Comments on: “Let Them Rust” campaign http://mahmood.tv/2009/05/17/let-them-rust-campaign/ An Arab man's attempt at bridging the cultural gap and trying to make a difference. Failing a lot. Succeeding once in a while. Thu, 24 May 2012 09:01:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: bahraini4eva http://mahmood.tv/2009/05/17/let-them-rust-campaign/comment-page-1/#comment-125847 bahraini4eva Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:57:00 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/?p=5108#comment-125847 Um. How come all 14 comments are not showing here? Where are my posted comments? Just Disappeared. Um. How come all 14 comments are not showing here? Where are my posted comments? Just Disappeared.

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]]> By: smokedgoldeye http://mahmood.tv/2009/05/17/let-them-rust-campaign/comment-page-1/#comment-125844 smokedgoldeye Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:11:42 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/?p=5108#comment-125844 I believe in freedom. The car dealer is free to charge as high a price as he wishes. The car customer is free to buy or not buy from him. I also believe that greed and selfishness are good. Why? The way to obtain more money, without using force, is to please your customer or your employer. A greedy selfish car dealer who wants more of your money will attempt to "please" it out of you. How? By offering, in your opinion, a better product, at a lower price with better service than his competitor -- including you importing the car yourself. "But he doesn't have enough competitors!", you protest. Is that his fault? When a small group of volunteers shows up to help with a big project, do you berate them because not enough other volunteers showed up? No, of course not. In conclusion, I recommend that you applaud greedy businessmen....and volunteer yourself to become one as you see their profits rise. Freedom. Peaceful voluntary trading between humans. Heaven! I believe in freedom. The car dealer is free to charge as high a price as he wishes. The car customer is free to buy or not buy from him. I also believe that greed and selfishness are good. Why? The way to obtain more money, without using force, is to please your customer or your employer. A greedy selfish car dealer who wants more of your money will attempt to “please” it out of you. How? By offering, in your opinion, a better product, at a lower price with better service than his competitor — including you importing the car yourself. “But he doesn’t have enough competitors!”, you protest. Is that his fault? When a small group of volunteers shows up to help with a big project, do you berate them because not enough other volunteers showed up? No, of course not. In conclusion, I recommend that you applaud greedy businessmen….and volunteer yourself to become one as you see their profits rise. Freedom. Peaceful voluntary trading between humans. Heaven!

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]]> By: bahrain4eva http://mahmood.tv/2009/05/17/let-them-rust-campaign/comment-page-1/#comment-125837 bahrain4eva Mon, 01 Jun 2009 07:22:46 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/?p=5108#comment-125837 Anonymous Coward, there is no argument to be made unless you compare LIKE FOR LIKE. When I compared the price difference between the Jags in Bahrain vs UK, they were LIKE FOR LIKE.... and lets just assume they were not.. let's say there was seat heating..and slightly colour fabrics.. would it be worth the 8,500 BD difference in price? Anonymous Coward, there is no argument to be made unless you compare LIKE FOR LIKE.

When I compared the price difference between the Jags in Bahrain vs UK, they were LIKE FOR LIKE…. and lets just assume they were not.. let’s say there was seat heating..and slightly colour fabrics.. would it be worth the 8,500 BD difference in price?

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]]> By: Anonymous Coward http://mahmood.tv/2009/05/17/let-them-rust-campaign/comment-page-1/#comment-125835 Anonymous Coward Sun, 31 May 2009 17:20:11 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/?p=5108#comment-125835 bahraini4eva, I can understand your skepticism. I only know that comparing prices between cars is not as simple as you put it. Give you an example: A BMW 530i in Dubai costs about 40-50k dhs less than in Abu Dhabi. This does not mean that Abu Dhabi cars are cheaper. The options are not the same. For example, the Abu Dhabi version (at the time I was shopping, a couple years back) seat heating. Can you believe that? That's a ridiculous option to have on a car in this part of the world. You would think that the Dubai dealers would know better.. but then a lot of the 2004 models (not sure if this has changed, I hope it did) didn't have CRUISE CONTROL! Now, can you imagine a BMW 5 series, leather seat, sunroof, 18" alloy wheels.. and no cruise control!? That's crazy.. but that's how they bring the price down. What I am saying is: you need to look into a lot of details to make such a statement. For example, you are saying that an XF 2009 costs BD 15,188.. says who? Do you have proof of that? I am not saying that this is not true. I am saying: in order to make a strong point, you need to have hard evidence. Just spitting out figures doesn't mean anything. And, seriously.. if anyone is greedy, it's dealers in the UAE. I just don't see how Bahrain can outdo Emirati dealerships in greed. Hell, that would be a first. bahraini4eva,

I can understand your skepticism. I only know that comparing prices between cars is not as simple as you put it.

Give you an example:

A BMW 530i in Dubai costs about 40-50k dhs less than in Abu Dhabi. This does not mean that Abu Dhabi cars are cheaper. The options are not the same. For example, the Abu Dhabi version (at the time I was shopping, a couple years back) seat heating. Can you believe that? That’s a ridiculous option to have on a car in this part of the world. You would think that the Dubai dealers would know better.. but then a lot of the 2004 models (not sure if this has changed, I hope it did) didn’t have CRUISE CONTROL!

Now, can you imagine a BMW 5 series, leather seat, sunroof, 18″ alloy wheels.. and no cruise control!? That’s crazy.. but that’s how they bring the price down.

What I am saying is: you need to look into a lot of details to make such a statement. For example, you are saying that an XF 2009 costs BD 15,188.. says who? Do you have proof of that? I am not saying that this is not true. I am saying: in order to make a strong point, you need to have hard evidence. Just spitting out figures doesn’t mean anything.

And, seriously.. if anyone is greedy, it’s dealers in the UAE. I just don’t see how Bahrain can outdo Emirati dealerships in greed. Hell, that would be a first.

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]]> By: bahraini4eva http://mahmood.tv/2009/05/17/let-them-rust-campaign/comment-page-1/#comment-125816 bahraini4eva Thu, 28 May 2009 14:37:34 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/?p=5108#comment-125816 Anonymous Coward said, "I’m all for cheaper cars and I am in no way shape or form associated with anything in the auto-industry (or retail for that matter)." Well, I very much doubt that is true being that you are not associated with the auto-industry. It's a fact that cars retail prices in Bahrain are extremely inflated because of the main problem of every agent having sole exclusive distrbutorship rights for each car company, which prevents fair competition! Also, you said, "You could have simply looked up the prices online to see that this campaign is not entirely honest with itself." Unlike your vague comment, let me give you two (and there are plenty more) examples to support my argument: Bahrain price of the Jaguar XF 2009: 24,000 Dinars Import price (including import tax + shipping + insruance) is: BD 15,188 A saving of 8,812 Dinars at today's exchange rate. THE PRICE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 530i (IN BAHRAIN) AND A 530i (IN UK) IS BD7,100 -- THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE BAHRAIN IMPORT TAX OF 5% ON ANY CAR'S PURCHASE VALUE! Anonymous Coward said, “I’m all for cheaper cars and I am in no way shape or form associated with anything in the auto-industry (or retail for that matter).” Well, I very much doubt that is true being that you are not associated with the auto-industry. It’s a fact that cars retail prices in Bahrain are extremely inflated because of the main problem of every agent having sole exclusive distrbutorship rights for each car company, which prevents fair competition!

Also, you said, “You could have simply looked up the prices online to see that this campaign is not entirely honest with itself.” Unlike your vague comment, let me give you two (and there are plenty more) examples to support my argument:

Bahrain price of the Jaguar XF 2009: 24,000 Dinars
Import price (including import tax + shipping + insruance) is: BD 15,188
A saving of 8,812 Dinars at today’s exchange rate.

THE PRICE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 530i (IN BAHRAIN) AND A 530i (IN UK) IS BD7,100 — THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE BAHRAIN IMPORT TAX OF 5% ON ANY CAR’S PURCHASE VALUE!

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]]> By: Anonymous Coward http://mahmood.tv/2009/05/17/let-them-rust-campaign/comment-page-1/#comment-125814 Anonymous Coward Thu, 28 May 2009 09:08:59 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/?p=5108#comment-125814 I am disappointed in you Mahmood. You could have simply looked up the prices online to see that this campaign is not entirely honest with itself. It is okay for consumers to hit back at retailers to bring prices to a more reasonably perceived level. However, spreading rumors and numbers that are completely false is shameful at best. The cost of a car is based on what? Is that how much it costs to manufacture it? Where did this information come from? Does the agent have a say in how much a car should retail for? There are many questions to be answered before people start making wild statements about things they know little to nothing about. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for cheaper cars and I am in no way shape or form associated with anything in the auto-industry (or retail for that matter). I just think that you have been far more responsible in your blog in the past and this is beneath your standard, Mahmood. No hard feelings, just calling a spade a spade. I am disappointed in you Mahmood. You could have simply looked up the prices online to see that this campaign is not entirely honest with itself. It is okay for consumers to hit back at retailers to bring prices to a more reasonably perceived level. However, spreading rumors and numbers that are completely false is shameful at best.

The cost of a car is based on what? Is that how much it costs to manufacture it? Where did this information come from? Does the agent have a say in how much a car should retail for? There are many questions to be answered before people start making wild statements about things they know little to nothing about.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for cheaper cars and I am in no way shape or form associated with anything in the auto-industry (or retail for that matter). I just think that you have been far more responsible in your blog in the past and this is beneath your standard, Mahmood.

No hard feelings, just calling a spade a spade.

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]]> By: mahmood http://mahmood.tv/2009/05/17/let-them-rust-campaign/comment-page-1/#comment-125787 mahmood Wed, 20 May 2009 05:11:32 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/?p=5108#comment-125787 Many thanks. Many thanks.

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]]> By: Bernie http://mahmood.tv/2009/05/17/let-them-rust-campaign/comment-page-1/#comment-125785 Bernie Tue, 19 May 2009 20:47:16 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/?p=5108#comment-125785 It's pretty much the same over here in England. The car business has just nosedived completely. The companies are slowly dropping their prices but it's having little effect. I think folks are just hanging on to perfectly good older cars. p.s. It's good to see you back Mahmood, your wit and humour have been sorely missed. It’s pretty much the same over here in England. The car business has just nosedived completely.
The companies are slowly dropping their prices but it’s having little effect.
I think folks are just hanging on to perfectly good older cars.

p.s. It’s good to see you back Mahmood, your wit and humour have been sorely missed.

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]]> By: Mike http://mahmood.tv/2009/05/17/let-them-rust-campaign/comment-page-1/#comment-125771 Mike Mon, 18 May 2009 12:17:02 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/?p=5108#comment-125771 Myfanwy, at least their is healthy competition in the UK with car sales. You don't have sole-agencies for each manufacturer like in Bahrain. The Toyota dealerships for example are not owned by the same company, they're all independent and therefor they compete against each other and offer different deals and financing options. Scrappage scheme comes into play today! Woohoo! Myfanwy, at least their is healthy competition in the UK with car sales. You don’t have sole-agencies for each manufacturer like in Bahrain.

The Toyota dealerships for example are not owned by the same company, they’re all independent and therefor they compete against each other and offer different deals and financing options.

Scrappage scheme comes into play today! Woohoo!

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]]> By: Blewyn http://mahmood.tv/2009/05/17/let-them-rust-campaign/comment-page-1/#comment-125768 Blewyn Mon, 18 May 2009 09:26:48 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/?p=5108#comment-125768 The story you relate is no surprise to me (a Brit). Back home a lot of perceived-value products are sold in a haughty, aloof manner that suggests the seller is actually only tolerating their interaction with you, that you are in fact only equal in rank to them if you part with your cash. It's a leftover from the days of rigid social classes, and a deliberate ploy to make those who can afford a Porsche Cayenne (but only just, and maybe should do something more cautious with their money) feel part of an exclusive club, that they are somehow stepping up a class. The British middle class just laps that shit up. The story you relate is no surprise to me (a Brit). Back home a lot of perceived-value products are sold in a haughty, aloof manner that suggests the seller is actually only tolerating their interaction with you, that you are in fact only equal in rank to them if you part with your cash. It’s a leftover from the days of rigid social classes, and a deliberate ploy to make those who can afford a Porsche Cayenne (but only just, and maybe should do something more cautious with their money) feel part of an exclusive club, that they are somehow stepping up a class. The British middle class just laps that shit up.

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