Who Is Selling Soggy Imports?
On behalf of the Independent Motor Vehicle Dealers Association
November 2, 2000
JUST WHO IS
SELLING
SOGGY IMPORTS?
Water damaged vehicles
arriving in this country will be sold off to unsuspecting
buyers by illegal traders posing as private sellers at car
fairs, roadsides and in newspapers and licensed motor
vehicle dealers and the public are angry they can do nothing
about it!
David Lynn, CEO of the 400 member Independent
Motor Vehicle Dealers Association (IMVDA) says
investigations have revealed that soggy vehicles are being
imported and sold by illegal traders posing as private
sellers.
Mr Lynn says the legitimate motor trade has
called on successive Governments to provide consumer
protection and clamp down on illegal traders but there has
been no action.
He says anyone buying a “new” import
privately could unknowingly end up with a soggy vehicle and
get badly stung.
Mr Lynn says IMVDA members were warned
to be wary of soggy imports a month ago.
Japanese sources
alerted the IMVDA when New Zealand interests were seeking
flood-damaged vehicles and information was immediately
passed onto Land Transport Safety Authority, and the
Minister of Customs and Consumer Affairs.
He says
licensed dealers have been flooded with offers of water
damaged vehicles but only one is known to have ordered a
shipment and he is not an IMVDA member. It is not known if
those vehicles were subsequently shipped to New
Zealand.
He says no self respecting IMVDA member would be
seen dead selling soggy imports to the public because of the
potential risks. (more)
- Soggy imports – 2
An 0800
Dud Deal hotline established last month has brought in
hundreds of complaints from car buyers ripped off by illegal
traders posing as private sellers.
Public calls to the
IMVDA also reflected anger that soggy vehicles could be
imported with impunity with no buyer protection.
But at
the same time the public just doesn’t seem to get the
message, Mr Lynn says – buy an import privately and you can
get badly stung.
He says licensed dealers offer full
protection of consumer legislation and access to a dedicated
Tribunal in the event of a dispute.
He says private
sellers are not subject to Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal,
do not pay GST or taxes, and are in it for a quick
buck.
He says imports for commercial resale should be
restricted to licensed motor vehicle dealers in the
interests of consumers and road safety.
End end