Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

[R-Audi]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

So you'd be ok if Apple said the Ipod you bought on your vacation needed 100 dollars certification before it would work? Or your digital camera?

It's up to the gov to set import taxes and protectionist practices, NOT individual companies. If the cost of importing is 7% GST, 6% duty and 500 bucks in extra fees that's what it is. If that + the shipping and transport and inspection costs still leaves a big enough saving to be worth it then there's a price disparity which must be corrected by market forces, not BMW. Both BWM and Mercedes should be sued into the ground for this.

Are you happy that the value of your vehicle has now dropped by 25+%?
If I was a BMW owner that bought the car at the dealer I'd be happy that BMW is doing something to protect the value of my car.

While I dont agree with this gouging.. I can see why they are doing it.

If I bought a cheaper IPOD in the US (My iPhone for example) I am prepared to not have warranty.... instead of pay a higher Cdn price. Maybe that should be the answer. You would be free to purchase the car anywhere.. but if you want warranty buy it from a Cdn dealer.

[Tuna]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

Are you happy that the value of your vehicle has now dropped by 25+%?
If I was a BMW owner that bought the car at the dealer I'd be happy that BMW is doing something to protect the value of my car.

While I dont agree with this gouging.. I can see why they are doing it.

If I bought a cheaper IPOD in the US (My iPhone for example) I am prepared to not have warranty.... instead of pay a higher Cdn price. Maybe that should be the answer. You would be free to purchase the car anywhere.. but if you want warranty buy it from a Cdn dealer.

This never has, or never will have anything to do with their customers. They are losing money on new car sales, nothing more nothing less. They are doing it to try and keep new customers walking in the door.

I'm with Kor, I don't want to support a company that refuses to face reality and instead invents rediculous tactics to try to hold on to Canadian new car markups.

[Kor]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

Even if you are an existing customer and BMW has "protected" you, eventually you're going to want to buy a new car. What are you going to say then? "I just bought another BMW... yeah I bought it in Canada... because the company I supported the past few years *forced* me to using strong-arm tactics, blackmail, and lies."

[Chris]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

I'm with Kor - their tactics are deplorable. They don't care about protecting their customers; they care about protecting themselves. They are losing sales and they're hurting. So instead of doing something proactive and positive (ie: reducing prices to bring them in line with the US) they are taking it out on people who dare to shop anywhere else.

Kris - your buddy should talk to a lawyer.

[R-Audi]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

So lets go with the "They are losing sales and are hurting"
You expect any company that is hurting... to help someone that is partly responsible for loss of sales?
Put yourself in their shoes instead of your own... sure its great to get a deal.. but ultimately if enough people go down the same route.. how many dealers are there going to be up here? Consumers always want the best of both worlds.. but unfortunately that doesnt work.

If Kor's buddy is bellowing about 6k.. I somehow doubt he is going to put the cash down to hire lawyers to go after BMW Canada....

[Chris]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

It's unfortunate for them that they're hurting, but c'mon, that's pretty weak.

The whole point is that the market has changed and it now makes more financial sense for consumers to buy cars in the states. BMW should adjust its prices to remain competitive rather than act like a petulant child. When the situation was reversed and people in the US were buying up all the cars you didn't hear about the US dealers complaining and making a stink.

Canadian BMW dealers need to do a better job adapting to this new market. It's that simple.

[Stonewall]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

Anything they are loosing in sales they are making in service, don't you think that more BMW's on Canadian roads is nothing but good for them in the long run?

[Chris]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

Good point, Brent - I hadn't thought of that!

[Tuna]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

Yea, very good point, a lot of money is made on service.

Of course, they'll probably take care of that angle by coming up with "American car" and "Canadian car" service rates.

[R-Audi]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

Canadian BMW dealers need to do a better job adapting to this new market. It's that simple.

A dealer adjusting their prices isnt as easy as grabbing a marker and crossing it out... they recieve their prices for the year based upon the exchange rate at the time... So if they drop them that much.. its out of their pockets.

[Khyron]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

Funny how Toyota, VW, Chrysler and even Porsche to a weak degree have managed. Our dollar didn't just jump to par over night!

They even have a 10%ish-15%ish markup cushion over US pricing based on the hassle factor. No one bothers to import to save a few hundred bucks overall. But some cars we're talking 10-40 THOUSAND dollars. And it's not the dealers, it's the manufacturer. Why can BMW sell to US dealers for far less than the same vehicle to a Canadian dealer? It's profit and they want to hold it for as long as possible.

[Glidjetta]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

My question is why does everyone insist on using their brand respective dealership when importing a car? RIV has a long standing deal with Cambodian Tire for only a couple hundred bucks.

[Chris]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

My question is why does everyone insist on using their brand respective dealership when importing a car? RIV has a long standing deal with Cambodian Tire for only a couple hundred bucks.

In the case of importing BMW's, they will not release the required documents needed to import the vehicle unless you take it to one of the dealers to have the 'modifications' made. It's just one of the ways they bend people over.

[Khyron]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

Yes, both Merc and BMW somehow bought some of the gov and got it set that only they can certify their own cars. Exactly against every monopoly policy, but that's ok for some people I guess. Who here really think it costs 5000 dollars to change a cluster? Or that there's even a rule that says you have to in the first place?

[Kor]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

My question is why does everyone insist on using their brand respective dealership when importing a car? RIV has a long standing deal with Cambodian Tire for only a couple hundred bucks.

You don't understand everything you need to import a car. You need the recall letter / authorization from the manufacturer as well as the Crappy Tire federal inspection before you're done.