‘Deportee’ Cars Hurting Dealers

Wednesday, July 21, 2004

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Reader comments:

• I read this article with great concern and, while these dealers do have some relevant concerns, at the end of this discussion there are two issues:
  
  1. The need for regulation. Some suggestions were made here and consensus should be built around these.
  
  2. The need for free competition, which will benefit the consumer and the Island.
  
  Having lived in the Cayman Islands and having sold several of these cars myself, I am aware of a lot of the issues. Though these cars are made for the domestic (Japanese) market some models are the same as those that are exported and, as such, parts will be identical. I have personally been to all the local established dealers and have bought parts for cars that I sold while being employed there selling cars. In fact the firm that I represented had an account with one of these dealers. However there were other dealers that refused to sell the parts even though they had it in stock.
  
  When I was in school I heard about globalisation of how the world was becoming a global village, well this is one of the blessings (or perhaps curse) that this has provided. In the end it is what is best for the consumer that will conquer and let’s take note also as import restrictions are falling all around us - Brian Brown, Hollywood, Florida
  
  
• This sounds like it could be under the heading of "Anti- Competitive", that terminology that Julianna and the ITCA like to use so much.  However, after purchasing several Japanese cars over a period of years for myself, in the Cayman Islands, I definitely decided I didn't want any more of them. I made a wise switch to American-made cars, and never regretted it - Anonymous
  
   
• I appreciate the very pertinent article concerning unrestricted car imports hurting car dealers. I note that there are some who think the present situation is fine, because it’s all in the name of competition. For any competition to be fair, there musty be a level playing field. This is certainly not the case now, where you have established car dealers paying for a Trade & Business License, hiring employees, paying employees' pension and insurance while you have some lone importer who imports cars using his computer from home or the office. Competition is healthy yes, but undermining established businesses that actually benefit society is detrimental to our economy. The result of the established car dealers losing business can be laying off of employees, etc. Think about it - Direct Current

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