Merc UK tell me they wont sell to irish customers!!!

arsebiscuit100 · 29-04-2014 03:43PM #1

As per the thread title, a main merc dealer (not a franchise) are telling me they WONT sell me a car as I'm exporting it! What the hell is this absolute bull****!

Has anyone else come across this problem??

Any input would be very welcome - as I had booked a flight and was ready to go over and do a deal.

bazz26 · 29-04-2014 03:48PM

Sounds like BS to me. Merc dealers here import cars and sell them on all the time. Have you tried another dealer within a reasonable distance? Maybe contact Mercedes UK also and ask them for clarification? I'm sure they will be interested to know if one of their dealers has incorrect information.

arsebiscuit100 · 29-04-2014 04:24PM

bazz26 wrote: »

Sounds like BS to me. Merc dealers here import cars and sell them on all the time. Have you tried another dealer within a reasonable distance? Maybe contact Mercedes UK also and ask them for clarification? I'm sure they will be interested to know if one of their dealers has incorrect information.

Yes, they do - but are they buying off main mercedes uk dealerships - or from third party dealers OR auctions??

Moneymaker · 29-04-2014 07:32PM

Phone Mercedes UK and try clear it up.

I doubt there'd be an issue, unless Mercedes hate money or something.

noelf · 29-04-2014 09:05PM

arsebiscuit100 wrote: »

As per the thread title, a main merc dealer (not a franchise) are telling me they WONT sell me a car as I'm exporting it! What the hell is this absolute bull****!

Has anyone else come across this problem??

Any input would be very welcome - as I had booked a flight and was ready to go over and do a deal.

since your going over anyway and you still like the car just flash the cash oh are they breaking any EU rules in doing this

colm_mcm · 29-04-2014 09:06PM

Are mercs actually cheaper in the uk?

randy hickey · 29-04-2014 09:23PM

OP, if what you're saying is true, and I've no reason to doubt you, surely this leaves the dealership in breach of European legislation on say the free movement of goods and services within the EU, restrictive practices etc.?

mickdw · 29-04-2014 09:27PM

I've heard this before a few years back when it was an absolute no brainer. The time bmw introduced the 'sterling collection'.
Buy a genuine car from independent dealer. Problem solved.

colm_mcm · 29-04-2014 09:29PM

Oops, I thought it was a brand new car for some reason.

L-M · 29-04-2014 09:32PM

colm_mcm wrote: »

Oops, I thought it was a brand new car for some reason.

Me too, maybe because the fact that it's a second hand car makes it even more ridiculous.

h3000 · 29-04-2014 09:36PM

colm_mcm wrote: »

Oops, I thought it was a brand new car for some reason.

+1

arsebiscuit100 · 29-04-2014 10:49PM

Hi folks. Thanks for all the posts. I've an email in with Merc UK customer services - asking them to explain themselves! I can only imagine they are facilitating the manufacturers irish distributor...I mean...I simply can't see any other earthly reason for this policy....

arsebiscuit100 · 29-04-2014 10:50PM

Hi folks. Thanks for all the posts. I've an email in with Merc UK customer services - asking them to explain themselves! I can only imagine they are facilitating the manufacturers irish distributor...I mean...I simply can't see any other earthly reason for this policy....

p.s. Yes, its a second hand purchase - not new car sale. Maybe there would be some sense in the policy if it were a new car purchase but its not.

noelf · 29-04-2014 11:20PM

What merc are you going for op and are the savings worth the hassle ..

hfallada · 29-04-2014 11:24PM

It could be just basic price discrimination ( proper economics term). It's when a seller says the same good in the same market for different prices. Usually because the seller knows some buyers will pay more. For this to work arbitrage must be in place. This is prevent the seller buying a cheaper car in one place and selling it higher in another.

The dealer could just be taking advantage of price discrimination. I know someone who tried to buy a projector from the brand in the UK as it was half the price of Ireland. My friend was told they Dont sell to Ireland and he must use an agent that charged double

arsebiscuit100 · 30-04-2014 01:23AM

noelf wrote: »

What merc are you going for op and are the savings worth the hassle ..

It's turned out to be a fair point. However, there was no reason why this shouldn't be anything other than straightforward. There are savings - of a couple of grand. Flight cost 20 euro - and plan was to do a deal on the day and drive straight back.
Without these types of surprises, then it should be well worth the 'hassle' - and should be no more painful than driving to the opposite corner of the country over here to purchase a motor.

hfallada wrote:

It could be just basic price discrimination ( proper economics term). It's when a seller says the same good in the same market for different prices. Usually because the seller knows some buyers will pay more. For this to work arbitrage must be in place. This is prevent the seller buying a cheaper car in one place and selling it higher in another.

The dealer could just be taking advantage of price discrimination. I know someone who tried to buy a projector from the brand in the UK as it was half the price of Ireland. My friend was told they Dont sell to Ireland and he must use an agent that charged double..

So - at some stage, the main Merc dealer in ROI canvassed Merc UK to turn Irish customers away? How can this be acceptable or for that matter, legal?

Chris_Heilong · 30-04-2014 01:54AM

Its an open EU market, you can buy any car and do anything you like with it.

arsebiscuit100 · 30-04-2014 01:56AM

Chris_Heilong wrote: »

Its an open EU market, you can buy any car and do anything you like with it.

Not as far as Merc UK are concerned, Chris!

P_1 · 30-04-2014 01:58AM

arsebiscuit100 wrote: »

Not as far as Merc UK are concerned, Chris!

Have you pointed the EU free movement facts of life out to them? That'd be your first move I'd wager.

arsebiscuit100 · 30-04-2014 02:56AM

P_1 wrote: »

Have you pointed the EU free movement facts of life out to them? That'd be your first move I'd wager.

I've emailed merc uk head office - asking them to explain the basis for this 'policy' and for them to confirm that it is in fact, their 'policy'.

BMJD · 30-04-2014 10:01AM

What is stopping you from rolling up at the dealers with a bag of cash, buying car and driving off, am I missing something here?

arsebiscuit100 · 30-04-2014 10:46AM

BMJD wrote: »

What is stopping you from rolling up at the dealers with a bag of cash, buying car and driving off, am I missing something here?

What is stopping me is that they have already told me straight up - they won't deal with me as I'm based in ROI! I wouldn't mind but the two cars I was interested in are with 2 Mercedes dealerships (not franchised dealers) - and story is the same with both.

arsebiscuit100 · 30-04-2014 11:27AM

Well, I got my answer from MB UK. Sorry you are dissatisfied....please contact M.B. IRL - with email and telephone number provided.

:-(

Blatant protectionism...and who would have lobbied for that? No prizes for coming up with the answer...

colm_mcm · 30-04-2014 11:29AM

Contact the press

BMJD · 30-04-2014 12:55PM

Trading Standards might be worth contacting as well

carsfan · 30-04-2014 12:56PM

Is it just dealers owned by mercedes uk that have this policy?
Can you buy from a franchised dealer and import?

mb1725 · 30-04-2014 12:58PM

colm_mcm wrote: »

Contact the press

Joe Duffy, Pavee Point , Council for Civil Liberties, Amnesty, UN, .......... !

arsebiscuit100 · 30-04-2014 01:05PM

colm_mcm wrote: »

Contact the press

I'm making them answer the questions I put to them. No intention of contacting MB IRL - why should I? What's it got to do with them? Nothing! Furthermore, my choice to 'export' the car is my own bloody business - that's neither the business of MB UK or MB IRL.

carsfan wrote:

Is it just dealers owned by mercedes uk that have this policy?
Can you buy from a franchised dealer and import?

Yes, just their actual dealerships in so far as I understand. I think if it was a franchised dealer, then they would deal.
Yes, trying other options. However, as you can imagine, there's complexity with buying overseas and bringing back - between financing options (the mechanics of getting them paid) - and time available. It was/is frustrating as they just happened to have 2 cars I had shortlisted - within half an hour of the airport I'm flying into. It's difficult enough to sort out without this pathetic protectionism of vested interests coming into the mix!

randy hickey · 30-04-2014 01:16PM

Taken from this website:

(The bold text is my emphasis)

"1. What can I do if I suspect that a business practice restricts competition?

In your daily life, you may come across situations in which there are signs of business practices which may restrict competition, such as those described in this site. For instance, companies have sometimes refused to accept orders from consumers from other Member States. Such a refusal may be a sign of illegal, restrictive practices and you may want to inform a competition authority about them.

Step 1: Decide which competition authority to inform

If the situation you have encountered is specific and limited to the country or the area in which you live, or involves no more than three Member States you may in the first place want to contact a national competition authority. The competition authorities of all EU Member States now apply the same competition rules as the European Commission and very often they are well placed to deal with your problem. If you think that a larger number of Member States are concerned, you may primarily choose to contact the European Commission.

Even if you are unsure about the scope of the problem, do not hesitate to contact either the European Commission or a national competition authority. The authorities cooperate and may allocate a case that could arise from your report between them as appropriate."

OP, I would definitely be taking this further.According to that particular website, your first port of call should be with the national consumer association in the UK.To complicate things, there has recently been a restructuring of this area in the UK in the last few weeks, but this should point you in the right direction:

"On 1 April 2013, local authority Trading Standards Services took on the lead role in enforcing consumer protection law, including at the national level. The OFT, and from 1 April 2014 the CMA, retains powers to enforce consumer law, with lead responsibility on unfair contract terms, using them to tackle widespread practices and market conditions that make it difficult for consumers to exercise choice or to seek out the best deal - for example, where consumers are prevented from switching suppliers by unfair contracts or where misleading pricing practices are widely used. On 1 April 2014 these powers transferred to the CMA."

(Taken from:http://www.oft.gov.uk/about-the-oft/work-and-responsibilities#.U2DoMq1dV5g )

Hth.

noelf · 30-04-2014 04:09PM

arsebiscuit100 wrote: »

Well, I got my answer from MB UK. Sorry you are dissatisfied....please contact M.B. IRL - with email and telephone number provided.

:-(

Blatant protectionism...and who would have lobbied for that? No prizes for coming up with the answer...

Well it will be interesting to hear what mb ireland come up with now I vaguely recall a car manufacturer being fined heavily for this several years ago by the EU

lomb · 30-04-2014 09:35PM

Easy solution, get a UK postal address and mobile sim. I have one that looks like a real address. Ring up another dealer, give the address and contact number and place the deposit, fly over and pre wire the cleared funds to their bank account (should be very safe). Keep your mouth shut about export.
I considered buying a 6mo old C220 as Merc UK cut the price 10k stg as a new models out but went no further. Drove an E220 cdi with the same engine and was dreadful tbh. Id rather an older 3.2 diesel or v8 petrol.

Merc UK tell me they wont sell to irish customers!!!

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