Gasgoo.com (Shanghai March 15) - China Consumers' Association (CCA) Committees held in Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Changchun, Hong Kong, Macau and 15 other cities jointly declared the phenomenon of automobile dealers overpricing vehicles as illegal today, www.chinanews.com reported today.
Many dealers have been taking advantage of policies aiming to reduce traffic congestion, such as Beijing's vehicle purchase restrictions, to sell their cars at prices far above their normal cost. According to statements made at CCA hearings, some dealers were accused of charging additional fees of 3,000 yuan ($457) to a whopping 50,000 yuan ($7617). Dealers would use the excuse of limited supply to justify their actions.
According to a member of Changchun's CCA, these sort of actions not only defy the State Council's pricing laws, but also are in opposition with the best interests of consumers. The member was quoted as saying that the overpricing of vehicles was in fact equivalent to a "bribery," with some dealers further implicated in forcing buyers to buy otherwise optional accessories.
The committees called for consumers to raise their self-awareness and for the appropriate legal authorities to strengthen enforcement in countering such illegal actions.
