Company that imports for you

Zane97

I just came across a company that buys/bids for you in the
uk. Anybody experience them ? Ukcarimports.ie . They display car prices heading for auction

bazz26

What obligation are you under to buy a car from them that they sourced that is not as described? These car sourcing type companies usually look for a hefty deposit upfront to cover them against you changing your mind. This could leave you with a battle to get your deposit back if the car is not in the condition you expected it to be in.

Most regular dealers now import used cars and carry a good selection that you can see in the flesh and test drive, have you tried any of them? The only way I would buy a car in the UK that I didn't seen or drive is if the likes of the AA did a full comprehensive check on it first.

Importer

Hi

Always good to hear that there is interest in what we do! I own and manage UK Car Imports. Its a newish model of accessing the UK market, has been done in different ways and as bazz26 mentions alot of used cars on sale are bought in from the UK. I guess our offer is based on price and choice while accessing the UK quality system.

SIMI report that 4500 cars are now coming in per month from the UK, but the UK has always been a significant exporter of used cars to Ireland.

Just to refer again to bazz26, his concerns are voiced daily to us, we have developed a process that aims to avoid a mismatch between expectations and vehicle condition. Ultimately we buy the car for the customer which greatly exceeds the deposit value, we guarantee to deliver the car as described through images and the professional assessment of our onsite buyer. We certainly don't want a situation where a buyer is unhappy and refuses to complete, we would be left with a car that wasn't meant for stock, it hasn't happened to date.

We have 17,000 cars online and we are very open about how we do business. Full HPI checking is standard. We offer the client every opportunity to test drive and have the car checked before completion of payment and like I said if the car isn't as described then you receive your deposit back in full.

Sobanek

Would you only import a car that's listed on your website or do you import individual vehicles from a source such as a dealer? For example CarGiant.

Importer

Hi Sobanek

We have extensive dealer network stock to choose from in the UK, most models and makes are represented in quantity. Part of the price offer we can deliver is based on our ability to buy cars at trade prices. Essentially we buy directly from wholesale, cutting out UK dealer margins. Having said that if you would like to buy outside of our network we can help in the pre-purchase inspection, shipping and Irish registration. Please feel free to contact me if I can be of further help in this.

Wheelnut

A member casually wonders about a company and within two hours the manager of that company has joined up and is setting out his stall, and seems to be online answering queries. Is this a coincidence?

Importer

Hi Wheelnut

Conspiracy theories abound! I dont know Robbie G, the initiator of this thread. Boards.ie is a significant social channel, I have membership under another name however I chose to be open about my identity, indeed you can see my name and my Linkedin profile on our site. I make no apology for being aware so early in the thread!

Supergurrier

Is there an initial charge for you to do a market search for a paticular car ?

At what stage is there an obligation to pay etc.

I only ask as im thinking of importing a car from the UK late next year and im sure you guys could find whats out there faster than i could.

mickdw

Are those your adverts on carzone with typically the lowest price for any given car model. If so, I think it's a terrible marketing idea. Those ads appear dodgy and I would never even consider them. The fact that the photos are from UK auction sites doesnt help either.
Advertising the cheapest car in the country of any given model together with the process of paying deposit up front doesn't inspire confidence.

Importer

Hi Supergurrier

We have access to a large choice of UK vehicles, most makes and models are present. Stock updates daily on our site. We do source to order on the same model as our dealer network vehicles.

Importer

Hi mickdw

The model isn't for everybody we are quite open about that. Our adverts reflect our website prices, perhaps the photo's on carzone could be better. The process of buying with us is much more granular and extensive photo's and feedback are given pre-purchase.

On the matter of the deposit, it is not untypical to put a deposit on a car either new or used when buying off a forecourt. Our process requires us to buy a vehicle at a clients request based on an extensive process of checks, to do so without a deposit would be bad business

Wheelnut

Importer wrote: »

... I have membership under another name however I chose to be open about my identity...

So if you are a member here already why did you not use your existing account and declare your interest?

Importer

Hi wheelnut

Fair point, I chose to do it this way

testicle

But you're not allowed to do it this way...

Zaph

Importer wrote: »

Hi wheelnut

Fair point, I chose to do it this way

Well I'd rather you didn't. As you are posting on behalf of a company I have to ask you to refrain from posting any further until you have obtained a verified rep account from the guys in the office. They can be contacted at reps@boards.ie

Please note that further posts without having first obtained a verified rep account will result in a siteban.

Wheelnut wrote: »

A member casually wonders about a company and within two hours the manager of that company has joined up and is setting out his stall, and seems to be online answering queries. Is this a coincidence?

Having run some checks I'm happy that the OP has no connection to the business mentioned.

Henry Ford III

If I was importing I'd research, find, shortlist, drive, negotiate, and finally buy thecar myself.

Importing is all about getting the maximum value - so why pay a middleman?

Cleveland Hot Pocket

Henry Ford III wrote: »

If I was importing I'd research, find, shortlist, drive, negotiate, and finally buy thecar myself.

Importing is all about getting the maximum value - so why pay a middleman?

But his business model is based on giving customers better value than is available domestically without the hassle of importing.

Not for me, but obviously (if the business works for him) there is a demand for it.

_Kaiser_

Henry Ford III wrote: »

If I was importing I'd research, find, shortlist, drive, negotiate, and finally buy thecar myself.

Importing is all about getting the maximum value - so why pay a middleman?

Because not everyone has the time, (mechanical) knowledge or confidence to do so themselves? Remember that most Irish people only see a car as a tool or status symbol (but only as far as the reg plate) which is why many cars sold 2nd hand are in shyte or base spec

Those sort of people aren't going to put the effort in that would be required to get a bargain. That and the "can't someone ELSE do it" of society generally these days.

Henry Ford III

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

But his business model is based on giving customers better value than is available domestically without the hassle of importing.

Not for me, but obviously (if the business works for him) there is a demand for it.

So if a car is say €2000 cheaper in the UK, how much of a saving will the end customer here make?

The guy isn't a charity or a caped hero of some kind.

NeVeR

If i see a car on your site I like and it's €10,000 excl. VRT -- what will the VRT cost ? - and what will my total paid for this car be when all is done

thanks.

Cleveland Hot Pocket

Henry Ford III wrote: »

So if a car is say €2000 cheaper in the UK, how much of a saving will the end customer here make?

The guy isn't a charity or a caped hero of some kind.

No certainly not.
But if it ends up being 1k cheaper than a car here to the end consumer, that's the end consumer happy as he saved 1k with no hassle, and this guy's business makes a 1k profit.

Tails142

I imported a car about 5 years ago.

Thinking of changing again this year, don't think I'll bother importing myself. I'll definitely be looking at a company like this to see if they can provide the spec of car I want at a competitive price.

Couldn't be bothered with going over myself to the UK to do the deal again.

PauloMN

I'd guess that a company doing this importing would need to be making a min of €500 to €1000 pure profit after costs to make it worth their while doing this business. If people have personally imported before and know the process, ins-and-outs etc., they must be well flush to not bother importing themselves again to save that sort of money.

The notion of putting a large, non-refundable deposit on a car I would never see or drive before buying would be completely unacceptable to me personally - although given how so many people care so little about their cars, I can see how the model would work.

It's obviously a service people want, so if someone can make a business out of it fair play to them.

Mc Love

I dont get this "hassle" people have, when I bought a car in the UK, it was probably the most hassle free transaction I ever experienced with that type of money!

I'd rather do as Henry suggested!

Did a search for a car I'm interested in but would have to pay quite a bit more to import it through UKCI than I would myself. Totally worth going yourself!

Henry Ford III

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

No certainly not.
But if it ends up being 1k cheaper than a car here to the end consumer, that's the end consumer happy as he saved 1k with no hassle, and this guy's business makes a 1k profit.

If you're prepared to hand over 50% of your advantage for a UK car I reckon you'd be mad.

MPH clocks etc. are still a headache when reselling.

JohnCleary

Looking at prices of a particular car (which I bought myself last week) and their prices EX. VRT are more expensive than I paid for an Irish car... from a main Mercedes dealer!

Either I got a bargain or their prices are too high

bazz26

Henry Ford III wrote: »

If you're prepared to hand over 50% of your advantage for a UK car I reckon you'd be mad.

MPH clocks etc. are still a headache when reselling.

From my experience this is not the case. I'm on my second UK import and never had any issue selling on the first one here. Nobody who came to view every passed any remark about the speedo being an issue. Still plenty of original Irish cars going around with mph speedos too.

Idbatterim

what car are you looking at OP?

Cleveland Hot Pocket

Henry Ford III wrote: »

If you're prepared to hand over 50% of your advantage for a UK car I reckon you'd be mad.

MPH clocks etc. are still a headache when reselling.

I would yes, which is why I would not use such a company.
However obviously some people do use him as he is still in business.

Xpro

I remember a few years ago,similar type of company Ukdirect flooding carzone with photos of cars from bca,menheim,etc, not physically in stock, underpricing the whole market.
I'll never forget when a certain person that was buying a 730d and was enquiring about a test drive and he was told to go to Joe Duffy Bmw, pretend that he was interested in their 730d and take it for a drive,and then come back and be told that our 730d will be even better then that.

JohnBoy26

The problem I see with this is everyones expectations are different, one person's idea of good condition is usually different to the next person's

With that in mind id rather go over and view a car myself and be totally confident of it's condition before buying. I might end up spending a little bit more this way but at least there is no risk of me losing any deposit.

Also with the way the uk salt their roads it's imperative that the car is given a proper inspection underneath for rust.

Tbh I can't see these middle men doing that sort of inspection, maybe im wrong though?

djPSB

Bought a nice car from the UK recently.

I had it home and VRTed for the less than the prices on that website. And those prices don't even include VRT.

Tikityboo

A few examples would help understand if there is any value in the service

djPSB? - others ?

JohnCleary

Tikityboo wrote: »

A few examples would help understand if there is any value in the service

djPSB? - others ?

I gave an example earlier

djPSB

Tikityboo wrote: »

A few examples would help understand if there is any value in the service

djPSB? - others ?

Bought a December 2009 VW Golf 1.6 TDI SE for €11,000. That's including VRT and all costs.

Car loaded with extras, cruise control, auto wipers, auto lights etc.

78000 miles.

15 month warranty.

Can't see anything on that website that represents better value.

Tikityboo

Guess you include your time and travel, shipping etc in that €11,000 ?

Cleveland Hot Pocket

djPSB wrote: »

Bought a December 2009 VW Golf 1.6 TDI SE for €11,000. That's including VRT and all costs.

Car loaded with extras, cruise control, auto wipers, auto lights etc.

78000 miles.

15 month warranty.

Can't see anything on that website that represents better value.

Tikityboo wrote: »

Guess you include your time and travel, shipping etc in that €11,000 ?

Kindof misleading if he didnt tbh

djPSB

Tikityboo wrote: »

Guess you include your time and travel, shipping etc in that €11,000 ?

I actually bought in the North so no flights or ferrys.

All other costs like NCT, Irish plates included in the €11,000. Didn't put a price on my time tbh, it's not that much hassle buying from the North really.

Also worth noting that I bought from a dealer who brought the car in from a UK auction so the prices you can buy for at auction are much lower than those on that website.

I think the website is a good idea but too pricey for me.

Tikityboo

wouldn't buy a nordy car myself - too many clocking happy types north of the border

shamwari

Tikityboo wrote: »

wouldn't buy a nordy car myself - too much clocking happy types north of the border

The risk is no bigger than down here TBH. I've usually bought privately up north from someone who's had the car a few years and has previous MOT's and service receipts. So far, so good.

A bigger problem though is salt on the roads up there. Due diligence and dirty knees take care of that

Cleveland Hot Pocket

Tikityboo wrote: »

wouldn't buy a nordy car myself - too many clocking happy types north of the border

What would you buy so?
All your posts have been negative to date.

Tikityboo

Half the north is lawless - so wouldn't buy there, wouldn't buy privately cause of the lack of backup, travelling to the UK to buy kind of appeals to me - bit of an adventure, dont have a trade in so probably get a good local deal - tbh still weighing it up - UK looks cheaper and better options

shamwari

Tikityboo wrote: »

Half the north is lawless

An unhelpful comment to put it mildly. Are we buying a car or trolling?

biko

Locked pending review.

Tikityboo

What?

Armagh, Fermanagh - constant references to lack of policing etc - no not trolling - typical of the opinion police - thats my opinion

I am buying and I am trying to weigh it up - let me know if you have any thoughts yourself on the best way to go

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

Mc Love wrote: »

I dont get this "hassle" people have, when I bought a car in the UK, it was probably the most hassle free transaction I ever experienced with that type of money!

I'd rather do as Henry suggested!

Did a search for a car I'm interested in but would have to pay quite a bit more to import it through UKCI than I would myself. Totally worth going yourself!

Completely agree. Saved myself around €3,000 this year by going over and bringing the car home. I imagine if I had someone else source the car for me and bring it back it would have cost me at least an extra €600. I have to do lots of work to make €600. Now thats what I call 'hassle'. If someone else can afford to spunk it away because they can't be arsed going over themselves then fair play, but I know the money is better off in my bank account.

biko

Thought I locked this.