seller etiquette

[Hooked_on_HP]

One thing I think some are overlooking is that i was going to look at the motor home at the sellers earliest convenience. In both cases I would have come the night before if it was OK with the seller. Its not like I told them I couldn't make it until tomorrow.
Bill

 

[bp fick]

Bill, Yup, your "seller" was not honest with you. If you had known that he was booking people ahead of you, it might have changed your perspective on being interested. That seller wasn't honest with people. He told you he wouldn't/couldn't show it before such and such, but he did show it, and sold it!!
If he intimated that you were the first "appointment" but then went ahead with someone else, that's sneaky. His post-sale attitude tells you everything.
That's called lying.

He was hedging his bets. Booking different people at different times. Perhaps telling each one a different story and making appointments. Yup, that's the game some play. He should have told everyone he was doing this. Again, sorry for your bad experience. In retrospect, do you suppose this guy was honest about the condition and faults of the motorhome? Not a chance.

 

[beppington]

He should have told everyone he was doing this.

"Should have", yes, but most won't of course so they can increase their chances of selling.

Here's a semi-solution anyway: Always give the seller your cell #, and tell them, "If you sell it before I get there please call me immediately so I won't bother coming."

 

[hawkeye08]

One thing I think some are overlooking is that i was going to look at the motor home at the sellers earliest convenience. In both cases I would have come the night before if it was OK with the seller. Its not like I told them I couldn't make it until tomorrow.
Bill

Bill, don't let the jerks on CL spoil things for you. Have patience and do the right thing, you'll find one that meets your needs. We looked at travel trailers for more than a year (used mostly, new out of our budget). Many on CL, studied floor plans, checked them out in person, even bought a tongue scale to verify tongue weight so we didn't get in over our heads on trailer weight. We had decided that there may not be one out there that met our expectations and price. We had decided to get one (not as nice as we wanted, but the price was right and we could make do with it) when my wife saw a simple ad in the paper, 26' Terry for sale and a phone number. She called, it sounded like something we might like, but the seller told us that someone else was coming to look at it. We figured it would be sold already. A few minutes later, the guy called my wife, oops, he meant to call the other party, mis dialed us instead. We went and looked at it, made an offer, shook on it. He threw in some front loading washer/dryer pedestals he was also selling that we wanted. The other party never showed at their scheduled time. We are very happy with our trailer and very thankful that we did not jump on the first one we saw...

You will find one I am sure. With the economy still slow, they are out there, just have to keep watching.

Here is a nice motor home that should be a good one...

MANDALAY DIESEL PUSHER MODEL 40E Loaded (BY OWNER)

 

[Travelover]

I agree that if I'd have been the OP, I'd have been an unhappy customer.

On the topic of buyer / seller etiquette - I give away most small stuff on CL just to be rid of it and keep it out of the landfill and I still get all the same runaround stuff. What condition is it in? Will you hold it? I'll take it - then no show.

I've gotten a few bargains from sellers that are PITAs. I wait and watch their ad and if it is still there a few weeks later, I go and talk price. By then they are usually a little more realistic and ready to deal. :thumbsup:

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

I am sure I will find what I am looking for in my price range eventually. Cash is king. One thing I am finding out is a lot of people financed their motor homes for 20+ yrs and owe double what book value is. One gentelman couldnt beleive the book value when I told him. I took him to the NADA web site and looked his up. I thought I was going to see a grown man cry.
Bill

 

[Bird]

I am sure I will find what I am looking for in my price range eventually. Cash is king. One thing I am finding out is a lot of people financed their motor homes for 20+ yrs and owe double what book value is. One gentelman couldnt beleive the book value when I told him. I took him to the NADA web site and looked his up. I thought I was going to see a grown man cry.
Bill

Yep, you have that problem with the long term financing. and there's another problem with RVs that many people don't know about and that is "window stickers" or Manufacturers Suggested Retai Price on new ones. Some manufacturers provide such with new RVs and other manufacturers do not, so it's strictly up to the selling dealer to set a price. Then some of those dealers print up their own "window stickers" and of course they look very professional and buyers sometimes think that was from the manufacturer. I visited the factory of one of the companies that did not provide such information and they would not even talk to anyone about prices other than to say you need to visit a dealer. And I met one couple who had recently paid $120k for a motorhome and then learned other dealers were routinely selling the same model for $80k. They knew they got took, but there wasn't anything they could do about it.

 

[YanmarFever]

I had a weird cl experience.

I bought an expensive item because it was a good deal.

I fixed it up and put it back on CL for sale.

The second call I received was from the person that sold it to me, and he was mad as He-- !!!!!
He could not believe I bought the item to resell it !
I think he was under the assumption that I would keep it, and adopt it into my family..... ??
Anyhow, after about a minute of him yelling on the phone, I politely told him, that he had become to attached to the item and should of never sold it,let alone for the price he sold it for.
Then I politely said have a nice day and hung up !

 

[teg]

(have not read all the threads)... If something is a really good deal, I offer $5, $10, even $20 more than the asking price (even free items)... then follow up with, I will be there to get it when YOU want me to... and always get there 5 minutes early. Lots of deals on the lunch break or right after work.

Best deal was a 4' spike aerator and 5' blade that was listed for $50, I was late to reply and in the title, said I'll pay you $60... he got 75 e-mails but he picked mine... Sold the aerator for $300 in a days' time. Still using the blade.

 

[AlanB]

Hooked, you got messed over, and unfortunately there are those folks out there. It is not just Clist though. I had a guy on a 175K house do it too me. Seller made the time for the appointment to re-look at it (ripped pool that was covered) and the agent called me the night before and said they had already sold it, after counter offering too us........ Yep, I was mad, but it worked out better actually. Could have sued, but it would be pointless.

When I sell on Clist, like my boat, I am just as upfront as I can be. Lots of calls, tell them first come first served, folks that were coming from a distance I set a time (in the near future) where they could be there and I would hold till then, then following calls I told them they should check back with me after that time.

The couple that bought it, came and looked, wanted to go look at some other's, I told them no problem, but if the next guy coming in the drive wanted it (and there literally was) that it was his so to call back before coming out.

I think as it goes back to the bible, just treat others as you wish to be treated and it all works out fine.

Hope you find the MH that works for you, I bet you will.