edited May 18, 2007 by Mysupercar

[Boxster]

Wah last time nearly buy from one of the listed one.

But just wonder what are the complains about?

[EventH]

What about the ADs ...no complains?

[Mysupercar]

Case said complaints against PI often pertain to a refusal to return deposits.

 

Typically, the vendor assures consumers that they will have no problem obtaining car loans and ask them to pay a deposit for their cars.

But when consumers find out that their loans are not approved, they are unable to get back the deposit.

 

Other common grouses include delays - sometimes for months - in securing a COE.

and more....

[Mysupercar]

Yes, there are, but according to the report their numbers are small when compared to the volume of cars they sell.

[Boxster]

Yah I think loans are a headache with those cash rebate thing.

Just like eg. after rebate is $50,000 and without is maybe $54,000.

 

Maybe the buyer will think twice or go try some other dealers who are able to secure a loan for them.

 

But I think the dealers should return the deposit and be gentalman lah.

Buy my recent experience with PIs noticed that majrity are not very clear card and salesman use differens sort of tactics

[EventH]

Don't forget that some AD sells lotsa of taxis,

that kinda corp customers cannot fool around one;

everything must have std, if not how to get ISO.

 

Are those added to the total sold by ADs?

[Wilb]

I dont get what you mean.

 

Why loans are a headache. AD also has loans and cash rebate.

All PI should be able to secure a loan infact, if not how are they going to sell their car (Customer take one box of 60k cash to their office..

Cash rebate is for people who are not planning to hold their car for short term. Actually buy car, it is better not to take PI cash rebate IMHO.

 

I believe that some of this problem can be due to the COE spike increase.

Not easy to bid with that price.

[Wilb]

The listed company by CASE also got PI with ISO wan leh

[EventH]

what to do? Big purchases must go in with eyes open big big ... don't be tempted by some super low prices.

[Boxster]

Well if you visit some of the car dealers (i don't call them parallel car importers) they promise you a price that is almost 5-8k diff. Which includes rebate if you take up a loan of 10 yrs at 3.(something) %. If the bank don't approve yr loan, yr dealer have to sell you the car without the rebate which is higher. At that moment yr deposit is already with them.

 

"All PI should be able to secure a loan infact, if not how are they going to sell their car (Customer take one box of 60k cash to their office.. "

 

Althought you've heard alot of ppl taking loan I think you have to ask around because there are still a lot of ppl paying the car in cash (cheque if yr dealer trust you or cashier order) in full.

Don't need to bring a piggy bank to there lah .

Edited May 19, 2007 by Boxster

[Picanto]

ISO does not mean that the PI is honest. its all about the business ethics of the boss. if the top man is the dishonest type, we cannot expect the lower level staff to have much integrity.

[Djcoolmax]

if I am not mistaken, the bosses from C?r Res?urc?s changed the company name to K?nt C?rp. Different name.. same practice?

 

If you are going to buy PI cars, then you must ask yourself, is the company going to be around even after you bought the car? So what if they promise you 3yrs or even 10 yrs warranty... they close shop, how?

[Darth_mel]

If you pronounce ISO slowly, it sounds likes "I A$$hole".

 

So draw your conclusion from that.

[Route88]

Good info

[Ghostrider]

Now only 1 side of the story only...we won't know who the devils and angels are.

 

Off course knowing who the ones that kenna complain a lot will help when shopping around. My take is that 1-2 maybe the customer is hard to handle...but if more than 5....then something is wrong with the company.

[Marquee]

aiya...i think this is also a propaganda lah.

 

I dun believe if nobody complained abt BM, TC or KM.

 

I personally have good experience with one of the parallel importer listed above.

[Impala]

in the end did u bought the car from the PI listed above?