Primetime - Kerbside Motors Report

BnA · 03-10-2007 1:12pm #1

Did anyone see the primetime report last night about "Roadside Motors" on primetime. If you didn't you can watch it here....(It's about 15 minutes long)

http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/1002/primetime_av.html?2294621,null,230

I have never seen such a mis-informed pile of utter scutter in my life.

Their main whinge was about cars being sold at the side of the road. And the main problem that they could come up with in this was that they could be a distraction to other drivers on the road. Yet, they could not come up with 1 single instance where a car parked on the side of the road with a For Sale sign on it has caused an accident.

But then, they went way off the point by p1ssing and moaning about the dangers of buying a car off someone who isn't a full time car dealer. There was an utter twat from SIMI moaning on about how there could be crashed cars or clocked and you have no come back. Now, he is right of course. But how is that any different from when you go to a dealer.

He said that the SIMI help line has had numerous calls about people having problems with cars they bought off the side of the road. But when the presenter asked him for any kind of numbers.... he had no answer..."Ahhh you can't put figures on a black market thing like that" "Sure who knows what they are..."

Also, he had the cheek to blow about their own help line. You only need to be a regular reader here to know you might as well be ringing up Busty Betty's hotline as ringing up the SIMI helpline to complain about one of their members.

He also p1ssed on about how all these Roadside dealers weren't regulated. But of course the presenter never asked him the simple question.... How are you regulated...?

They interviewed some Garage owner from Galway and the only thing that he could come up with that was unfair was that he had to pay rates and the small time fellas don't. But sure that's life. You get into any business in a big way, you have to get a big premises, you have to pay rates. You run a small business, part time from home, you got no premesis, you don't pay rates...!!!

Now, I don't have anything against Car dealers. But I do have a gripe with SIMI. Basically, being a member of SIMI means absoloutely nothing at all. Zilch... Nada... If I was to walk into a dealers that I didn't know, then I would treat buying a car off them the very same as if I was buying it off the side of the road. If it was a dealer that I knew had been around for a long time and had a good rep, then I probably would trust them... but that would be based on their reputation. It most certainly would not be based on them being a member of SIMI.

Yes, there are a lot of people trying to make a quick buck by importing a few cars. And yes, the taxman should probably get after them. But, apart from not paying tax on their profits (which wasn't even mentioned last night) I don't see anything wrong with what they are doing. Of course you will get a few clocked \ crashed cars being sold. But if you buy a used car of anyone, dealer or side of the road, without checking it's history some bit and getting someone to have a good look at it, then you're only asking for trouble.

I am rambling a bit here but I suppose to summarise, my problem with last nights program was that it just served as a 15 minute window to allow SIMI to try and scare people away from buying cars outside of dealers. There was no balance to it. No-one asking the motor industry people any kind of even semi-informed question

Linford · 03-10-2007 1:23pm

BnA wrote:

http://www.myhome.ie/search/property.asp?id=DOHNL334541

Why have you a link to a 6 bedroom house in Clare in your post?

BnA · 03-10-2007 1:28pm

Linford wrote:

Why have you a link to a 6 bedroom house in Clare in your post?

Sorry about that. Corrected now

mike65 · 03-10-2007 1:28pm

I thought road side sales were an undercover system to arrange raves and illegal car meets!

Mike.

Andrewf20 · 03-10-2007 1:38pm

I only caught the tail end of it, and i did hear 1 quote which i thought was a bit far fetched - saying that these cars parked at the side of road are a blight on the landscape. Hardly imho.

mike65 · 03-10-2007 1:43pm

Yeah that was said, I have to laugh at any SIMI bod moaning about the potential danger of kerbside sales when they are among the worst offenders, as they pile the verge outside thier gate high with vehicles that immediately pose a danger to thier clients as they leave!

If a car is being sold as private then the buyer (unless an idiot) will know there is no comeback if something goes wrong. Caveat Emptor etc.

Mike.

dogmatix · 03-10-2007 1:52pm

It must be the silly season still, if thats all Primetime could report about. seems to be a complete non-story. I'm sure they could find more interesting stories to report on if they tried - and on SIMI more specifically if they really wanted.

BTW - does the original poster have the number for busty betties hotline on him by any chance? Just wondering...

RobAMerc · 03-10-2007 2:05pm

I think we have all come to realize that this is fairly typical of this country.

Rather than actually do anything about anything - go on the TV and make a big huff and puff about something entirely different your doing nothing about - therefore distracting people from reality.

The Road Safety campaign here has been a farce from the get go and now the SIMI are trying to muscle in on the deal with there "Be safe on the road, buy from an SIMI dealer " f*ckology.

What a joke, what an absolute joke.

gyppo · 03-10-2007 2:39pm

Hopefully Primetime will do an expose on all the Estate Agents signs plonked by the roadways - surely they are every bit as large a distraction.

A few months ago, on the outskirts of my town, some developers placed a large 8' x 4' placard on the grass margin right beside a T junction. Just at the position you would take on this junction if you were turning right, it completely osbcured cars coming from the right. A middle aged lady driver in front of me had a very narrow escape.

So, I took it upon myself and went to the local cop shop (200M up the road), and the guard on duty took a look at it there and then. Agreed it was an accident waiting to happen, phoned the agents number on the sign, and told them to remove it, or move it to somewhere safer. That evening it was moved to a safer spot.

The following week, ANOTHER placard from ANOTHER agent for ANOTHER development was placed in the original spot.

No mention on primetime so far about this though - its easier to take on the small guy every time.

gyppo · 03-10-2007 2:42pm

Also, I hasten to add, SIMI is there solely for the benefit and protection of motor dealers - not Joe Public. What a load of B0llox the irish public is dealt on a daily basis.

MercMad · 03-10-2007 2:50pm

I missed it but I agree witht the comments above !

The SIMI are self regulated and as a consumer I wouldn't trust any of them either. The current crop of salesmen in main dealers couldn't spot a crashed car if it landed on top of them !

I would have zero confidence in what most main dealer say, at least with a private sale you MAY get someone who is honest !

If they try to ban people advertising at the side of the road then they will need to ban billboards and garage showroom too..............its the same thing !

testicle · 03-10-2007 2:59pm

Linford wrote:

Why have you a link to a 6 bedroom house in Clare in your post?

That's way too much for that house too, by the way.

puss · 03-10-2007 3:02pm

MercMad wrote:

I missed it but I agree witht the comments above !

The SIMI are self regulated and as a consumer I wouldn't trust any of them either. The current crop of salesmen in main dealers couldn't spot a crashed car if it landed on top of them !

I would have zero confidence in what most main dealer say, at least with a private sale you MAY get someone who is honest !

If they try to ban people advertising at the side of the road then they will need to ban billboards and garage showroom too..............its the same thing !

I don't think it is the same thing. I live on a service road for 19 houses which is a Resident only parking area. It has an circle area at the bottom of it for the refuse lorry and any other delivery lorries to turn. On any day there can be up to 8 cars For Sale parked there. We have complained to our local county council and to the Gardai but it seems there is nothing can be done.

BnA · 03-10-2007 3:16pm

testicle wrote:

That's way too much for that house too, by the way.

Not wanting to take my own thread off on a tangent....

.... but that is why I had the link in my clipboard (and ending up making the boo boo). I am from the area and I was e-mailing it to a few friends from the home having a laugh about the house. The house isn't worth a quarter of that. It has a fairly colourful history. But I would be going waaaaaaay off tangent to go into it here.....

BnA · 03-10-2007 3:25pm

puss wrote:

I don't think it is the same thing. I live on a service road for 19 houses which is a Resident only parking area. It has an circle area at the bottom of it for the refuse lorry and any other delivery lorries to turn. On any day there can be up to 8 cars For Sale parked there. We have complained to our local county council and to the Gardai but it seems there is nothing can be done.

You see... that is a very valid point. And one of course that they didn't even go near last night.

The Gardai and council in particular are just fobbing you off. It IS already illegal for anyone to advertise a car for sale from the side of the road. I don't know what the law is but basically it is the same one that means I can't just pull up in a van outside your house, set up a stall and selling Busty Betty Magazines. I need a permit.

Also, if someone is selling a lot of cars they are then running a business from home. Again, they would need planning permission to do this.

Your Council are just too effin' lazy to do anything about it. I would get onto a few local councilers if I was you.

MercMad · 03-10-2007 3:30pm

puss wrote:

I don't think it is the same thing. I live on a service road for 19 houses which is a Resident only parking area. It has an circle area at the bottom of it for the refuse lorry and any other delivery lorries to turn. On any day there can be up to 8 cars For Sale parked there. We have complained to our local county council and to the Gardai but it seems there is nothing can be done.

..........no you are right, its not really the same thing, but what I meant is they are giving out because folk are advertising cars at the side of the road when the fact is that a law exists but is not enforced !

Thats the problem !

Its one thing for Joe Soap to try to sell his own car by parking it outside with a for sale sign on it, but quite another in the situation you quote above !

Victor_M · 03-10-2007 6:11pm

BnA wrote:

Not wanting to take my own thread off on a tangent....

.... but that is why I had the link in my clipboard (and ending up making the boo boo). I am from the area and I was e-mailing it to a few friends from the home having a laugh about the house. The house isn't worth a quarter of that. It has a fairly colourful history. But I would be going waaaaaaay off tangent to go into it here.....

Don't want to hijack either, just curious, that house isn't being sold by the CAB by any chance is it?

Captain Slow IRL · 03-10-2007 6:31pm

does anyone know if this prime-time will be repeated?!

mike65 · 03-10-2007 6:33pm

Use the link and watch it online!

http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/1002/primetime_av.html?2294621,null,230

Repeats are so 20th century.

Mike.

Captain Slow IRL · 03-10-2007 6:54pm

thanks:D

cantdecide · 03-10-2007 7:14pm

Just want to agree with above sentiments- SIMI exist strictly for the benefit of their members at the expense of the public- they should call themselves cartells'r'us.

Motor industry is one of the few remaining industries where poor service comes as standard and the SIMI mentality is responsible.

Imagine setting up a consumer group that routinely boycotted simi members for no good reason- it'd be the exact mentality back at them.

that'd lurn 'em

There's also a total anti motoring attitude in RTE for some reason. I can never figure out why??

mike65 · 03-10-2007 7:19pm

Cos they are PC commies!

Mike.

Tipsy Mac · 03-10-2007 8:45pm

I think once the car for sale is taxed and insured and parked in a legal parking space it should be left there, it would be very interesting for someone who is fined to be taken to court over this.

unkel · 03-10-2007 10:44pm

mike65 wrote:

Repeats are so 20th century.

QFT!

Toon--soldier · 04-10-2007 12:29am

that dealer in galway sold me ford escort 12 years ago, i originally bought the car new off them and then had a small accidnet which needed to be touch up, panel beater asked me when was the last accident:eek: said it looked it had fallen off a car transporter onto its roof, and there callin the other guys cowboys.....

BnA · 04-10-2007 10:42am

Victor_M wrote:

Don't want to hijack either, just curious, that house isn't being sold by the CAB by any chance is it?

No the CAB are not involved, although some would say they probably should be...!!!!

layke · 04-10-2007 10:59am

BnA wrote:

You see... that is a very valid point. And one of course that they didn't even go near last night.

The Gardai and council in particular are just fobbing you off. It IS already illegal for anyone to advertise a car for sale from the side of the road. I don't know what the law is but basically it is the same one that means I can't just pull up in a van outside your house, set up a stall and selling Busty Betty Magazines. I need a permit.

Also, if someone is selling a lot of cars they are then running a business from home. Again, they would need planning permission to do this.

Your Council are just too effin' lazy to do anything about it. I would get onto a few local councilers if I was you.

Unless you have a license to do so.
Happened to my uncle who was selling motorbikes outside his petshop.
Someone complained, bloke turned up who said just apply for the licence, which he did, and got. He can now sell cars and the like from outside his shop. However if they are blocking a right od way then it becomes an issue.

have you said it to the owner of the garage OP?

Dancing_Priest · 04-10-2007 11:38am

I'm in the motor trade as a main dealer myself and I just thought I'd weigh in with my opinion. First off I'd have to agree with all the above posters with regards to SIMI. They're about as useful as an ahstray on a motorbike. They have no balls whatsoever to deal with the VRT debacle. They dont provide any sort of useful arbitration service between dealers and customers when a deadlock arises and they do nothing to instill any sort of confidence in consumers.
I might also point out that SIMI is not a grouping of motor dealers and servicing outfits, but a representative of the Irish motor industry as a whole. Which means that they also represent all the main motor distributors, so when we, as garages want a scrape with the distributors about lowering wholesale costs (which is of course good for both the dealer and the consumer) We have no representative! Regarding costs, most consumers don't know that on the sale of a new car, a motor dealer will be working on a margin of 2% by the time negotiations with the customer are over, maybe 3% if a car is in high demand.

MercMad wrote:

The current crop of salesmen in main dealers couldn't spot a crashed car if it landed on top of them !

I would have zero confidence in what most main dealer say, at least with a private sale you MAY get someone who is honest !
!

Some salesmen are better at this than others, but who do you think we get cars off? Its usually an 'honest' private buyer upgrading.

Anyway, back on topic regarding side of the road sales, as someone in the main dealer system of things who has to work with warranties, rates, motor distributors and all that.
I'd never spite a lad who puts out a few cars a week on the side of the road. Buisness is buisness and its for the consumer to choose what they want to buy and where they want to buy it.
If you're buying on a private sale, you're going to pay private sale prices and get private sale protection.
The vast majority of main dealers have no problem with these guys, its just SIMI jumping and shouting about something that is in no way harming consumers or the motor dealers who they claim to represent.

gucci · 04-10-2007 3:58pm

gyppo wrote:

Hopefully Primetime will do an expose on all the Estate Agents signs plonked by the roadways - surely they are every bit as large a distraction.

A few months ago, on the outskirts of my town, some developers placed a large 8' x 4' placard on the grass margin right beside a T junction. Just at the position you would take on this junction if you were turning right, it completely osbcured cars coming from the right. A middle aged lady driver in front of me had a very narrow escape.

So, I took it upon myself and went to the local cop shop (200M up the road), and the guard on duty took a look at it there and then. Agreed it was an accident waiting to happen, phoned the agents number on the sign, and told them to remove it, or move it to somewhere safer. That evening it was moved to a safer spot.

The following week, ANOTHER placard from ANOTHER agent for ANOTHER development was placed in the original spot.

No mention on primetime so far about this though - its easier to take on the small guy every time.

*clap clap clap* buy that man a pint.....

astraboy · 04-10-2007 6:16pm

I recently sold my astra from the side of the road. Parked it up on the side of the road with plenty of space, not causing an obstruction. I had the car sold in about 10 days to a young fella I know locally. Having the car there got the word out I was selling my car, people knew I had looked after it etc.

Granted this was purely a single sale, I was not out to make a profit, I owned the car for 3 years and wanted to move on. Guys selling cars as a full time business should pay tax etc. A guy looking for a bit of free advertising by parking his car on the road for a few days, causing no obstruction is hardly an issue is it? Though I know cork CC has recently started to declare some of these cars "Abondonded" if there for too long and will tow them.

Biro · 04-10-2007 7:08pm

Buying many cars cheap and selling them on for a profit without using them is obviously a business, and the person doing so should pay tax on the earnings.
But I wouldn't worry about them not paying rates, cause they have no premises.
What bothers me more is the amount of crooks bringing clocked cars and ex-crashed cars over from England and selling them on here, ruining the market for the innocent owners trying to get a fair price for their genuine owned car.

Primetime - Kerbside Motors Report

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