In the fourth such incident over the past month, Qatar authorities have ordered the temporary closure of a vehicle showroom for allegedly selling customers damaged cars as new.
On Twitter, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce said the Land Rover showroom in Al Sadd would be shut for the next month for violating provisions of the Consumer Protection Law No. 8 of 2008.
إغلاق المعرض الرئيسي لوكالة سيارات بسبب بيعها سيارات جديدة دون الابلاغ بخضوعها لعمليات إصلاح وطلاء بسبب تعرضها لحادث. pic.twitter.com/xqEABQNidg
— وزارة التجارة والصناعة (@MOCIQatar) January 17, 2015
Land Rover imports are exclusively sold in Qatar by Al Fardan Premier Motors.
The showroom had apparently been trying to “cheat buyers” by repairing dents on cars before selling them as new.
This violates Article 7 of the consumer protection law, which obligates suppliers to provide information on the type, nature and components of a product on its label.
Under the law, suppliers are also prohibited from describing, advertising or displaying products using false or deceptive information.
When reached for comment, a representative at Land Rover’s Middle East headquarters in Dubai told Doha News that the company was looking into the allegations.
Other closures
This is the fourth time officials have temporarily closed down a dealership here over similar offenses documented in the past month.
In the beginning of January, Domasco Honda’s main showroom at TV Roundabout was shut for apparently violating Qatar’s consumer protection law.
According to the MEC, the dealership had been repairing and selling cars that were damaged in accidents to customers as brand-new.
But Honda said that it had only fixed scratches and dents incurred in its stock yard on several vehicles without informing the buyers, and was now working to ensure such incidents did not happen again.
Meanwhile, in December, authorities made similar fraud allegations against the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram dealership on Al Matar Street, near the old airport, as well as the Nissan dealership on Salwa Road, near Ramada Junction.
Many residents have said these closures have rattled their trust when it comes to buying a car in Qatar. But some in the auto industry say the offenses are not so serious.
Thoughts?
Bravo, I love these guys. Dealers have gotten away with too much for too long!
My finely honed senses are detecting a pattern to these business shut downs.
What, that they are being closed in Alphabetical order? 🙂
I am afraid Almana is not figuring in that “pattern” 🙂
Almana was the 1st one closed…………
My reply was to “detecting a pattern to these business shut downs”. Almana is the odd man out in the list.
No porsche was
It might be easier for Doha News just to publish a list of the car dealers that haven’t been shut down for fraudulent behavior.
I guess it’s better to wait for a while, as the list keeps growing !
It seems every car dealer in Qatar were doing this malpractice for quite a long time. Expecting more closures in near future.
It’s not only car dealers. TechnoQ sells brand new studio monitors which had been used before as the scratches proved when I unpacked the QAR 3,000 devices at home!
Call the consumer protection agency .. Take the product and recipts and they’ll make sure you get a refund
After this, perhaps a drive down Salwa road starting at the “computer” testing centres and moving slowly through the used car show rooms
Who’s next….?
It’s not just cars either. I was looking at my toaster the other day and noticed a slight dint on one of the sides. It’s only three years old but sadly outside the warranty period.
Yeah, because nothing could have happened to cause the dent in your house in the intervening three years, right?
Its not only Nissan or Chrysler or Land rover..this practice is also done by Toyota and Skoda…and i got this info while talking very casually with the people inside the garages and will check more brands..lol
I cannot understand the word ‘Accident’ being used. Dealers throughout the whole world will repair dents, scratches or any other damage caused in transport or storing cars. Anyone who thinks their ‘new’ car comes wrapped in a box and perfect is wrong. They are stored at the factory, loaded onto ships, removed from ships and stored in the desert until you buy them – sometimes in this part of the world that process can take over a year. How exactly does having a panel painted on a car ruin your enjoyment of driving it?
Because they worth less when you try to sell them.
That’s not my question. How does having a panel painted change the enjoyment of the car? It makes no difference and it shouldn’t in the price of a car. Accidents are a different story but a panel painted makes no difference what so ever.
When you sell it, the buyer won’t know it got damaged in transportation or you have an accident.
The buyer would go with the ‘accident’ theory for sure and you’ll suffer an unfair drop in value.
I dunno, the way people drive out here, I’d be suspicious of anyone selling a 2nd hand car while claiming it hadn’t had something repainted…
So this is my point. Why should it drop in value? It doesn’t anywhere else in the world. If a scratch or dent is repaired properly is shouldn’t matter as it makes absolutely no difference to the car.
It can and does affect the value elsewhere in the world – i’m sorry but i think that was a vary broad, weak and flippant statement.
Also, i think the point should be that if it is such a minor repair and has no effect on the appearance and value, then why isn’t this being disclosed to the customer – after all, from what your saying there is nothing to hide (well, apart from a minor scratch).
Bo, as you are obviously in the motor trade let me know what countries you have worked in?
US, UK, Spain, France, Bahrain, Qatar
In the motor trade? If you are you would know that paint checks and full inspections are rarely carried out unlike here. When a car has paint and it’s not an accident it’s not s problem.
If the dealers did not disclose this minor thing, then no wonder if they hide other issues, such as manufacturing deflects.
A warranty covers you against manufacturing defects. You have to remember the dealers don’t make these cars………….
Painting a car before it gets sold is a common practice and should not effect value, that’s the bottom line.
speaking of warranty, they also have many ways to dig them selves out of terms and conditions, by claiming that any damage is due to either bad driving habits or bad road conditions. It maybe different now , thanks to the efforts of MEC.
I have never heard of a car dealer with warranty that doesn’t cover everything except for tears and wears such as break pads.
what about car dealer’s warranty that covers only engine and transmission?
what about tires dealers warranty that covers manufacturing deflects, but excludes bulges?
Which manufacturer only covers engine and gear??! You spot a bulge on the tyre before delivery and every dealer will change it, or you don’t accept the car. Simple.
I guess if the car had an accident there might be some long term damages that was not detected or perhaps a reason to dis-value the car for better prices.
Maybe they should check Al fardan service centers as well for cheating customers. Telling customers they need unnecessary repairs, new tires etc and then charging inflated prices as they have s monopoly.
New tires…inflated prices. Boom-tisch.
“Woe to the defrauders. Who, when they take the measure (of their dues) from men, take it fully, but when they measure out to others or weigh out for them, they are deficient. Do not think that they shall be raised again, for a mighty day, The day on which men shall stand before the Lord of the worlds?” (Surah al-Muťaffifīn 83:1-6)
Some dealers are still cheating customers, while thinking that such closures are only a bad dream. Aside from inflated retails prices with compromised safety standards, unqualified personnel, and poor service centers with prolonged queuing time…. the loop needs to be broken. The MEC is setting a good example to be followed, but for how long? and what will happen after the closure for a month or so? without the monopoly in the market, customers will be cultivated, and can have a better grip to retain the good dealers. A fair competition is needed.
Very good job
Again? Correct me if I am wrong but isn’t this a UK franchise?
I think Kerala bought the LR brand? Maybe I’m mistaken…
you mean TATA Motors?
Just close it down altogether…or at least teach their mechanics which side of a wrench goes where…
so can they prevent those crazy drivers from accidents by doing this.. duh..
From my own and personal experience , I cannot say less about Porsche (Lebanon) selling lemon cars as New and Cheating costumers at their after sales services telling them about their cars need a list of repairs to rip them off . I have a list of mine for anyone who wishes to know!!
From my own and personal experience , I cannot say less about Porsche (Lebanon) selling lemon cars as New and Cheating costumers at their after sales services telling them about their cars need a list of repairs to rip them off . I have a list of mine for anyone who wishes to know!!
i have had the same experience here in qatar.
I worked for this company and they are thieves and commen. I left after 6 months after lack of payment of salary and they with held my passport and my principles of giving good customer service not taking as much money as possible with no regard to the customer wants or needs! Omar Al-Fardan is the biggest thief in Qatar. never ever buy a car from this company!!
Deleting for attack.