Parallel Importers: Recommended ones/ones to avoid

[Flying_genie]

I few years, I paid deposit for a vehicle with Zion. Salesman promised a lot of specs customisation. A few days later, he called to say that specs cannot be changed, blah, blah,blah. Offered different specs for a top-up. I f-ed him and asked to deal with his manager. Same shit from the manager. I then told them that I want my deposit back as they were unable to fulfil the items in the contract. Got my money back within a week. I consider myself lucky.

 

My advice : take your deposit, walk away. If Zion can pull this stunt with your COE, there is no trust. Plenty of other fishes in the sea. Let their reputation be sullied.

[Freeder]

Hi everyone, i am a PI and I just started this business not too long ago. Before i get flamed and burnt, I would like to point out that i am posting here just to get advice from the general public on the steps i can take for my company to improve and provide a good buying experience for buyers.

 

*I am not advertising my services here and in fact my nick has no relation to my company's name as well*

 

So certain things I would like to ask if :

1. Other than reputation, what other factors do you guys look for when choosing a PI?

2. My company is small and I personally do not believe in the showroom concept as I believe it is just adding cost to operating expenses

and challenging the many other established dealers out there. So we work from an office. Is this an issue to buyers?

3. Re warranty, we purchase warranty from a few workshops and we want to provide the most comprehensive warranty out there even

though it will add to our costs. How important is the "brand or name" of the warranty provider to you as a buyer?

4. Someone mentioned that small companies are not really trust worthy and I do hope that my company doesn't get striked off by a potential

buyer just cos of that but i do understand that being a concern for some. What ways would you think we can use to earn the trust of buyers?

 

Just asking for advice guys so please do not flame me hor..

 

***Also, if inappropriate i would delete this post, just let me know please***

Hi.

Glad that u are trying to change the image of PIs here..

Only one request ....

FFS , prease prease do not employ badminton players and stuntmen...

Can get heart attack n schizophrenia dealing with these people

[Verzion2]

I think take back the money and move on. Unless you have money and energy to deal with them for a possibly no outcome eventuality.

 

Yes sir, got back my deposit already, my only loss is the time wasted and opportunity cost of not taking advantage of the COE difference 

since December.

 

Anyhow just wanted to share advice that when getting from PI make sure the sales manager indicates, no top-up

on the agreement. Mine just had 1.6 bids guaranteed COE but they did not write no top-up. Lesson learnt, as this was

my first time making a purchase from PI, sad to say it did not turn out well, even though Zion Auto is Casetrust certified and it was a luxury car hence a good $15k difference if I were to order it again from a different PI now.

Edited May 1, 2019 by Verzion2

[Ct3833]

Yes sir, got back my deposit already, my only loss is the time wasted and opportunity cost of not taking advantage of the COE difference

since December.

 

Anyhow just wanted to share advice that when getting from PI make sure the sales manager indicates, no top-up

on the agreement. Mine just had 1.6 bids guaranteed COE but they did not write no top-up. Lesson learnt, as this was

my first time making a purchase from PI, sad to say it did not turn out well, even though Zion Auto is Casetrust certified and it was a luxury car hence a good $15k difference if I were to order it again from a different PI now.

Glad that you got back your money, at least they are honest enough to have returned your deposits, which also show that they are not a fly by night shop. It is unfortunate that PIs get caught in a difficult position when the COE is on the up trend, they wont be able to outbid ADs because of their thin margins. In fact most of them have a margin that is thinner than what is shown on paper because manybof them underdeclare their OMV, resulting in hidden cost that we dont get to see on paper.

[Scholesy]

Last Oct when I looking, I rem quite a few smaller PI quoting guaranteed price but at coe 27k. Anything more u top up. Coe was 31k then.

 

So dealing w the smaller ones really have to watch the terms as they need to use the low price to get orders. Big PI they dun play such. If they ready stock they actually wan to deliver asap to u. Mine was secured at first bid.

[TYU778]

Yes sir, got back my deposit already, my only loss is the time wasted and opportunity cost of not taking advantage of the COE difference

since December.

 

Anyhow just wanted to share advice that when getting from PI make sure the sales manager indicates, no top-up

on the agreement. Mine just had 1.6 bids guaranteed COE but they did not write no top-up. Lesson learnt, as this was

my first time making a purchase from PI, sad to say it did not turn out well, even though Zion Auto is Casetrust certified and it was a luxury car hence a good $15k difference if I were to order it again from a different PI now.

Hi Verzion2, I am caught in the same situation as you. Placed order from zion auto in dec with 1-6 bid guaranteed COE but till today they are unable to deliver claiming production issue. Is yours A class sports version?

[Verzion2]

Hi Verzion2, I am caught in the same situation as you. Placed order from zion auto in dec with 1-6 bid guaranteed COE but till today they are unable to deliver claiming production issue. Is yours A class sports version?

 

Yes TYU778 its a sports premium Merc A Class, they quoted OMV has gone up hence need to top up another $8K.

[binkoon94]

Case can’t do anything about this top up situation?

[Privacy]

Glad that you got back your money, at least they are honest enough to have returned your deposits, which also show that they are not a fly by night shop. It is unfortunate that PIs get caught in a difficult position when the COE is on the up trend, they wont be able to outbid ADs because of their thin margins. In fact most of them have a margin that is thinner than what is shown on paper because manybof them underdeclare their OMV, resulting in hidden cost that we dont get to see on paper.

That's the difference between a honourable PI and dishonourable...

[Tkseah]

Yes sir, got back my deposit already, my only loss is the time wasted and opportunity cost of not taking advantage of the COE difference

since December.

 

Anyhow just wanted to share advice that when getting from PI make sure the sales manager indicates, no top-up

on the agreement. Mine just had 1.6 bids guaranteed COE but they did not write no top-up. Lesson learnt, as this was

my first time making a purchase from PI, sad to say it did not turn out well, even though Zion Auto is Casetrust certified and it was a luxury car hence a good $15k difference if I were to order it again from a different PI now.

Think Zion also happy that u willing to take back deposit. Otherwise contractually they are obligated to deliver your car at the agreed price without top up.

[vinmig]

Yes TYU778 its a sports premium Merc A Class, they quoted OMV has gone up hence need to top up another $8K.

It’s not the omv increased.

It’s the coe which went up.

If they bid for you, they will lose $$ due to current coe.

If coe did not go up much, they will bid for you.

So casetrust does not mean you get car too.

I was often asked if my company is casetrust...

casetrust can be Purchase Btw

[Privacy]

I would fight the company till the end.

Its unfair clause. Go talk to a lawyer. Sending a letter should be way below 8k.

[Verzion2]

I would fight the company till the end.

Its unfair clause. Go talk to a lawyer. Sending a letter should be way below 8k.

 

No la last thing I want is to bankrupt the company, people will lose their deposits. Important thing is to provide awareness out there, 

so other buyers learn from my mistake.

Edited May 2, 2019 by Verzion2

[Jae0303]

The way they advertised is misleading too. Price is way too low below market price.

[Verzion2]

The way they advertised is misleading too. Price is way too low below market price.

 

Yea man, I signed for $132K for the A class (non-AMG Line) still asked to top up, imagine that.

Edited May 2, 2019 by Verzion2

[jlote]

Hi.

Glad that u are trying to change the image of PIs here..

Only one request ....

FFS , prease prease do not employ badminton players and stuntmen...

Can get heart attack n schizophrenia dealing with these people

[Freeder]

Good to hear that.. can sense your sincerity in providing good customer svc...

End of the day, pls dun let Greed overcome you in the long term as integrity and reputation are priceless..

Have a Give and Take mentality & you will have a successful business ahead..

All the Best in your future endeavors..

Shalom.

[Othello]

The way they advertised is misleading too. Price is way too low below market price.

 

Misleading ? in what way ? The 2 ** quite prominent mah 

 

It's to attract greedy & naive people ...  who will then post their lousy experiences here