Importing a Camper Van using SUPERCAMPER as an "agent" - The process explained.

[Supercamper.co.uk]

How to custom import a vehicle using us as an "Agent/Import Agent"
Cherry picking the perfect Japanese Camper for yourself! http://www.supercamper.co.uk

Here is a brief rundown on how it will work.

1. Get in touch with us

You get in touch, whether it be via email, phone or msn, tell us what you are looking for, then we will get a few details from you, namely your phone number, email etc. If you dont't want to speak to us yet then don't feel you have to, just send a quick and simple email and let us know if you would like calling back, or maybe you just want to be emailed back, we will reply as soon as possible.

Contact Details:

Email: agent@import-service.supercamper.co.uk
MSN Live Messenger (realtime chat): bodleyhenley@hotmail.com
Telephone:0845 527 8793 (Option 2)
Website: http://www.supercamper.co.uk

You will receive an explaination from us regarding the selection and import process and we will go away and scour the auction listings for vehicles going through the auctions in the next 3 days. Any vehicle we see which we think would be of interested to you, will be saved ready for sending via email. We will save images of the vehicle and a copy of the auction report.

2. You receive all Campers going through the next three days of auctions

We will begin sending you the campers that we see that may interest you via email and we will give you and idea of what we think each vehicle will go for at auction. We will also send you the results of what they sell for and give you a general idea of the on the road costs would be plus the agent fee.

Now were almost ready to begin bidding!

3. Pay £500 deposit

You then decide whether to go ahead a little further and start bidding. Before we can bid for you, we ask that you pay a 500 pound deposit.

This is FULLY REFUNDABLE and only there as security, just in case you make us bid on something that we win, and then you decide you don’t want it! Generally if you are bidding under 1 million yen then the deposit will be 500 pounds. If over 1 million yen then the deposit will be 1000 pounds.

If we fail to find a vehicle that meets your requirements or we fail to win any vehicles, or just dont fancy buying a camper anymore, then we will refund the deposit after a written letter/email from yourselves.

There are TWO ways to pay the deposit:

1. Pay using our secure payment gateway on our website (Protx) Protx is totally secure and is quick and easy. Also you can use any debit or credit card, so you are totally protected for piece of mind. The only downside to this method is that we charge are small surcharge of around 3% which is only there to cover the amount that Protx charge us for using their services.
2. The cheaper way to pay, is for you to transfer the £500 deposit via bank transfer to our bank account directly. This will usually clear either in 2 hours to 1 working day. This is obviously free for you to do as there are no bank charges for transferring money between UK bank accounts. We can supply our bank account number and sort code over phone or email.

4. More Campers and Information

We will then continue to send vehicles to you via email and get in contact to discuss the options, then at the end of the day if you wish us to place a bid, we will now do this.

The camper below was a bargain. This is one of the cheapest I have ever seen. The average prices for a Hiace of this type and year (1993) ranges from 375,000 to 740,000 yen depending on condition. This one went for 250,000!

As you can see, the KM is 191,000 - very high I hear you say! ...well, in Japanese terms it is, but its only about 130,000 miles in reality - which is about average for a 1993 UK vehicle. Other than the above average mileage, this camper is in average overall condition and has been rated 3.5.

USS Tokyo 23.10.2008 1993
- LH113V
KM: 191 000
--- FA
--- WHITE
Grade: 3.5
Start Price: ¥150 000
Sold: ¥255 000






5. **BIDDING**

We will try and give you an idea of what we “think” the right price for a camper will be, we have been adding vehicles to a local database, that slowly but surely is building up a good picture of the average prices for certain types of campers/motorhomes depending on age, mileage etc... so using this as a tool, we will help you. We will give you a price to bid, say if you want a bargain, or if you just want a camper van and you don’t mind paying normal prices or slightly over, and you really want to win it we will give you a price which will probably win the auction. At the end of the day even if you get a camper slightly over the average price, it usually means your getting a GOOD one that EVERYONE wants, and you are going to be saving hundreds or if probably THOUSANDS on buying from most vehicle dealerships anyway.
As soon as we find out the auction results we will notify you whether you won the vehicle at auction or not, hopefully you did win!!

6.Pay the finish price + FOB (Deposit will now be retained as the agent fee)

Then it is just a case of us sending you an invoice for the rest of payment, which is the total cost of the vehicle at Japanese port (FOB – free on board cost) + the import service agent fee of 500 pounds. You will not need to actually make the payment of 500 because you paid the deposit anyway, so we just retain the deposit now as our agent fee.
Initially you will pay the £500 fee/deposit to us, by UK bank transfer or via our website using ProtX, then the remaining vehicle costs will be paid directly into our bank account via bank transfer. We will freeze an exchange rate using a currency exchanger then come up with the figure you have to pay. We will then ask you which port you want the vehicle shipped too, and give you an idea of when it is coming into port. Generally Liverpool, Southampton, Bristol and Newcastle are the main shipping ports but it may be possible to get the camper shipped elsewhere.

7. Shipping and Logistics

Shipping prices for a typical Toyota Hiace camper of about 21 Cubic Metres is from 950 to 1300 pounds depending on fuel levy charges etc. Shipping times are from 4 to 7 weeks depending on when the ship leaves. If you are lucky you will get it on the ship within a week and the shipping time will be slashed. The old word “missed the boat” springs to mind!
Then close to the time of arrival you will receive the export documents for the vehicle and any handbooks, and you will receive an invoice for the total shipping amount.

8. Pay Shipping Costs and Duty/VAT

When the vehicle lands you pay the shipping amount, generally to the shipping agent, e.g YA autotrade for Liverpool docks. Once that is paid, they release it and you will get another invoice from the Liverpool docks authority (alan cavanan’s) who are a customs clearance agent. They will charge around 50 pounds and send you an invoice for total for DUTY and VAT. Doesn’t worry, we all pay it!!
So it will be the ((FOB price + Shipping) + 10%)+17.5%) Then you are able to drive your vehicle away! Albeit insured on the chassis number as the camper still needs to be MOT’d, registered with the DVLA and taxed. Generally mot is 60 pounds and should sail through so long as you have gotten a 10 pound fog light fitted. Registration is 55 pounds and tax is 99 through 185 depending on whether you want a year or six months worth.


9. MOT/Registration and extras

Now you just need some 20 pound number plates and your good to go!
It would also be an idea converting it to 240 volts though as Japanese electrics are 110/120 volts. The easiest thing to do is to buy a £30 240v to 120v step down transformer. Don’t run a hairdryer off it though because it will explode being only about 300 watts maximum, but it will run most things and all your internal electrics, 12 volts and such. Also it should charge up your leisure battery.

Copyright 2008: http://www.supercamper.co.uk
Forum Home: http://forums.supercamper.co.uk

__________________
Jon
Supercamper Import Agent - Japanese Camper Vans and other vehicles
Tel: 0845 527 8793 - Opening Hours, 11:30am to 20:45pm
Agent E-mail: agent@import-service.supercamper.co.uk
General E-mail: sales@supercamper.co.uk
Website: http://www.supercamper.co.uk
MSN/Live Messenger: bodleyhenley@hotmail.com