36 - North Shore News — Friday, June 16, 2000

— Openroa
When it comes to ‘curbers’ it’s buyer beware

d

PETE RE CRN CTIE WINN eS

IT’S more than possi-
ble that most members
of the auto-buying
public don’t even
know what a “curber”
is.

On the other hand, there
are all too many buyers who
have discovered the facts the
hard way — by buying a car
from a curber.

A curber is an individual
who operates a vehicle sales
business outside (well out-

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20S: www.brightest-ides.com

side, in fact) the legitimate
auto sales community.
Curbers often operate from
their homes — or in many
cases, someone clse’s home
-— and they can be highly
mobile.

If a seller asks you to
show up at a shopping mall
to look ata vehicle, it’s not
a good sign. They usually
have a tale to tell the hapless
would-be buyer who arrives
to check out a vehicle in
response to a classified ad.
The vehicle is “being sold

‘to 2000 Atma GXE (74RG70 AED,

2001 Sentra XE VORP lease applies t
pina Sasa, Sytner $53, Saeen $18,967. Leases are OAC, close ended,
Alena only; ptice inchudes destination and detvery. Taxos,

on behalf of a relative,” or
“belongs to a friend who is
in hospital.” The stories are
‘as numerous as the folk who
seem prepared to believe
them.

It’s clear that curbers
have provided an important
distribution system for vchi-
cles that have been cobbled
back together after major
accidents. .

Also, you are far more
likely to encounter the
dreaded odometer roll-back
seam if you buy from a

@ Burrard Acura 2222 Burrard St., Vancouver

curber, There is even the
possibility thac the car you
delieve to be the bargain of
the century has been stolen.
If you buy a vehicle from
a curber and it develops
faults, the chances of getting
any kind of help or compen-
sation range from slim to
none. More than likely, you
won’t even be able to locate
the individual who sold you
the car. Telephone numbers
and selling locations are
switched constantly by the
more organized curbers and

736-8890

 siders — leaving almost 20%

Opportunity is knocking at all four doors.

The 2000 Acura 3.2 TL priced at $36,850 M.S.R.P.*

Automobile
Association (BCADA)

for a dissatisfied buyer, the
entire process can become a
nightmare.

The big problem with
curbers is that they operate
completely outside the legis-
lation which protects con-
sumers who buy their vehi-
eles from an established
dealer. Auto dealers in this
province are governed by
the Motor Dealer Act of
B.C., which protects con-
sumers from unfair business
practices and many other
problems. No such act pro-
tects buyers from the dubi-
ous practices of curbers. A
curber doesn’t even have to
have a municipal business
licence.

The B.C. Auto Dealer’s
Association (BCADA) has
been working long and hard
to convince the provincial
government to improve pro- -
tection for the auto-buying:. -
public with respect to the —--
activities of curbers.
Discussions have centered
around developing a new .
system to cnsure nigh pro-
fessional standards for all -
auto dealers in BC.

Says BCADA president:
and Victoria Honda dealer
Tan Stewart: ‘’We have’ asked
the government to work,
with us in creating a fair-and.-
safe marketplace and to, -.:
make the playing field level
In B.C., private sellers’ :
account for 50% of all used
vehicles sold and, of these,
almost 45% are sold by curb:

of the public exposed and
without adequate or any
protection. It’s a double
standard. :
Until ‘something is done
about the problem, let th
buyer beware.
Tony Whitney’s. colums:
appears courtesy of the. B.
. Deal