ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER ON SATURDAY Push for UN time-frame to end Israeli occupation DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas Politburo Chief Khalid Meshaal at Al Bahar Palace yesterday. They discussed efforts towards a United Nations resolution that sets a time-frame to end the occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in accordance with the borders of 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The Emir underlined that Qatar will con- tinue support for Gaza and its steadfastness against occupation and that there is no change in Qatar’s firm stances towards the Palestinian cause to achieve the legitimate demands of the Palestinians. See also pages 3 & 5 Germany regrets ‘Qatari support for IS’ remarks DOHA: The German government has no direct evidence that Qatar is funding the so- called ‘Islamic State’ (IS) group operating in Iraq and Syria, Foreign Ministry spokes- man Martin Schafer said, QNA reported yesterday. “If there were misunderstandings, we regret DIFFICULT these,” Schafer told reporters in Berlin after Qatar contacted the German government over comments made by Development Minister Gerd Muller during a televised interview in which he said cutting off funding to “IS” had the “key- word Qatar.” Schafer described Qatar as an important partner of Germany but added the two countries “are not always of the same opin- ion” on some issues. Meanwhile, Iraqi Shia militiamen opened fire on minority Sunnis in a village mosque in Diyala province, killing 70 and Sunni leaders, Deputy Prime Minister Saleh Mutlaq and par- DEALS liament Speaker Salim Al Jibouri pulled out of talks with the main Shia alliance on forming a new government in protest. In Washington, a congressional aide said Obama could seek new Graphic design: Sahir funds to battle IS rebels. Campaigns intensified to THE ISSUE protect environment DOHA: Several government bodies have stepped up measures to protect Qatar’s envi- High-end customers in Qatar’s percent for timely delivery of vehicles, but asked “Executives at car agencies and dealers ronment through campaigns. automobile market are complaining this daily to submit a detailed questionnaire to should not be allowed to book more than one The Ministry of Environment has started be responded to later. car in their names unless they are booked for organising campaigns to limit violations of rules about the monopolistic structure of Some commentators have written that many personal use. and protect the environment against hazardous the country’s premium car market. agencies are intentionally holding the delivery “And if they book more than one car, they activities by some individuals and companies A section of local social media of latest models of cars, especially the luxury should not be allowed to sell all of them within on sea and land. ones. Customers allege that once the limited the same year. The erring dealers and agencies The ministry has called upon nationals and is abuzz with complaints about new models arrive in Qatar, senior employees should be blacklisted,” he said. expatriates to inform it of violations by calling ‘arbitrary’ behaviour of some car of some agencies book them in their names and However, industry leaders deny the the emergency number 998. It has also given agencies and dealers. ‘re-sell’ them to some highly excited customers allegations. environment inspectors judicial power to book at higher prices. “The allegations about holding the latest violators. Inspectors are regularly monitoring ustomers, especially Qataris, claim that “Many agencies in Qatar are exploiting cus- models of luxury cars for six months or charg- the sea and islands and referring violators to car agencies are demanding an extra 20 tomers by denying them the latest models of ing extra money are completely baseless. The authorities. Cpercent to ensure early delivery of vehi- cars until six months of their official launch. fact is this is a competitive market and custom- Continued on page 3 cles. “Should you need a timely delivery, pay Those who are offering, they charge 10-20 ers will have to deal with both the extremes,” extra or wait for a few months” seems to be the percent extra price compared to the prices in said the manager of a leading car agency. Lekhwiya rout Qatar SC slogan of agencies. neighbouring markets,” wrote a commentator Another section of Qataris is of the view that Customers grumble that they have to wait on a social media forum recently. customers are to be blamed for the situation. DOHA: Defending champions Lekhwiya got for up to six months after the launch of a vehi- A section of potential buyers have complained “Why should we be so crazy about buying new off to flying start at the Qatar Stars League cle and say this is happening because of the to the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, cars every year, despite the fact that most of the (QSL) when they thrashed Qatar SC 5-0 in monopoly of a few car agencies. urging the Consumer Protection Department time the latest models carry the same features their opening match yesterday at Lekhwiya When contacted, The Peninsula received to intervene immediately. or specifications of the previous ones? Changing Stadium. mixed reaction from leading agencies. While “Although these practices are becoming com- cars every year is a sheer wastage of money,” The victory is the first for Lekhwiya under some denied, some others neither denied nor mon in the GCC States, in Qatar, they have they argue. new coach Michael Laudrup who saw his side admitted that they were charging extra 10-20 become rampant,” said another customer. See also page 2 lose to Al Sadd 3-2 at the Sheikh Jassim Cup game earlier this month. See also page 22 Saturday 23 August 2014 • 27 Shawwal 1435 • Volume 19 • Number 6166 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 AUGUST 23, 2014 ON SATURDAY 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Home Latest car models come at a price Dealers deny customers’ allegation that they charge 10-20 percent extra for immediate delivery BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB DOHA: A section of the local social media is abuzz with complaints about some car dealers charging up to 20 percent extra for immediate delivery of the latest models of cars or asking customers to wait six months for the vehicles. According to some potential buyers, the monop- olistic nature of Qatar’s automobile dealerships enables dealers to force consumers to pay more to get a new car model soon after it is launched. “If you need quick delivery, pay 20 percent extra” seems to be the dealer’s mantra, they say. This, however, was denied by a leading agency. “It is baseless”, it said. Another leading dealer in luxury cars neither admitted not denied charging 20 percent extra for immediate delivery of cars but asked this news- paper to submit a detailed query on the issue to be responded to later. Citizens and residents say that some car agen- cies deliberately hold up delivery of the latest models of cars, especially some luxury brands, for up to six months after their international launch. They allege that once new models of cars arrive in Qatar, some car agencies sell the vehicles to their staff and managers, who resell them to indi- vidual customers at higher prices, which may be 20 percent above prices in other GCC markets. Customers unwilling to pay the high prices are told to wait for six months. Commentators say that a lot of customers want to buy the latest models of cars soon after their launch, and some middlemen, perhaps with the connivance of some senior agency staff, are mak- ing money by selling the latest models to only those who pay up to 20 percent more. Some interested car buyers are so upset with these practices that they have approached the Ministry of Economy and Commerce and the Consumer Protection Department and sought their intervention. “Some car agencies in Qatar are involved in one car in their name unless it was for personal in Qatar. Similarly, Japanese cars are up to 30 exploiting customers by denying them the latest use. If they booked more than one car, they should percent less expensive in other GCC markets such models of cars for six months after their official not be allowed to sell the vehicles the same year, as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman.” launch. Those who offer them immediately after he said, adding that those involved in such prac- Nasser Mabkhoot, a manager at a car retail the launch demand 10-20 percent extra payment,” tices should be blacklisted. company, said: “The existence of small car dealers said a commentator on a local social media forum When contacted, a manager at one of Qatar’s in Qatar (who import vehicles from neighbouring recently. leading car agencies said on condition of anonym- countries to sell in the local market) is evidence He pointed out that prices of automobiles in ity: “The accusations about holding latest models of the local car agencies charging higher prices Qatar were already 10 to 20 percent higher than If agencies continue to of luxury cars for six months or charging extra to make hefty profits.” those in other markets in the region. behave this way and do money are completely baseless. In fact, in this Nasser Al Tairi, manager of another car deal- “Although these practices are becoming com- competitive market, we are trying to push our ing firm, said: “We sell cars imported from Oman mon in the GCC region, in Qatar it has become not care about the interests sales to retain and increase our market share.