Import Thieving

[blacky]

Hey all,

Justt trying to get a general idea of how prolific stealing from cars during the import process is. I have a car arriving soon, and am concerned about this due to the amount of accessories on it.

Post up experiences, what was taken, at what stage, etc.

should be interesting to see...

Blacky

[neil_se]

I'm a bit worried too but i was told it was all covered by insurance.

[daler32]

only covered by insurance if you pay for it in the import fees which is an optional extra i think

[raz0r$harP.UK]

From what previous posts have said it may be hard to claim for easily removable items like gauges, stereos, etc. I think it's mainly there to cover things like loss of car (eg ship sinking, container getting destroyed etc).

Best bet is to hide the accessories if you're worried, or have them removed from the car and mailed to you.

[blacky]

You can get coverage for actual items on the car, but you pay more i think. Razors right though, if you can arrange for the items to be put in the wheel well or something like that youd be right. Someone on here had one of their gauges tied to the steering column....

[MerlinTheHapyPig]

i wasn't too worried about my car, as it didn't have a stereo and only one aftermarket gauge.

I actually found a turbo timer in the glove box which had been removed from the car, so i guess the fact that it hadn't been nicked says something.

If you're worried about stereo etc, perhaps get them to remove the face-plate and mail separately, or put it in a hard to find place on the car (such as in spare wheel well)

I wouldn't recommend shipping the car with car parts in the boot (ie to aviod import duty)

[midnight]

alot of gauges and stuff get stolen, if the car has any apexi bluescreen items there is a chance they wont make it here.

[RiverSide]

There is plenty of stuff stolen every day.........I have personally had severel guages, Air pod, stereo, boost controller, oil cooler!! and a few different items pinched.

I have even had items removed from vehicles and sent via the ship captain, they made it through quarantine then some prick stole the box from the bosses desk!!!!

I am currently concerned about a vehicle coming soon that has had the front spolier removed (to avoid damage) which in turn exposes the FMIC............bastards better not steal it!!!

[Guest]

Every body puts stuff in the wheel well so it isnt some were new, I have know of Wheels, Seats, Shocks and even one 4WD turned up and somebody had used a welder to cut the front Bull Bar and winch off.

[gaki]

Dang!!! They go to that extend to steal bits of your car. Probably the best things to do is take picture of every little bits of the car before it is shipped / goes on the container.

[SteveL]

Nothing was missing from my car.

[MFC05]

Who actaully steals the shit.... is it the people that work at the ports ????

[RiverSide]

Yes it is the wharfies.......Quarantine officers have actually stopped viewing vehicles if they contain extra parts inside.......due to them being accused of theft. The stuff is still going missing so it seems to be the wharfies that are the culprit.

[MFC05]

Yeh.... i went to the brisbane port place where u pick up importeed cars....... cos i got an R32 GTST arriving next day i had to give my documents to the customers agent.. anyway the guys that work at tht place where thrashing the **** outta of this brand 1 camery doing hand brakes in concers and shit.

And wen one of my mates skyline r33 GTST he went to pick it up at the docks the guys was redline 1st and 2nd gears as he drove the car up to him and hand him the keys...... ****en idiots they disrespect the cars there aye

BUT as if u wouldnt thrash all the sports cars and shit if u would work there :wassup:

[bootlegapparel]

lost the shift knob, that's it as far as i know.

[PHATR32]

my boost gauge went missing

[doridori32]

nothing went missing , things get stolen in japan or the owner pulls the crap out.

aussies dont take anything here...

[blacky]

thats a bit misguided, Aussies are going to take stuff if the opportunity presents.

Speaking to my importer, he was saying the issue does get blown up a bit, in all his time importing, hes only had a few stereos, shift knobs and gauges go. But I'm still a bit wary!

[BoyWhoCriedWolf]

Things go missing all the time, there is nothing you can do, deal with it.

[mattc]

I just imported my Z, sorry from the dark side - not a GTR

I was worried about things going missing, especially after reading the threads on here but nothing was pinched. Gauges and Stereo were mailed to me, but had HKS computers in glove box, splits up fornt, sub and amps in the back nice shift knob etc.

But I guess at the end of the day it's a bit luck of the draw - But I don't think it's as common as you think...

Also I shipped with Kiwi, from what I can understand their free insurance would cover things like gauges etc. just not things like spares inside the car.

Matt.