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Originally Posted by msggunny
The way I see it is that if everything here was 100% legit, there would be no problem with disclosing how it is done. Since no one is willing to do that, it screams “scam” to me.
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I can't argue with your logic, and ordinarily, had I not had the fond (sic) experience of dealing with this issue for as long as I did (they weren't cars, but they sure as hell were national security issues) I would be as circumspec as you. I can say that sellers are extremely guarded about their relationship with Registered Importers. First off, The RI will take anybody's money to do what they do, but any seller who drops as much as they do with an RI, whether rightly, or otherwise, feels he is the one who paid for the RI to gain that experience. Secondly, and more basic, they simply don't want the competiton. This reason is fairly limp to me, since they know better than anyone else, what a PITA the process is, and frankly, If I had that kind of cash to throw at a toy, I'd rather pay for a delivered product, and not the timeconsuming and tredious process of doing it on my own.
I don not understand why you were directed to the EPA for inquiring about importing, since the catagory of vehicle would have fallen under the responsibility of NHTSA, and one of their approved RIs. The RI acts as the 'prime' and deals with DOT, EPA, and finally gets their blessing from NHTSA. It sounds to me like you were sent to somone in the middle of the chain, and I understand why they gave you the answer they did.
The RI doesn't have the benefit of "developing a relationship", like taking some dude out for lunch and golf, and expecting favorable treatment. The final submital goes directly to NHTSA and you eventually get a reply.
I was licensed by State (OMC) and all my stuff, coming and going, were large scale componants. I had to have my own $10m bond, received between 2 and 3 40' containers weekly (what didn't come by air) and genuinely believed the paperwork exceeded the product in mass, effort and sometimes value. In total, all I can say is that it exceeded several thousand tons. (not the paperwork, the product)
