Confidence lost or opportunity found?

The phrase “One man’s loss is another man’s gain” has found new meaning as a result of the alleged Sudden Unintended Acceleration or SUA involving some Mitsubishi Montero SUVs.

Yesterday, I learned about a “lawyer” who recently visited a Mitsubishi dealership demanding that the dealer “Buy Back” his 2009 Montero. Taken aback by the unusual demand, the staff at the dealership assumed that it was a SUA complaint so they viewed the unit being presented and could not find anything wrong visually or mechanically with the Montero. Puzzled, a sales person asked the “lawyer” what was wrong with the unit that would merit his demand for a “Buy Back.”

Without batting an eyelash, the “lawyer” replied: “I have lost confidence in the unit. I don’t want to drive it, so just buy it back.”

Yesterday I read of an expat selling his Montero, as they have to leave the country in a few weeks. The owner was obviously aware that he would not be getting his asking price given all the negative publicity generated about SUA on ABS CBN and social media. So he indicated that he was willing to negotiate his asking price further.

Clearly it is both a bad time to sell a used Montero and probably a “good” time to buy one depending on your level of confidence or lack of it. Not only will prices be affected by claims of SUA, prices of the old models will of course be going down because the newest model 2016 Montero will soon be out.

This Catch-22 situation now confronts angry and desperate SUA victims who have the burden of proof, personal injury and no usable vehicle to boot. Some are so angry they now think: “if you are not for us, you are against us.” Any contrary opinion to theirs is deemed an assault or a betrayal or adding insult to injury.

No thanks to the uninformed or unfamiliar, some people immediately grab terms and phrases they are not familiar with and end up misleading the general public or in this case making the victims of alleged SUA incidents believe they are so easy to accomplish.

For instance, the term: Product Recall. It is easier said than done.

You may not agree with me or you may dislike me for saying so, that is your problem and none of my business. But people need to know the facts in order to better strategize or formulate solutions.

Yes, Product Recalls are done by car companies, Yes, the Department of Trade and Industry has authority to suggest or call for a product recall but it only happens when a governing authority or body of experts or the manufacturer have found a particular defect or problem in a product based on technical analysis and investigation. Generally product recalls are done to “fix,” replace a part, and to prevent endangering consumers and the general public. I have yet to know of a recall involving 88,000 cars based on an unexplained or proven problem. I also have not heard of 88,000 car owners getting their money back.

Most automotive recalls have been about defective parts such as Air Bags, suspension parts, brake or electrical system. The recall is literally calling your unit back for repair. Contrary to popular assumptions, companies like Mitsubishi would be better off identifying “the” problem and calling for a recall because it restores consumer confidence and customer relations. A car is easier to fix than a ghost or a PR nightmare.

A couple of broadcasters and journalist keep dangling the words “Recall” and “Buy Back” to victims who now have the wrong impression that these things are that easy to do. Sorry but the bigger the product, the more mysterious the problem such as SUA, the price of the product and the numbers sold only means the longer and more difficult it will be to resolve.

Class action suits prosper in the US but never in the Philippines. The Marcos victims learned that, the plaintiffs in the Pepsi case learned that, among others. Most people are already settling accounts with God before the legal case is settled with finality. The only winners are ambulance chasers a.k.a. publicity seeking lawyers or who want a quick and easy meal from desperate clients.

The easiest thing to do is to convince someone about something they have always believed in and want so much.  Meanwhile around 90 out of 98 SUA complaints that were brought directly to MMPC have been fixed, repaired and/or re-sold.

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As far as the demand for “buy back” is concerned regarding SUA linked Montero units, officials of MMPC clarified that dealers simply assisted their customers in addressing their problem and “re-selling” their used vehicles.

In a number of instances the dealers or employees acquired the vehicles that original owners wanted to desperately unload. So after four or five years of use, depreciation, plus cost to repair whatever damage was on the vehicle, and based on current market value affected by the noise of the SUA controversy, the owners who succeed to negotiate a “buy back” will get just enough money for a substantial down payment on the new Montero. In the meantime, someone who knows about nuts and bolts or used cars or needs a fleet of SUVs for the coming elections will simply have to track down the SUA units and buy them for a steal.

This reality check is the common practice of insurance companies, banks, and just about any company engaged in buying and selling or trading products subject to wear and tear.

I can totally get it if the victims dislike my comments or perspective. But consider this, I at least did not fuel or fan you to be angry and even more frustrated rather than to be solutions driven. But even now I still try to warn you about the minefield you have walked into as well as warn you of being “used” or taken advantaged of by people with different agendas from yours.

You may not like the reality check that tries to wake you up from your dreams of a Recall, Buy Back or group settlement. But I can at least reassure you that I will be here holding the door open, to talk with you long after your “champions” have moved on to the next issue, the next controversy, the next ratings game, when you and SUA have become yesterday’s news.

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