The Wasteland - ACT Style

[Manuel Kasko]

I don't think my issues were caused by Iron Chef.

But I would suggest what Bryce said about getting complied in Melbourne

[RosieR34]

Thing is though... Iron Chef takes responsibility of it - in their sales pitch, their main role as an importer is to do all the paperwork/proceedings for you, this includes follow ups, realistic ETAs and discounts from compliance shops if it can be challenged. They are your importer, you shouldn't be lifting a finger. I do like ICP and have considered to import through them, however, the fact they haven't really been on top of your problem Daniel, makes me want to reconsider.

Edited April 3, 2014 by RosieR34

[Anfanee]

^^ This.

It's what you pay them to do. They are just blaming other people to get you off their back. It's pretty bad business if you ask me.

[Duncan]

Hang on, the thing is that that is totally incorrect.

When you buy a car through an import broker you are not buying a car FROM an import broker.

It's the exact opposite. You are buying a car, and you are paying someone to complete a range of services that make it easier for YOU to do that (shipping, customs clearance, car inspection, compliance etc).

The alternative, which is totally different, is that you can choose to buy a car from someone who has already taken all that risk themselves, and therefore will charge you more (or you will get a worse quality car for the same money).

This is no different to any other broker like life insurance or mortgage, the broker is working on your behalf to obtain something from a 3rd party (eg a bank or life insurance company). You pay them for the service of helping smooth the process, you are not buying the final good or service from them

[Duncan]

FAQ #1 from the Iron Chef website. http://www.ironchefimports.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=31

Do I just pay you the whole lot up front?

This is one of the first things most people ask me, and the answer to this is no, because I am a broker, not a car salesman! My role is to provide a service – that of helping you bring the car in yourself.

[RosieR34]

Hang on, the thing is that that is totally incorrect.

When you buy a car through an import broker you are not buying a car FROM an import broker.

It's the exact opposite. You are buying a car, and you are paying someone to complete a range of services that make it easier for YOU to do that (shipping, customs clearance, car inspection, compliance etc).

The alternative, which is totally different, is that you can choose to buy a car from someone who has already taken all that risk themselves, and therefore will charge you more (or you will get a worse quality car for the same money).

This is no different to any other broker like life insurance or mortgage, the broker is working on your behalf to obtain something from a 3rd party (eg a bank or life insurance company). You pay them for the service of helping smooth the process, you are not buying the final good or service from them

Not much of a service when the car has been sitting in compliance for 6 months. I understand your point of "Not selling the car" but you are paying someone to do the legwork for you, which includes following up with compliance etc . I believe at ICI it's $1,000 (Thereabouts) for their part in the process. Getting the car from Japan to the keys in your hand. A 6 week ETA turning into 6 months with ICI (From what I have been reading) not doing much but giving unreliable ETA's.

In other words, ICI is implying (Even from reading your link) that ICI are your voice when you decide to purchase a car, they do the talking, they do the paying, they do the organising. The only thing Daniel (And customer) is doing is paying the bills.

What I explained up the top is what I was told by ICI when I was speaking with them in regards to importing and what they bring to the table when importing. I know ICI have no power in regards to compliance, but surely they have some form of contact with Compliance which makes the communication more reliable.

p.s I'm not taking a stab at ICI (bring facts to the table) or import brokers in general. But from the conversation I had with ICI, this is what they were offering at the time and from reading the link, still offering.

[Duncan]

yep, and I'll bet ICI (and the compliancer) both want this finished ASAP too, because they make a fixed price on their service, so the longer it takes the less money they make. And you can bet they don't enjoy having to make and take calls chasing it up all the time.

I was just thinking back; in the last 15 years I've imported via a broker 3 times (gtr, stagea, cima) and bought an import locally twice (gtst, cube). I paid way more on the local buys and had smooth imports for the GTR and Stagea, but the Cima was frustratingly slow through compliance. SOmetimes (mostly?) you are lucky, sometimes not.

I think the real issue are DOTARS, they are not commercial enterprises and have no interest/care for how long their process takes or the impact on people trying to import. The people working there might be OK too, but clearly the department is understaffed and has no SLAs overall.

[Anfanee]

Honestly with how long this has taken ill NEVER buy and import. The next GTR i get ill find one with a blown Headgasker/f**ked engine. And take it right to mechanics and build it from ground up.

[Manuel Kasko]

Duncan you are pretty much 100% correct.

The only letdown which I already spoke to Kristian about was the fact I was doing the following up with JLM in regards to time frames not being met.

Kristian has explained himself and said that his messages and contact with JLM was also being ignored or given same time frames as me.

All of my family etc have been asking if I regret going through ICI and would I recommend them again.

My answer is that yes I would recommend them again because the whole process until compliance has been smooth and uneventful.

They have no control over JLM or DOTARS other than the ability to not use the compliancer in the future.

I believe what Kristian has told me that these delays are not common and DOTARS are having delays.

With my most recent delays caused by the workshop being audited and my car chosen for inspection

Personally I have spoken to another member going through the same hassle and time frames (his car landed on the same boat)

His situation is identical to mine but he is importing himself, another state and another compliance workshop, so this points towards DOTARS being the issue.

[RosieR34]

Duncan you are pretty much 100% correct.

The only letdown which I already spoke to Kristian about was the fact I was doing the following up with JLM in regards to time frames not being met.

Kristian has explained himself and said that his messages and contact with JLM was also being ignored or given same time frames as me.

All of my family etc have been asking if I regret going through ICI and would I recommend them again.

My answer is that yes I would recommend them again because the whole process until compliance has been smooth and uneventful.

They have no control over JLM or DOTARS other than the ability to not use the compliancer in the future.

I believe what Kristian has told me that these delays are not common and DOTARS are having delays.

With my most recent delays caused by the workshop being audited and my car chosen for inspection

Personally I have spoken to another member going through the same hassle and time frames (his car landed on the same boat)

His situation is identical to mine but he is importing himself, another state and another compliance workshop, so this points towards DOTARS being the issue.

Have you tried e-mailing DOTAR? I remember reading that you've called them. Try an e-mail. When I was working in Govt. and we got an e-mail from a customer, it was handsondeck. With calls, it's a lot harder to track as we normally used sticky notes on the desk. With e-mails, they'll probably tag it as a priority or forward your issue onto a more helpful person.

I believe this is their e-mail: [email protected]

Source: http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/vehicles/complaints_recalls/contact.aspx

[gtr judd]

I Didn't mean to open a can of worms...... Just the whole import process taking a while is making me turn a way from the idea.

Hopefully its soon mate

[Manuel Kasko]

Have you tried e-mailing DOTAR? I remember reading that you've called them. Try an e-mail. When I was working in Govt. and we got an e-mail from a customer, it was handsondeck. With calls, it's a lot harder to track as we normally used sticky notes on the desk. With e-mails, they'll probably tag it as a priority or forward your issue onto a more helpful person.

I believe this is their e-mail: [email protected]

Source: http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/vehicles/complaints_recalls/contact.aspx

Never called them, people were saying I should.

But Iron Chef and JLM said that this would cause delays because then they start getting suss on things.

This is what they believed caused the audit until I explained to Chef that I never called DOTARS

[Manuel Kasko]

I Didn't mean to open a can of worms...... Just the whole import process taking a while is making me turn a way from the idea.

Hopefully its soon mate

It's good to open up discussion like this

Canberra threads die without this sort of stuff.

All we need now is Troy the big hot head to come through with some comments haha

[Anfanee]

LOL

[RosieR34]

We love you Princess!

[Got a Pulsar]

I Didn't mean to open a can of worms...... Just the whole import process taking a while is making me turn a way from the idea.

Hopefully its soon mate

Agreed... Not that I'm in the market but f**k that!

When I buy a toy I wanna play with it ASAP!

[Shell]

Depends how much you save

When I imported there was a huge difference in price for a much better quality vehicle.

[Manuel Kasko]

Only thing that is getting me by is the fact I already have a fun r33 to play with haha

[zebra]

lol

have my welds held up?

[Manuel Kasko]

lol

have my welds held up?

Haha yes sir they have!

Still got a very high strange idle but that's probably because I caused a vac leak by taking off the sealant around the throttle plate.