What is it with idiots "selling" RV's?

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braindead

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I've been looking for a smaller/older class "C" for a while now.  Every single ad I respond to I get a run around (5 so far), I try to get more information (what engine, how many miles) and I get "call me" or a response that's completely unrelated to the questions or in a couple of cases no further contact after the first non-response.

Most recent ad I responded to says:
1978 class c motor home. Ford motor, 42000 original miles, runs excellent, everything works. 20 foot. Has a battery system to run lights. No issues at all. 2 queen bed and 1 twin. This is an excellent Rv. No leaks, no a/c, No issues what so ever. Been in family since new. Well cared for. Tires are new. Must sell $2500..

So I asked what I figured was a reasonable list of questions:
  • what engine
  • Somewhere in the RV should be a plate/sticker with load ratings, a picture of the sticker would be perfect. If that's not possible I'd like to know the GVWR and GCVWR
  • Is the title in your name
  • Is the registration current
  • When was the last smog check (approx is fine of course).
  • Has it been sitting long
  • Has it been winterized

The first response I got was "we're camping in it right now"..  second try to get answers  it was 'sold'.  They posted the ad again under a different title and I thought it was a new listing so I responded (on a different email address as it happens) and all of a sudden it's for sale again!  Asked a similar list of questions, and it's sold....again.... Just out of curiosity I responded on another address from another domain and.. looky there..it's available again!

I guess I'm lucky, probably don't want a vehicle owned by that person anyway.  Funny ad said 'must sell'.. sure fooled me.

Being that we're looking for older/smaller MH, craigslist is the only place I've found with any listings.. but they can't all be idiots!

Am I being unreasonable wanting answers to what I'd consider easy questions? 
 
I spent four months shopping for my last RV on Craigslist and all I can say is you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you can kiss a prince. And Craigslist is still 100 times better than buying it from a dealership.

One thing I discovered is the biggest lie in the used RV sales language is "everything works".
 
SeilerBird said:
I spent four months shopping for my last RV on Craigslist and all I can say is you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you can kiss a prince. And Craigslist is still 100 times better than buying it from a dealership.

One thing I discovered is the biggest lie in the used RV sales language is "everything works".
Indeed.. I'm trying to avoid wasting my time going out to look... so I'm not giving the frog tongue at least ;-).

People seem to think they can just slide by and maybe nobody will notice their dishonesty.  I sure hope these people really 'must sell' because nobody is buying right now from what I can tell, I'm certainly not going to buy it.
 
I had a similiar sold and then reposted ad not too long ago.  Also know some folks can't get a response.  It was wierd because it was local phone numbers.
My theory is/was some of these are spammers that are out to collect email addresses or cell phone numbers.  Maybe they sell the info?
I dunno, but nothing else seems to add up? :-\
 
Derby6 said:
I had a similiar sold and then reposted ad not too long ago.  Also know some folks can't get a response.  It was wierd because it was local phone numbers.
My theory is/was some of these are spammers that are out to collect email addresses or cell phone numbers.  Maybe they sell the info?
I dunno, but nothing else seems to add up? :-\
I figured the vehicle is stolen, and my "is the title in your name" question makes them freak out.. 
 
I was new to RV's and no friends or co-workers camped. I looked for a year on Craigslist, FindAnyRV, and other online places for a small TT. Got so discouraged - outdated pictures, untowable conditions, were mice condos etc. That was a major reason I went ahead and bought new - that and the ability to finance.
 
Chanda said:
I was new to RV's and no friends or co-workers camped. I looked for a year on Craigslist, FindAnyRV, and other online places for a small TT. Got so discouraged - outdated pictures, untowable conditions, were mice condos etc. That was a major reason I went ahead and bought new - that and the ability to finance.
I've never heard of FindAnyRV... have to check that out!  I'll just keep looking...  eventually something will turn up.. or not..  We've got tent camping gear, so we can just keep doing that...
 
braindead said:
I've never heard of FindAnyRV... have to check that out!  I'll just keep looking...  eventually something will turn up.. or not..  We've got tent camping gear, so we can just keep doing that...
it compiles different online sources. oodle does the same.  Just add .com to the end of each. To be fair and balanced, my puppy came from an oodle site and she is perfect. I just got frustrated with the trailer ads. Like you wrote, after a time, you often see the same ad in there in a slightly different wording or a different city.
 
There's an old joke:
Question
    What's the difference between a computer salesman and a used car salesman?
Answer
    The used car salesman knows that he's lying to you.

Unfortunately, I think the typical RV salesman combines the worst features of both of them.

Joel
 
Great Horned Owl said:
There's an old joke:
Question
    What's the difference between a computer salesman and a used car salesman?
Answer
    The used car salesman knows that he's lying to you.

Unfortunately, I think the typical RV salesman combines the worst features of both of them.

Joel

I am married to a used car salesman. A good one know that it is the repeat customer whose business is gold. Word of mouth sells more vehicles than any ad. DH recently sold trucks to a grandfather, father, and son on the same day & the father was a repeat customer.
 
Come on, Guys.  Look at the poor grammar and use (misuse) of punctuation in that ad.  Plus, $1400-$1600 worth of new tires  on an RV priced at $2500 ??? ::)  That doesn't make sense.

There never was an RV for sale.  The "idiot", as you called him, was smart enough to see that you were not going to get excited enough to spring his trap so he re-baited the hook and made another cast.
 
There have been scams on craigslist where they want to use a number low enough so you'll bring cash.  Then they try to rob you when you get there.  I always told them up front that I was not going to carry cash, just look.  If it was as described we could make arrangements for the sale.  I always left the list of the places I was planning on visiting on my keyboard, and let others know where I was going as well. 
When I've sold things on CL, I've found that those that ask the most questions, usually don't show up/buy, or are looking for it to be given away.  Maybe others have had the same experience as myself. 
 
99WinAdventurer37G said:
There have been scams on craigslist where they want to use a number low enough so you'll bring cash.  Then they try to rob you when you get there.  I always told them up front that I was not going to carry cash, just look.  If it was as described we could make arrangements for the sale.  I always left the list of the places I was planning on visiting on my keyboard, and let others know where I was going as well. 
When I've sold things on CL, I've found that those that ask the most questions, usually don't show up/buy, or are looking for it to be given away.  Maybe others have had the same experience as myself.
I'm not worried much about that, I'm fairly large scary and I open carry.  Wow, I guess I rhyme too ;-)
 
99WinAdventurer37G said:
Wise, choice.  I CC with my CHL, even with the precautions I take.
Leave my wife in the truck to cover me with her Henry .357 lever gun... wild west out here! ;-)
 
Two gone rvn said:
Most ads on craigslist seem to be scams.  I bought my c class on rv trader and everything worked great for both partys.  Just my 2 cents worth.
I keep an eye out on rvtrader..  I've sold cars and motorcycles on CL without any problems..  there must be some legit ads ;-)
 
i bought mine on kijiji here in canada. kind of like craigs list only better. some scams on it too so you have to be careful. saw this one on there that was about half price. it said it was in a shipping container on the east coast ready to ship to your location. shipping was included in the price and payment was to be made to a third party lawyer. it seemed funny so i goggled it and it came up on kijiji at different sites from one end of the country to the other.i thought  how could it be the same price if you are out west and it is on the east coast. you think the price would vary depending on where you were. obviously a scam.  the one i bought off kijiji was on there for about two months. the owner had caused some minor damage to the rear end of the coach. he had great pictures of the damage and lousy pictures of the rest of the coach. i saw it on kijiji and even joked with the wife who let the rookie drive the coach. he lowered the price from his original asking price twice in two months. then one sunday i got home and noticed that he had reposted it for less than half of his original asking price. i thought for that cheap it would be worth the two hour drive to see how bad it was. when i got there i was suprised that it was it good shape except for the two dents in the back corners. i talked him down even more as he just wanted it gone. he said lots of people looked at it at the original asking price and all complained about the damage so he lowered the price quite a bit thinking that would cover the cost to repair the damage. no one came to look at it at this lower price because he did such a bad job of presenting it everyone thought it was smashed up totally. after months went by he just wanted it gone and was willing to take the loss. turns out all it needed to certify was a  set of brake pads. the minor damage on the rear corners will cost about 1000 dollars to fix and i will do it myself for less. long story short i got a beauty machine for about less than half of what its worth due to this guys inability to present it properly. i guess maybe i got lucky but i watched the ads and traders for months and if it wasnt for the fact that i had been watching it for months i would never of looked at it. dont get in a hurry. deals come along if you plan ahead. get in a hurry, get out your wallet .  good luck finding your new toy
 
I have purchased and sold from ads on rvtrader.com (rvt.com) and have had no problems.  Also purchased my last RV from a ad on craigslist with no problem.  When I placed a ad on craigslist I found you just don't respond to the replies that just said I want to buy your RV and your price is not a problem or they are working on a oil rig and will have it picked up.  Just be careful it sound to good to be true, because it is.
Regards, Dick
 

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