Community Forums

PaulAllen · 09-30-2013, 02:12 PM

I would think that every RV seller would consider the model name and number/exact-designation essential in their ad. Yet, I see such information missing in ads by various private sellers. Is this just carelessness on their part or is this a strategy to discourage looking up the model in price guides?

Should I be suspicious of such units or am I simply dealing with sellers who've given little thought to what should be in their ad?

(I also wonder why some ads have very few pictures or omit important areas of the interior. Does anyone have particular red flags they've learned to watch for in what is missing from ads?)

Bubwheat · 09-30-2013, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulAllen

I would think that every RV seller would consider the model name and number/exact-designation essential in their ad. Yet, I see such information missing in ads by various private sellers. Is this just carelessness on their part or is this a strategy to discourage looking up the model in price guides?

Should I be suspicious of such units or am I simply dealing with sellers who've given little thought to what should be in their ad?

(I also wonder why some ads have very few pictures or omit important areas of the interior. Does anyone have particular red flags they've learned to watch for in what is missing from ads?)

I avoid the ones that say the RV is in Las Vegas, because I had to leave in a hurry to get back to Nigeria because you won a lottery and you need to send me all of your personal information so I can share your winnings of $15 Million US!

Arizona · 09-30-2013, 02:26 PM

I think people put the stuff they think is important. I wouldn't hesitate to at least call them. If they forget the milage they probably want you to ask so they can tell you its a diesel and can go to the moon and back before it needs an oil change.
Good luck in your search.

road dogs · 09-30-2013, 02:28 PM

I have wondered about the same thing. My conclusion is that people who don't specify the make/model are trying to sell an RV that has a reputation for problems and they are trying to be foxy by not making it easy for you to research that make/model. Either that or they think they are advertising to a naive bunch of people who think RVs is RVs, all made the same....

CBoo · 09-30-2013, 02:38 PM

When we sold our previous camper, my husband and I wrote the ad together over the space of a few days. We posted on Craigslist and then on RVTrader few days later...and in just a few days we found that the RVTrader ad was much different/more details because we kept thinking of things to add.

We found a typo and it was a pain to contact the administrator and ask to have the text changed. I think ads expire after a certain length of time, and it is almost easier to let it expire and repost with the changes/extra info. you forgot the first time you posted.

So, go ahead and contact the seller because it could have just been an oversight. Not everyone has a digital camera/skills to upload and post photos. They may have asked a friend to help, and didn't want to ask for a whole photo album.

PaulAllen · 09-30-2013, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by road dogs

My conclusion is that people who don't specify the make/model are trying to sell an RV that has a reputation for problems and they are trying to be foxy by not making it easy for you to research that make/model.

Exactly what I was worried about in asking the question!

And it seems like after a few people ask (and surely people always will), the ad would be edited within a couple of days to include that additional information. So perhaps NOT seeing an ad supplemented within 72 hours or so should be seen as a red-flag of its own???

I'm also amazed at ad headings which are as ambiguous as "30' Avion with great interior!" or "2005 Carriage Cameo 5thWheel with generator". The ambiguities amaze me, especially when the descriptions add little to help or only list those things which EVERY RV has. It doesn't seem like I should have to call or email someone to find out the length, number of slide-outs, model number, or even the model name to go with the brand!

Superslif · 09-30-2013, 02:48 PM

I have sold 1000's of items on Ebay over the last 13 years, and maybe 500+ items on Craigslist the last 3 years. I can tell you that some people just don't "get it". Sometimes I see ads where I'm not sure what they are really selling. On FeeBay we call those listings "Hill-Billy" listings. And every 3rd word is mis-spelled. I think lack of the basic pertinent info just drives me crazy.

If your selling a RV on FeeBay or Craigslist you need to include: year, length, width (90" / 96" / 102" wide-body), make, model #, water cap., gray and black cap., dry weight, hitch weight, options, type of frig and HW heater (gas / electric / DSI ?), are the tires old?, over-all condition (inside and out), has it been sitting for an extended time period. Include some nice pictures....

I sold a pop-up on FeeBay and a 03' Toyota Corolla and 05' hybrid tt on Craig's. Most likely going to sell my 05' Toyota on Craigslist shortly here to.

halligan · 09-30-2013, 02:51 PM

I feel like serious sellers will leave a phone number. When we were in the market we had a general idea of what we wanted. After sifting through CL & ebay we personally contacted the seller to get a feel of how they treat a unit, what they know and all that. I should mention we bought out of country (i live in Canada). So it's obviously a little intimidating preparing to spend 30k+ on something you have never seen or touched before. If it's something you're really interested in, definitely call!

Brockx · 09-30-2013, 03:01 PM

It takes a lot of thought to write a good ad, most are too little, some are too much. Beware of the really well written ads they are smarter than the average bear

.

okgc · 09-30-2013, 03:13 PM

IMO many RV sellers do not know or even care what model they have. It is just a camper they bought and now want to get rid of.

Mr_D · 09-30-2013, 03:27 PM

There was one that was selling a 38' Dutch Star but claimed it was a 40'. Never did give me the model numbers but I could tell by looking at the pictures and counting the storage bay doors that it was a 38'.
I knew he was trying to get more for the rig by calling it a 40' when it wasn't.

Scarab0088 · 09-30-2013, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by okgc

IMO many RV sellers do not know or even care what model they have. It is just a camper they bought and now want to get rid of.

When I sold my TT (going to a Class A

) I was very sure to "stage" it just like a home sale and took lots of pictures to use in the ad. The ads were very specific about the yr/make/model and options on the TT.

I had so many pictures that I could send anyone pictures of stuff they asked question about.

BUT, I will offer that some on-line ads (mostly the free ones) limit the amount of pictures a seller can post.

And, I will add that it is not easy selling an RV and I think most people just don't understand that their return on investment is directly equal to the amount of work done to sell it -> more work at selling = more money at sale. Like: Clean the RV!!! So many people just don't get that

I think this is also a rule for dealers. If they are weak on the ad, they might be weak customer service.

That's just my opinion and only worth what you paid for it.

PaulAllen · 09-30-2013, 04:26 PM

You and many others have given me some good information to think about!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarab0088

I think this is also a rule for dealers. If they are weak on the ad, they might be weak customer service.

I've always felt that way also. And I'm always amazed when realtor ads say "Call for pricing!" because it tells me that the pricing can't be good or they would have been proud of it. (Yes, I know that, allegedly, the price is supposed to be well justified once one understands all of the wonderful features but I hate it when sellers of homes or various equipment withhold the price information as a marketing strategy. Yes, some commodities fluctuate in price too often to publish them but that excuse can't be applied to everything.)

I'm flabbergasted when I see RV ads which don't even provide the length or model name. I don't expect private sellers to be sophisticated marketers but one would think common sense would apply.

I didn't realize the private sales websites didn't all provide for easy after-posting editing/appending of ads. Thanks for that information!

Jimmerinwi · 09-30-2013, 08:56 PM

I love the ads where people are selling a very expensive item be it an RV or whatever it is and the pictures they post are blurry and just not really depicting the item up for sale. That and typos in the listing just drive me crazy. eBay has "spell check" for listing items as I'm sure most selling sites do, when I see these ads, I generally go right by it, if you don't care enough to spell check or take decent pictures I don't care what the price is!