Question for motorhomers.....
Discussion
Would the fact that someone had full-timed in a motorhome put you off a sale?
I ask the question as that was one of the reasons given by the person who was supposed to buy Harry and didn't. He found my fulltiming thread post-auction and told me I'd misdescribed the vehicle given I detailed all the problems on the thread but not on the eBay listing and I hadn't disclosed full-timing.
I didn't see what the relevance of full-timing was as, in my view, it's more of a benefit. Everything is used which is better than things being left un-used, which for the most part actually increases the chance of them failing. And secondly, if anything breaks, it gets fixed pronto. And anyway, isn't it the mark of a solid motorhome the fact it can be full-timed in? It's what Hymers are famous for, after all?
I told him that there was no reason to explicitly list the problems, since they had all been addressed by the fixes and new components I listed on the ad. For every problem he saw listed in my thread, there was a corresponding fix (and receipt) listed in the ad. Surely everyone knows that motorhomes require maintenance and capex and you don't just replace rooflights, water pumps, tyres, valves and fridge components for the sake of it, you do it to cure a problem.
Problem is, it's set doubts in my mind as to what the right answer is. For anyone who saw my listing, I went into lots more depth than most people do, precisely to show that I know the thing inside out, have taken care of it and that it takes the guess-work out of the purchase for the next owner. Ironically, whilst he's moaning about all the problems it's had (and I've sorted), I'm now going through the same list of issues (plus a few) with the Concorde which need rectification. Which is exactly the issue with buying a used van - I doubt many are in the mechanical condition Harry is as not many owners are as OCD as me about things being "right". Who else do you think has changed the diff oil on a 15yr old Sprinter just because it says so in the Service book?
But in spite of this I've been told I've been misleading and and not fully disclosed the situation. I'm a bit taken aback and insulted as I've actually disclosed far more than other people do. Should I be disclosing how many kids I have, my marital situation and inside leg too?
I ask the question as that was one of the reasons given by the person who was supposed to buy Harry and didn't. He found my fulltiming thread post-auction and told me I'd misdescribed the vehicle given I detailed all the problems on the thread but not on the eBay listing and I hadn't disclosed full-timing.
I didn't see what the relevance of full-timing was as, in my view, it's more of a benefit. Everything is used which is better than things being left un-used, which for the most part actually increases the chance of them failing. And secondly, if anything breaks, it gets fixed pronto. And anyway, isn't it the mark of a solid motorhome the fact it can be full-timed in? It's what Hymers are famous for, after all?
I told him that there was no reason to explicitly list the problems, since they had all been addressed by the fixes and new components I listed on the ad. For every problem he saw listed in my thread, there was a corresponding fix (and receipt) listed in the ad. Surely everyone knows that motorhomes require maintenance and capex and you don't just replace rooflights, water pumps, tyres, valves and fridge components for the sake of it, you do it to cure a problem.
Problem is, it's set doubts in my mind as to what the right answer is. For anyone who saw my listing, I went into lots more depth than most people do, precisely to show that I know the thing inside out, have taken care of it and that it takes the guess-work out of the purchase for the next owner. Ironically, whilst he's moaning about all the problems it's had (and I've sorted), I'm now going through the same list of issues (plus a few) with the Concorde which need rectification. Which is exactly the issue with buying a used van - I doubt many are in the mechanical condition Harry is as not many owners are as OCD as me about things being "right". Who else do you think has changed the diff oil on a 15yr old Sprinter just because it says so in the Service book?
But in spite of this I've been told I've been misleading and and not fully disclosed the situation. I'm a bit taken aback and insulted as I've actually disclosed far more than other people do. Should I be disclosing how many kids I have, my marital situation and inside leg too?
Edited by Spuffington on Monday 14th August 11:48
Spuff
did he view?
I'd put this down to Ebay, 'living the dream', and then realising that 14 year old motor home have things go wrong on them and arn't brand new! (but yet expensive to buy still)
I wouldn't worry about it, if its in half as good a condition as you state, it'll go to the first serious buyer that views it. The buyer of mine looked at the almost invisible wheel arch rust (MOT advisory) and put the deposit down almost straight away as he could see the condition was much better than the 5+ others he'd looked at. (less the small things i pointed out)
also don't be disheartened about the interest at the moment as the whole world and his wife seam to be on holiday last week / this week / next
custard
did he view?
I'd put this down to Ebay, 'living the dream', and then realising that 14 year old motor home have things go wrong on them and arn't brand new! (but yet expensive to buy still)
I wouldn't worry about it, if its in half as good a condition as you state, it'll go to the first serious buyer that views it. The buyer of mine looked at the almost invisible wheel arch rust (MOT advisory) and put the deposit down almost straight away as he could see the condition was much better than the 5+ others he'd looked at. (less the small things i pointed out)
also don't be disheartened about the interest at the moment as the whole world and his wife seam to be on holiday last week / this week / next
custard
Looking for reasons to chip you IMO.
Let's face it, when you go and buy a used MH you've got no real idea of its exact usage other than the mileage to indicate how much use it has had.
We've just bought an Eriba caravan which we did in a bit of a hurry (we were after a specific example, not many of them about) which has a bit of rot in its lower chassis that, if I'd taken a bit more time to look at, I might have declined it.
Now we've got it, it's a problem we just need to deal with, the thing is 25yrs old and will inevitably need a bit of TLC. I got it as a good price, but on closer inspection just realise I have to throw a few hundred quid at repairs that we didn't expect to have to do, in order to make it long-term solid.
Am I pissy with the seller for not pointing this rot out to me? Not really - if he had I might have walked away, it's a case of caveat emptor when buying used.
Let's face it, when you go and buy a used MH you've got no real idea of its exact usage other than the mileage to indicate how much use it has had.
We've just bought an Eriba caravan which we did in a bit of a hurry (we were after a specific example, not many of them about) which has a bit of rot in its lower chassis that, if I'd taken a bit more time to look at, I might have declined it.
Now we've got it, it's a problem we just need to deal with, the thing is 25yrs old and will inevitably need a bit of TLC. I got it as a good price, but on closer inspection just realise I have to throw a few hundred quid at repairs that we didn't expect to have to do, in order to make it long-term solid.
Am I pissy with the seller for not pointing this rot out to me? Not really - if he had I might have walked away, it's a case of caveat emptor when buying used.
It's probably a perception thing. If you look at 1 year old cars and find one that ticks all the boxes you'll buy it.....then you twig it's an ex hire car, or a 4 year old peach and realise it's ex lease.
You should of course buy on condition, in the Motorhome space. But how many buyers are experienced motorhomers and "get it"
Jim
PS - spurred on by your tales we've just bought a Rapido 9095DF in tippy toppy condition :-)
You should of course buy on condition, in the Motorhome space. But how many buyers are experienced motorhomers and "get it"
Jim
PS - spurred on by your tales we've just bought a Rapido 9095DF in tippy toppy condition :-)
In answer to the first line of your post, YES.
And it has happened to me, I went to view the perfect van for us, 8 years old, 20k miles.
It ticked all the boxes, I was so sure that everything was in place, insurance, Bacs & tax to take it home.
Then once inside my doubts started though I couldn't put my finger on the problem.
We walked away said we'd think about it, the seller called me a couple of days later and asked
Me to be honest with him on what I didn't like. I could only say, "it was like it had been lived in"
We did end up with an identical van, only difference is it's like new inside.
And it has happened to me, I went to view the perfect van for us, 8 years old, 20k miles.
It ticked all the boxes, I was so sure that everything was in place, insurance, Bacs & tax to take it home.
Then once inside my doubts started though I couldn't put my finger on the problem.
We walked away said we'd think about it, the seller called me a couple of days later and asked
Me to be honest with him on what I didn't like. I could only say, "it was like it had been lived in"
We did end up with an identical van, only difference is it's like new inside.
Thanks for all your replies.
Harry was sold today. I spoke at length with the buyer both before he came to visit and upon his tour today and told him about fulltiming in it (which I would've done with the winning bidder had he actually bothered to call and have a chat) and the Buyer saw nothing but positive and could see that Harry had been lavished with TLC and pride.
I guess it really depends on what kind of person you are - I am fastidious, careful and OCD-like with all of my vehicles. Even more so when it concerns the place I am living in.
Anyway, I appreciate the collective Pistonheads wisdom. Thank you.
Harry was sold today. I spoke at length with the buyer both before he came to visit and upon his tour today and told him about fulltiming in it (which I would've done with the winning bidder had he actually bothered to call and have a chat) and the Buyer saw nothing but positive and could see that Harry had been lavished with TLC and pride.
I guess it really depends on what kind of person you are - I am fastidious, careful and OCD-like with all of my vehicles. Even more so when it concerns the place I am living in.
Anyway, I appreciate the collective Pistonheads wisdom. Thank you.
Spuffington said:
Thanks for all your replies.
Harry was sold today. I spoke at length with the buyer both before he came to visit and upon his tour today and told him about fulltiming in it (which I would've done with the winning bidder had he actually bothered to call and have a chat) and the Buyer saw nothing but positive and could see that Harry had been lavished with TLC and pride.
I guess it really depends on what kind of person you are - I am fastidious, careful and OCD-like with all of my vehicles. Even more so when it concerns the place I am living in.
Anyway, I appreciate the collective Pistonheads wisdom. Thank you.
Well done. Harry was sold today. I spoke at length with the buyer both before he came to visit and upon his tour today and told him about fulltiming in it (which I would've done with the winning bidder had he actually bothered to call and have a chat) and the Buyer saw nothing but positive and could see that Harry had been lavished with TLC and pride.
I guess it really depends on what kind of person you are - I am fastidious, careful and OCD-like with all of my vehicles. Even more so when it concerns the place I am living in.
Anyway, I appreciate the collective Pistonheads wisdom. Thank you.
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