Parallel Importers: Recommended ones/ones to avoid

[Blueray]

  On 11/15/2016 at 10:43 AM, Ct3833 said:

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/parallel-imported-car-salesman-charged-with-criminal-breach-of-trust-of

 

Parallel car importer salesman charged with criminal breach of trust of $415,000

 

I am a bit puzzled with this.

 

Means the customers made out the cheques to the salesman instead of the company ?  If so then a bit goondu right ?

 

 

of course a bit of a moot point now since the company itself is facing difficulties. 

[Ct3833]

  On 11/15/2016 at 11:00 AM, Blueray said:

I am a bit puzzled with this.

 

Means the customers made out the cheques to the salesman instead of the company ?  If so then a bit goondu right ?

 

 

of course a bit of a moot point now since the company itself is facing difficulties. 

Lets all of us not be too naive to believe that this is solely a con job of a young man.

First, if only one or two customers are conned into writing a personal check, then I have no comments. But  with so many buyers affected, the salesman could not possibly be able to con all the buyers to write personal check, there tends to be some smarter buyers among the group, if not all of them,  to smell rats.

Second, there are about 40 customers being affected based on report. This is not a big scale company, it will take them more than a month or more likely a few months to collect this amount of bookings. How would a boss not knowing that  there was no checks and no bookings was collected for months?

Third, long before this issue was exploded, there must have been  many customers calling up for updates, delivery, complaints, refund etc.  We believe that the boss, who runs a company that involved hundred k of sum be so unaware of what was happening for months?

This is certainly a con job of more than a young  man and hope this time round the authority could look into such cases more seriously. 

[Finclk]

Guys, what's the risk of buying a car, which just happens to not be directly imported by this particular PI? 

 

This PI is a direct importer themselves but sometimes they do not have certain models on hand so they buy from other PIs to sell.

 

What are the risks? What are things to watch out for? Can anything be checked or such info requested from the PI?

[Zeddersg]

  On 11/16/2016 at 6:44 AM, Finclk said:

Guys, what's the risk of buying a car, which just happens to not be directly imported by this particular PI? 

 

This PI is a direct importer themselves but sometimes they do not have certain models on hand so they buy from other PIs to sell.

 

What are the risks? What are things to watch out for? Can anything be checked or such info requested from the PI?

 

 

I think is a PI has financial problem, other PIs will surely know and would not sell their cars to that company.

[Ct3833]

  On 11/16/2016 at 6:44 AM, Finclk said:

Guys, what's the risk of buying a car, which just happens to not be directly imported by this particular PI?

 

This PI is a direct importer themselves but sometimes they do not have certain models on hand so they buy from other PIs to sell.

 

What are the risks? What are things to watch out for? Can anything be checked or such info requested from the PI?

The financial credibility of a PI is important. In this case you know that they import cars themselves. Try ask to see those imported cars physically. or better still if they could show you some importation documents under their company name.

 

Next you are trying to buy a car that they do not import themselves, you are dealing with them and they in turn deal with another supplier, the risk with that supplier to some extent is mitigated by this importer you are dealing with. If this importer is safe , your deal should be safe.

 

Relatively speaking, a company that imports cars themselves is more credit worthy than one who buy every single car from importers.

 

And share the name of the dealer here so that bros here in case bros here could share their experience with you.

 

Good luck.

Edited November 16, 2016 by Ct3833

[Auron]

  On 11/15/2016 at 2:41 AM, WSC said:

In this trade, it is common for them to close one company and open another one . Barrier to entry is 0. .. but the reward is unbelievable....

 

As usual ...option1 ..always buy from AD...if model not available .. buy from only top 3 - 5 PI in town .... if not , at least buy from the Casetrust PI ...you have S$50k covered by insurance company.... Consumer Protection is very minimal in car trade here.

which is the top 3 to 5 PI?

  On 11/16/2016 at 6:44 AM, Finclk said:

Guys, what's the risk of buying a car, which just happens to not be directly imported by this particular PI? 

 

This PI is a direct importer themselves but sometimes they do not have certain models on hand so they buy from other PIs to sell.

 

What are the risks? What are things to watch out for? Can anything be checked or such info requested from the PI?

 

in the first place, how u know the PI does not import the model them self? 

they share this piece of info to you?

 

i share in my earlier post, ask to see document of cargo clearance and LTA inspection cert...

i think i will ask the PI to show me to prove that they are direct importers...

and for car ready or VAC ready, i will ask them to show LTA documents... 

 

all these are some of the risk mitigation that i have managed to read off the net...

[WSC]

there is no official ranking in car trade here ... but i would use the more establised one as a guide... like Vincar , huayang, prime , leco ...etc . these are companies that have survived though the up and down cycle... 

 

 

 

  On 11/16/2016 at 2:26 PM, Auron said:

which is the top 3 to 5 PI?

 

[NewPriusOwner]

Like most of the others reading this thread, I was a little apprehensive about dealing with PIs, and in fact had spent weeks if not a couple of months reviewing units with AD showrooms.  

 

After the next to last COE round and Car expo, I got a little disappointed, both at the lack of enthusiasm from the AD salespersons I was talking to, and the fact that some ADs were increasing the prices of their cars every single COE round no matter whether Cat B went up or down (Subaru, I'm looking at you.  Crossed the Outback off my list for that reason!).

 

On a lark, I decided to research hybrids again, and eventually reduced my shortlist to a Vezel hybrid, Shuttle hybrid, and Prius.  I was particularly choosy about features and functions, and sgcarmart helped me zoom in on the one PI which had the features and specs that I was looking for.  I have posted my reasons for the choice under the Prius thread, and will not replicate that here.  It is pretty obvious who that PI is if you look for Type A Prius in sgcarmart.

 

I walked into the showroom on Monday Nov 7 with zero expectations.  By the end of the next day Tuesday Nov 8, I had test driven my choice of car, looked at the unit I wanted to purchase from their stock (took photographs of engine and chasis numbers and verified that the features I wanted were indeed present), discussed and agreed the trade in price for my old car, purchase price, financing terms, upgrades (leather color, head unit, mats, front and rear camera, change from standard rims), and paid the deposit.  Throughout that process, the SE (name of ST, figure that out), was patient with my revisits, questions, and frankly suspicious attitude, double checks, and obsession with the documents that needed to be present and terms that I needed to specify in my sales agreements.  There were PIs with cheaper list prices (lower reserve prices or lack of non-top up agreements) but I went for a higher price that had a Cat B COE rebate of 54K when ADs were advertising rebates of 45K, bid agreed at 59K with no top ups.

 

On Wed Nov 8 I secured my COE at the 56K+ level.  Looked at the LTA website and the PI had placed a bid with a reserve price of 60K. 

 

Yesterday, I received my car in good condition, with everything I asked for, including a 1 hour visit to a wheels and tyres shop to fit my specified rims.  Trade in of old car, and number retention went smoothly, with absolutely no issues.

 

I would strongly recommend the PI I used, and especially recommend my SE ST, who helped me ensure that I got the car I wanted, not just the car they wanted to sell me.  Please PM me if you're interested.

 

Obviously the next test would be whether the warranty service is everything as promised.  That's probably true no matter which PI you choose.  Fact of the matter is, going AD doesn't necessarily promise you better warranty coverage, as some others here would agree.

 

 

 

 

[Tohkokwee]

  On 11/19/2016 at 10:13 AM, NewPriusOwner said:

Like most of the others reading this thread, I was a little apprehensive about dealing with PIs, and in fact had spent weeks if not a couple of months reviewing units with AD showrooms.

 

After the next to last COE round and Car expo, I got a little disappointed, both at the lack of enthusiasm from the AD salespersons I was talking to, and the fact that some ADs were increasing the prices of their cars every single COE round no matter whether Cat B went up or down (Subaru, I'm looking at you. Crossed the Outback off my list for that reason!).

 

On a lark, I decided to research hybrids again, and eventually reduced my shortlist to a Vezel hybrid, Shuttle hybrid, and Prius. I was particularly choosy about features and functions, and sgcarmart helped me zoom in on the one PI which had the features and specs that I was looking for. I have posted my reasons for the choice under the Prius thread, and will not replicate that here. It is pretty obvious who that PI is if you look for Type A Prius in sgcarmart.

 

I walked into the showroom on Monday Nov 7 with zero expectations. By the end of the next day Tuesday Nov 8, I had test driven my choice of car, looked at the unit I wanted to purchase from their stock (took photographs of engine and chasis numbers and verified that the features I wanted were indeed present), discussed and agreed the trade in price for my old car, purchase price, financing terms, upgrades (leather color, head unit, mats, front and rear camera, change from standard rims), and paid the deposit. Throughout that process, the SE (name of ST, figure that out), was patient with my revisits, questions, and frankly suspicious attitude, double checks, and obsession with the documents that needed to be present and terms that I needed to specify in my sales agreements. There were PIs with cheaper list prices (lower reserve prices or lack of non-top up agreements) but I went for a higher price that had a Cat B COE rebate of 54K when ADs were advertising rebates of 45K, bid agreed at 59K with no top ups.

 

On Wed Nov 8 I secured my COE at the 56K+ level. Looked at the LTA website and the PI had placed a bid with a reserve price of 60K.

 

Yesterday, I received my car in good condition, with everything I asked for, including a 1 hour visit to a wheels and tyres shop to fit my specified rims. Trade in of old car, and number retention went smoothly, with absolutely no issues.

 

I would strongly recommend the PI I used, and especially recommend my SE ST, who helped me ensure that I got the car I wanted, not just the car they wanted to sell me. Please PM me if you're interested.

 

Obviously the next test would be whether the warranty service is everything as promised. That's probably true no matter which PI you choose. Fact of the matter is, going AD doesn't necessarily promise you better warranty coverage, as some others here would agree.

Bro can pm me the details of your deal and PI? Thanks.

[Sotong1977]

  On 11/15/2016 at 1:36 AM, t0y0ta said:

Please save your trouble and your money and buy from an AD.

Save your trouble and provide your advice on other matters. It's like telling people who dont bother buy travel insurance, people who drink drive, people who go into casino for that last shot etc... they have this mentality of it's just this one time and I will not get caught.. hopefully. When they do get caught, they will come in here to offer their sage advices. Edited November 20, 2016 by Sotong1977

[Sotong1977]

  On 11/16/2016 at 1:59 AM, Ct3833 said:

Lets all of us not be too naive to believe that this is solely a con job of a young man.

First, if only one or two customers are conned into writing a personal check, then I have no comments. But with so many buyers affected, the salesman could not possibly be able to con all the buyers to write personal check, there tends to be some smarter buyers among the group, if not all of them, to smell rats.

Second, there are about 40 customers being affected based on report. This is not a big scale company, it will take them more than a month or more likely a few months to collect this amount of bookings. How would a boss not knowing that there was no checks and no bookings was collected for months?

Third, long before this issue was exploded, there must have been many customers calling up for updates, delivery, complaints, refund etc. We believe that the boss, who runs a company that involved hundred k of sum be so unaware of what was happening for months?

This is certainly a con job of more than a young man and hope this time round the authority could look into such cases more seriously.

You may not know but there are pens in the market that allows the user to erase it and rewrite. Yes pen and not pencil. I seen it being used in a major car dealer by a SE. Be careful. Edited November 20, 2016 by Sotong1977

[therock]

  On 11/20/2016 at 4:14 AM, Sotong1977 said:

You may not know but there are pens in the market that allows the user to erase it and rewrite. Yes pen and not pencil. I seen it being used in a major car dealer. Be careful.

 

That may be so, but you get the carbon copy, and your company will send a printed contract with all the terms, freebies etc inside. At least, that's what C&C did.

[Sotong1977]

  On 11/20/2016 at 4:17 AM, therock said:

That may be so, but you get the carbon copy, and your company will send a printed contract with all the terms, freebies etc inside. At least, that's what C&C did.

You are right for the part on contract. But the cheque is a different matter. The rogue SE of Royal Auto may be using one.

[Blooper77]

  On 11/19/2016 at 10:13 AM, NewPriusOwner said:

Like most of the others reading this thread, I was a little apprehensive about dealing with PIs, and in fact had spent weeks if not a couple of months reviewing units with AD showrooms.

 

After the next to last COE round and Car expo, I got a little disappointed, both at the lack of enthusiasm from the AD salespersons I was talking to, and the fact that some ADs were increasing the prices of their cars every single COE round no matter whether Cat B went up or down (Subaru, I'm looking at you. Crossed the Outback off my list for that reason!).

 

On a lark, I decided to research hybrids again, and eventually reduced my shortlist to a Vezel hybrid, Shuttle hybrid, and Prius. I was particularly choosy about features and functions, and sgcarmart helped me zoom in on the one PI which had the features and specs that I was looking for. I have posted my reasons for the choice under the Prius thread, and will not replicate that here. It is pretty obvious who that PI is if you look for Type A Prius in sgcarmart.

 

I walked into the showroom on Monday Nov 7 with zero expectations. By the end of the next day Tuesday Nov 8, I had test driven my choice of car, looked at the unit I wanted to purchase from their stock (took photographs of engine and chasis numbers and verified that the features I wanted were indeed present), discussed and agreed the trade in price for my old car, purchase price, financing terms, upgrades (leather color, head unit, mats, front and rear camera, change from standard rims), and paid the deposit. Throughout that process, the SE (name of ST, figure that out), was patient with my revisits, questions, and frankly suspicious attitude, double checks, and obsession with the documents that needed to be present and terms that I needed to specify in my sales agreements. There were PIs with cheaper list prices (lower reserve prices or lack of non-top up agreements) but I went for a higher price that had a Cat B COE rebate of 54K when ADs were advertising rebates of 45K, bid agreed at 59K with no top ups.

 

On Wed Nov 8 I secured my COE at the 56K+ level. Looked at the LTA website and the PI had placed a bid with a reserve price of 60K.

 

Yesterday, I received my car in good condition, with everything I asked for, including a 1 hour visit to a wheels and tyres shop to fit my specified rims. Trade in of old car, and number retention went smoothly, with absolutely no issues.

 

I would strongly recommend the PI I used, and especially recommend my SE ST, who helped me ensure that I got the car I wanted, not just the car they wanted to sell me. Please PM me if you're interested.

 

Obviously the next test would be whether the warranty service is everything as promised. That's probably true no matter which PI you choose. Fact of the matter is, going AD doesn't necessarily promise you better warranty coverage, as some others here would agree.

Why so secretive need to PM?you are just advertising your own company.

 

You must be scared to reveal the company name and get called out by others right?

[NewPriusOwner]

  On 11/20/2016 at 5:43 AM, Blooper77 said:

Why so secretive need to PM?you are just advertising your own company.

 

You must be scared to reveal the company name and get called out by others right?

 

Conspiracy theory much?

 

If you were in the market for a Prius, a simple search would show you the one PI that carries the Type A.  If you're just trolling, please avoid wasting my and other readers' time.

 

Edited November 20, 2016 by NewPriusOwner

[Blooper77]

I am just worried that more people will be tricked by some shady PI that's all...so sound the warning

[NewPriusOwner]

  On 11/20/2016 at 5:21 PM, Blooper77 said:

I am just worried that more people will be tricked by some shady PI that's all...so sound the warning

Or I could accuse you of being a PI who shoots down compliments received by others in a useless attempt to protect your business. But that would be a silly, baseless accusation, and I would sound like you, so I won't lower myself down to that.. Edited November 21, 2016 by NewPriusOwner

[therock]

Keep calm and move on. Too much sarcasm and vitriol..

I appreciate your sharing.