Importing advice

The_Shotz

Hi everyone,

After reading the very helpful post about the ultimate guide to importing in this forum, I am now considering buying a car in UK.

Can anyone recommend a good car transport company which acts as a third party for an import? I.E I pay the transporter who holds the money and if I am satisfied with the delivery the seller is paid and if not I am refunded?

I was currently told to use http://www.uk-shippers-limited.co.uk/ as recommended by the seller. I am a bit suspicious all the same as the website has a contact page but no phone number and the head office appears to be a house.

Any help or experience of this would be great.

Lellostag

You could of course fly over yourself and then drive it back? Shouldn't be a huge price difference compared to using a transport company...

The_Shotz

Lellostag wrote: »

You could of course fly over yourself and then drive it back? Shouldn't be a huge price difference compared to using a transport company...

That's the plan for the UK part, the seller is based in Denmark with the car as he recently moved and purchased a LHD, so the plan is to ship the RHD car 2012 Avensis from Denmark to UK and then I'd pick it up

R.O.R

The_Shotz wrote: »

That's the plan for the UK part, the seller is based in Denmark with the car as he recently moved and purchased a LHD, so the plan is to ship the RHD car 2012 Avensis from Denmark to UK and then I'd pick it up

Can anyone else hear the alarm bells?

The_Shotz

R.O.R wrote: »

Can anyone else hear the alarm bells?

That's my thinking, said I'd put it up to see if anyone else had something similar happen.

savagethegoat

usually they say the car is in Spain I think.....

punisher5112

Run run doughal quite fast.


Do not get stung by such a scam.

It nearly happened to me years ago talked to seller done out all info was given shipping details and a video of car etc....

I luckily looked up shipping company who had a great well done web site..

Emailed them and got a reply but a dodgy email but also rang and the no. Didn't exist.

Be very very careful op.

JC01

Sounds a lot like a scam and why take the risk for an avensis? There's any amount of them already here and in the UK for that matter

Lellostag

The_Shotz wrote: »

That's the plan for the UK part, the seller is based in Denmark with the car as he recently moved and purchased a LHD, so the plan is to ship the RHD car 2012 Avensis from Denmark to UK and then I'd pick it up

Ok, I see. That sounds a bit complicated, I'd be hesitant if I didn't know the seller and the car's history well. The seller might well be genuine and honest, but you could also be setting yourself up for disappointment...

Is the seller ok with you only paying for the car when you (or your mechanic) have inspected thoroughly in the UK, as in aware that you might not end up buying it if it's not as advertised?

Wasn't it the comedian David O'Doherty who had a little ditty about 'Alarm Bells'...?

The_Shotz

Lellostag wrote: »

Ok, I see. That sounds a bit complicated, I'd be hesitant if I didn't know the seller and the car's history well. The seller might well be genuine and honest, but you could also be setting yourself up for disappointment...

Is the seller ok with you only paying for the car when you (or your mechanic) have inspected thoroughly in the UK, as in aware that you might not end up buying it if it's not as advertised?

Wasn't it the comedian David O'Doherty who had a little ditty about 'Alarm Bells'...?

The seller said he is happy to send the car to the UK with the shipping company where I have 10 days to complete the inspection, if everything is as expected he is then paid

Half must be paid to the shipping company and on receiving the car and accepting is the other half is paid. (if I am not happy I receive a full refund)

I do however have concerns over the shipping company, if I could find my own shipping company I would offer that to him and if he refused I would know for certain it was dodgy.

It is a 2012 Toyota Avensis Estate, 40k miles for £5500, the price has me skeptical alone, his reason for the price drop is because it's based in Denmark.

The_Shotz

The reason I looked at it was the price as mentioned above, if something looks to good to be true it generally is!

I think the confirmation for me was the lack of phone number for the shipping company and when Google search the company can not be found only, when the full address is entered.

punisher5112

Op this is how scam works you pay the shipping company that does not exist and never see your money again.

Do not do it.

You have been warned.
nobody sells genuine cars like this.

bazz26

Ah come on, this type of scam has been around since Noah's Ark.

Tell him you are visting Denmark on business and can view and potentially buy the car while you are there. Then wait for the deafening silence or bs excuse that viewing is not possible.

Lellostag

The_Shotz wrote: »

The seller said he is happy to send the car to the UK with the shipping company where I have 10 days to complete the inspection, if everything is as expected he is then paid

Half must be paid to the shipping company and on receiving the car and accepting is the other half is paid. (if I am not happy I receive a full refund)

I do however have concerns over the shipping company, if I could find my own shipping company I would offer that to him and if he refused I would know for certain it was dodgy.

It is a 2012 Toyota Avensis Estate, 40k miles for £5500, the price has me skeptical alone, his reason for the price drop is because it's based in Denmark.

I would steer clear of this one, as I suspect you'll at least loose £2750 (payment on receiving the car) and it's unlikely the car (if you even get it) will be anything like advertised, provided the car actually exists (and is his to sell)...

The_Shotz

Thanks for all the replies lads, you have all confirmed my last night suspicions.

As if I needed more confirmation I see the said car was for sale in a Toyota garage for £11200 in August.

Lellostag

The_Shotz wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies lads, you have all confirmed my last night suspicions.

As if I needed more confirmation I see the said car was for sale in a Toyota garage for £11200 in August.

Good stuff, that's as good a proof as anything that it's a scam. Good luck in your continued search for a new(ish) car!