gl_sylvanlake
Michigan
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Joined: 11/06/2009
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My wife and I are looking to purchase our first motorhome . . . have been, for several months now, searching the internet and RV-web communities for a second-hand class B motorhome (preferrably, diesel powered).
Have come across a great deal on a used rv listed on a reputible rv Internet service. It's so good, in fact, I'm suspicious! What are some things I should be on the lookout for that would clue me in to a potential scam? What are some good questions that I need to ask that would help to put my concerns to rest? How does one deal---buy and consumate purchase and take delivery---over the Internet?
HELP, Please . . . I want to do this right, and not be a fool losing his money. Who also might be someone to contact for help with this (my banker??)?
THANKS!
Gerry
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Hit The Road Jack
Treasure Coast of Florida
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Joined: 10/20/2005
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gl_sylvanlake wrote:My wife and I are looking to purchase our first motorhome . . . have been, for several months now, searching the internet and RV-web communities for a second-hand class B motorhome (preferrably, diesel powered).
Have come across a great deal on a used rv listed on a reputible rv Internet service. It's so good, in fact, I'm suspicious! What are some things I should be on the lookout for that would clue me in to a potential scam? What are some good questions that I need to ask that would help to put my concerns to rest? How does one deal---buy and consumate purchase and take delivery---over the Internet?
HELP, Please . . . I want to do this right, and not be a fool losing his money. Who also might be someone to contact for help with this (my banker??)?
THANKS!
Gerry
Welcome to our CVC forum gl_sylvanlake...
For peace of mind I recommend an automotive inspection by a competent mechanic...
2006 DIY Dodge Badged Sprinter Conversion
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Jayco-noslide
Galesburg,Il., USA
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I think buying an older, used motorhome is going to be a risk no matter how you buy it so it's important to get it "cheap" so as to allow for repairs and upgrading. My son bought one off of craigslist and even with having a chance to look it over, it still had some pretty major problems (cracked exhaust manifolds, fuel pump) and was not as good as it looked. Best would be to have it go through a good inspection by a qualified RV person 1st.
Jayco-noslide
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topless
Wichita, KS
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I bought my B off e-bay. I called and talked with the dealer, he faxed a copy of the title to me that I took to my banker. My banker called the dealer as well, giving them the check number of the certified check that I was taking to them. I put a $500 deposit on a credit card for the dealer to hold the vehicle until I could get there. I had to travel about 600 miles. The dealer arraigned to pick me up at the local airport (I ended up driving a rental car one way, so they picked me up at the airport car rental). I knew I could get my deposit back because of the credit card, and I had a check for the balance that let me walk away if the van wasn't what it was supposed to be.
If it hadn't worked out, I would just rent a car and drive home.
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booster
Minnesota
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Joined: 10/14/2007
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There are an increasing number of scam ads showing up on the RV for sale sites, even the reputable ones and e-bay. They usually are a copy of some other, legitimate, ad that appeared somewhere else, but with the contact info changed.
If you want to respond to internet ads, I would suggest getting a specific e-mail for just that (at Yahoo or Google for instance), as a lot of the ads are to collect e-mail info for spamming. Also don't open attachments if they send you one, as they could contain bad things. Get a phone number and deal that way, and be sure to check the vin on Carfax or such to see if it is really theirs to sell. Remember that if it looks too good to be true, it probably is, and that a super good deal on the internet is going to be sold in a very, very short time.
* This post was
edited 11/06/09 11:01am by booster *
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booster
Minnesota
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Is it this one? It has been appearing in several locations for a while now.
Scam Roadtrek deal
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WVvan
Home
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NEVER TRUST ANYONE WHO TYPES IN ALL CAPS.
Open the pod bay doors Hal.
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RonAllen
Florida
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My last experience buying off ebay and talking to the seller many times by phone resulted in a very costly transaction. I was assured that the motor home was in good shape and ready for travel. I was in the Philippines at the time so did everything by phone and internet. Made a stupid decision to pay in full before I arrived to pick the MH up. When I arrived in Houston to pick the motor home up I was in for a shock. Tires that were said to be good were eleven years old and had to be replaced. Within a hundred miles of Houston got towed in... no brakes. Major brake job required and a ton of other stuff to be safe on the road. Stuff that would have been caught by an inspection.
I would NEVER buy again from anyone unless I had the vehicle inspected by an independent mechanic knowledgeable in RVs. And I would NEVER buy again from "Best Pre Owned RVs" out of Houston Texas.
Ron
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Klueck
Georgia
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A friend of mine was trying to buy a Jeep off E-bay today. We were skeptical but she was adamant it was a "good deal". She finally backed out after finding out the vehicle was in Utah, the money was to be wired to Miami and the address the guy gave her of his residence in Utah was a Hampton Inn. He was supposedly in the military, ready to deploy and was unable to talk on the phone..only email twice a day.
I would only buy this way if I could physically look at it first.
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RRUGG
Newaygo, MI,USA
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The daughter of our friends buys all kinds of trailers, mostly at auctions, and sells them on ebay. She almost always has several on hand and they come and go frequently. She cleans them well, replaces missing parts & furniture, etc. She shipped a TT to Australia, a motorcycle to Panama, another to Europe. Right now, she's waiting for a buyer in California to come pick up a trailer he bought. She's done this for some years and has apparently established a good reputation. I've seen some of them and some are extremely nice, some are so-so, and some are "projects" for people who like vintage trailers. Tin Can Campers comes to mind.
RRUGG
2008 Dodge 2500 QC 4x4 SB Cummins 6 speed auto 3.73
1997 Holiday Rambler 29FK travel trailer
2009 Hyundai GLS
Bob & Grace professional retirees
Good Sam life members
Camped in 49 states. Missing Hawaii.
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