Some small car dealers who specialize in importing cars from Europe claim that their businesses are under enormous stress as a result of the police’s revelations last month about an international stolen vehicle band.
These separate dealers, who did not have any involvement in the ongoing investigation, claimed they were subject to the weight of public suspicion and economic harm, despite the sensitivity of the situation.
One trader in Christ Church, who has been importing used BMWs and Mercedes-Benz designs for a while, claimed the injury to his company was fast.
” Our smartphone stopped ringing, but we haven’t had a second vehicle flagged.” People “froze” when they hear the phrase “UK] United Kingdom ] car.
Anyone wants to take the risk, they say,” It makes no difference if we’ve often followed the rules.”
A different St. Michael seller reported last week that three prospective buyers had left deals because they had concerns about the origin of the vehicle.
They posed questions like,” Can you maintain the officers didn’t capture this a month from then?” I can show them every piece of paper, but now they want rights files and DVLA printouts from the past five years.
A second seller claimed that gaps in the Customs assessment process allowed the racket despite the rumored movement through reasonable channels that the vehicles involved in the smuggling band were.
” That’s a failure at the border if stolen vehicles were cleared by the port. Retailers rely on that program to spot red flags before a vehicle hits our lot, he said.
He explained that small manufacturers of German vehicles operate on small margins and rely on consumer trust, in contrast to larger company dealerships.
We lack agencies abroad or corporate legal groups. We handle the papers ourselves, and now that faith has been broken, we are in trouble.
Another importer, who imports Asian and German cars, expressed curiosity in his European imports.
have substantially decreased.
” Buyers now associate problem with Europe. They lump everyone in, even though the problem is particular to a band in the UK.
He added that press produces alone would not suffice to restore trust.
We require innovative systems, VIN [vehicle identification number ] verification of documents, clear criteria for document verification, and support from the government for public education. Then, the stigma will remain.
Authorities have not yet disclosed whether any local dealers were involved in the smuggling activity, but those who import from Europe have said they are facing some kind of financial sanctions independently.
” We’re the people trying to do things the right way, but over the course of a few days, we’ve become collateral damage.”
Small traders are getting ready for a challenging time as investigations are ongoing and consumers ‘ confidence is waning.
The St. Michael dealer said,” We built our standing over time.” If we can survive that long, it will take only as much to repair it.
More than 300 high-end cars were smuggled into Barbados, according to the Barbados Police Service’s report last month. At least a few of these vehicles, including BMWs, Audis, and Range Rovers, have already been seized.
According to investigators, the cars entered the area through reasonable ports with improved or cloned VINs and falsified paperwork. The automobiles were finally registered and sold to unwary buyers.
The discoveries have sparked a lot of concern among some customers and insurance companies.
The General Insurance Association of Barbados also issued a warning that insurance cover could be voided if a car is eventually discovered to have been stolen, even if the customer had acted in good beliefs. Some investors have lost faith in the UK and Europe’s import markets as a result of that notice. ( CLM)
The second story on nationnews.com: Business stalls for some little car dealers after con is exposed.
