Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > iRV2.com COMMUNITY FORUMS > iRV2.com General Discussion
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 12-20-2016, 09:43 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 58
Buying from consignor

Found a nice looking coach at a consignment shop. It is a 2014 Tiffin Allegro with 11,000 miles with most every thing we would want if ordering new.

What are some the advantages and disadvantages when buying from a consignor? This is our first motorhome and I am not very mechanically inclined so I can't say I know exactly what to look for upon inspection.

We have been looking and deciding on the right floor plan for about four years now and with retirement on the six month horizon think we are ready to pull the trigger. However this next spring would be the ideal time for us to buy, when buying used one cannot always count on perfect timing.

Any thoughts on buying from a consignor would be appreciated.

Thank you...Dirk
DLoy1324 is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 12-20-2016, 10:09 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Just For Fun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,550
Quote:
Originally Posted by DLoy1324 View Post
Found a nice looking coach at a consignment shop. It is a 2014 Tiffin Allegro with 11,000 miles with most every thing we would want if ordering new.

What are some the advantages and disadvantages when buying from a consignor? This is our first motorhome and I am not very mechanically inclined so I can't say I know exactly what to look for upon inspection.

We have been looking and deciding on the right floor plan for about four years now and with retirement on the six month horizon think we are ready to pull the trigger. However this next spring would be the ideal time for us to buy, when buying used one cannot always count on perfect timing.

Any thoughts on buying from a consignor would be appreciated.

Thank you...Dirk
Be careful! Be very, very careful.

IMHO they are one step down from a Used Car Sales Outfit. They typically have nothing invested in these units and simple act as a middle person. Typically no warranty/guarantee. Typically sold as is, where is; as many dealers do.

If you are NOT local to that coach:
1. Hire a local, certified tech to go over the coach for any obvious problems
2. Do fluid test - oil and coolant
3. Be armed with what that coach actually sells for. Rather than taking the Consignor's word for it
4. IF you place a deposit on that (any) coach, do it through a major Cred Card company back up with your Purchase agreement specifically stating "DEPOSIT IS 100% RETURNABLE IF BUYER IS NOT SATISFIED."
5. When you get to that coach, driver it for a minimum of 50 miles - preferably more to get a feeling for it and your like or dislike
6. DON'T be in a rush to buy anything. There are lots of coaches out there and more hitting the market every day. Also understand that the prices for used coaches go down each year. Not up!
7. Make your search a positive adventure. And not a drudgery of undesirable options.
8. Make a list of all the items you want on a coach
a. Minimum/maximum length
b. Options
c. Floor plan
d. A/C - Heat
e. Deal killers

Enjoy the search. And don't be afraid to come back to this forum with more questions.
__________________
2006 Monaco Signature 45' Commander IV ISX 600 & 12.5 KW Genset
2013 Avalanche toad
And a rather large and very hairy Bear for a traveling companion
Just For Fun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2016, 10:19 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Badlands Bob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Braselton, Georgia
Posts: 1,287
When you say "consignment shop", is this a licensed vehicle dealership? When I think of consignment shop, I think of selling children's clothing and old winter jackets.

In my state, it is illegal to sell a vehicle that is not titled in your name unless you have a dealer's license issued by the state.

My first concern would be, who holds the title. If there is a lien on the vehicle, this makes things a little more complicated. Obviously, you want to get a qualified inspector to check out all of the systems on the RV prior to purchase. This will cost you several hundred dollars but could save you thousands and will give you piece of mind.
__________________
2016 Winnebago 2201DS Champagne
2015 Ford F-150 XLT FX4 5.0
Badlands Bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2016, 10:35 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
TurtleKent's Avatar
 
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: The Buckeye State
Posts: 613
Send a message via AIM to TurtleKent
If you gave us dealer's name, someone on the forum might have experience dealing with them.
__________________
Kent & Sue & Belle
2019 Allegro Bus 45OPP Lovin' it
TurtleKent is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2016, 10:42 AM   #5
Moderator Emeritus
 
Gary RVRoamer's Avatar


 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 28,415
A consignment shop is a merely an agent or facilitator for a private seller, and often is not a licensed dealer at all. He handles advertising and conducts prospective buyers around, but is NOT the seller. He gives no warranty and cannot make promises in behalf of the seller. Nor can he fix problems unless the actual seller approves and agrees to pay for them. In other words, you are buying privately from another individual and generally do not have the protection of any of the states laws concerning vehicle dealer operations.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is now West Palm Beach, FL
Gary RVRoamer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2016, 10:51 AM   #6
Community Moderator
 
Spdracr39's Avatar


 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Central, Arkansas
Posts: 11,946
Consignment sellers do all the dirty work for the private seller for a percentage. There are good ones and bad ones. They make nothing if there isn't a sale and their only vested interest is in the cost to clean it, park it, and advertise it. I have always had good luck with them as a seller and a buyer for boats. They have more visibility to buyers because they usually have several units in one location to look at. As a seller there is no hassle but you get less money. Consignment purchases are going to cost more than a private sale but not as much as a dealer usually.
__________________
2004 Beaver Monterey Laguna IV
Cummins ISC 350HP Allison 3000 6 speed
2022 Tesla Model Y LR
2022 Chevy Equinox Premier 6 speed FWD Stehl dolly
Spdracr39 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2016, 10:53 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Prescott, Arizona
Posts: 3,564
Blog Entries: 6
Quote:
Originally Posted by DLoy1324 View Post

What are some the advantages and disadvantages when buying from a consignor? This is our first motorhome and I am not very mechanically inclined so I can't say I know exactly what to look for upon inspection.

Any thoughts on buying from a consignor would be appreciated.

Thank you...Dirk
The title may become a problem. For example: This happened in Arizona recently. Buyers bought a coach from a consignment dealer. After the purchase, the dealer went into bankruptcy. The buyer's have yet to receive the title to the coach that they paid for. I spoke with a repair shop in the same city where this happened and was told that there were a lot of buyers looking for Titles.

I have bought from consignment dealers before, but I doubt that I will again.
__________________
'04 Newmar MADP, 1100w of solar, Rubicon toad
ByeTheWay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2016, 11:28 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 3,059
It all depends on the Dealership that is presenting the MH. If the Dealership is a good one they are not going to jeopardize their reputation to sell someone else's MH. If they are questionable, then it really doesn't matter whether you buy new or used from them, you will treated the same either way. Do your research and don't listen to all the negativity about buying a MH that is on consignment. There are many good deals out there, and some people don't want to deal with a private sale due to the "tire kickers", and letting people test drive their MH. I agree either way have it inspected by an independent inspector, but there are many dealerships that are ethical and handle consignment sales. Many of them make sure they do any repairs needed, at the sellers cost, before putting them out on the lot. The nice thing is all the DMV paperwork can be handled via the Dealership, and there is no issue dealing with the Seller and their bank, and holding your breath while the money changes hands. So if the Dealership is a good one I would have no problem buying through them.
__________________
Mike & Charlotte
2014 Newmar Canyon Star 3610
Orange County, California
Mike and Cha is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2016, 11:48 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Falcon190's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Camas, WA
Posts: 872
Quote:
Originally Posted by ByeTheWay View Post
The title may become a problem. For example: This happened in Arizona recently. Buyers bought a coach from a consignment dealer. After the purchase, the dealer went into bankruptcy. The buyer's have yet to receive the title to the coach that they paid for. I spoke with a repair shop in the same city where this happened and was told that there were a lot of buyers looking for Titles.

I have bought from consignment dealers before, but I doubt that I will again.
After I bought my coach from a consignment dealer in Washington I wasn't given a title right away. Weeks went by and still no title. Then months went by. I was ready to hire an atty when I got a call from the police. Turned out that one of the owners of the dealership embezzled company funds and never paid the owner who didn't even know the coach had been sold. Then the dealership filed for bankruptcy.

Eventually I got the title directly from the previous owners, who got about thirty cents on the dollar of the sales price, paid out over five years.
Falcon190 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2016, 12:15 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Ca
Posts: 1,076
Hire a professional surveyor to inspect it. Will cost a little money, but could save you major headaches.
timetogo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2016, 12:37 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
4x4van's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,689
I bought my RV from a dealer who sells RV's on consignment. It is not a "new" RV dealer, but rather a parts & service center here in SoCal that also handles sales of used RV's.

The only delay was in getting my offer approved by the owner, since it was significantly lower than the initial asking price. Even that took only about 30 minutes. The rest of the transaction was no different than any car or RV purchase to I've ever made. Temporary registration taped in the windshield, recieved official registration within 2 weeks.

I've never dealt with a "consignor", so I don't know how that differs.
__________________
You don't stop playing because you grow old...You grow old because you stop playing!
2004 Itasca M30W, 1988 Jamboree S26, 1979 Roll-a-Long Huntington 23
'20 Can Am X3 X RS Turbo RR, '85 ATC250R, '12 Husky TE310
4x4van is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2016, 09:10 PM   #12
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 58
Buying from consignor

Thank you all for your responses. The consignment company is McMinnville (OR) RV Sales and Consignment and has only been in business a few months. There are however some posted reviews which are all positive. They also indicate that the coach comes with a one year warranty.

Interesting information I found out from Tiffin, the coach was built in June 2013 and the warranty began a month later. That definitely affects the value in my eyes. The NADA retail range for a '14 is $84K-$101K but the retail range for a '13 is $75K-$90K. If I were to make an offer I would lean more in the direction of the '13 range. Any thoughts?

Thank you...Dirk
DLoy1324 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-22-2016, 09:07 AM   #13
Moderator Emeritus
 
Gary RVRoamer's Avatar


 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 28,415
Make sure your payment will actually go to the seller, e.g. make the check payable to consignment agent & the actual seller. If you pay the consignment agent and he fails to pass the money on to the seller, you end up with a coach but no title, and the seller can (and probably will) take it back eventually. He is the owner of record and can report it stolen if he doesn't get paid.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is now West Palm Beach, FL
Gary RVRoamer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-22-2016, 12:38 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Badlands Bob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Braselton, Georgia
Posts: 1,287
The number one rule we used when I worked Auto Theft is, If it's not registered in your name, the vehicle does not belong to you. Ownership does not transfer until the title has been registered with the state.

Everything else is civil. Hire an attorney.
__________________
2016 Winnebago 2201DS Champagne
2015 Ford F-150 XLT FX4 5.0
Badlands Bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Buying a New lot leftover vs buying used. hydrocarbon Class A Motorhome Discussions 4 10-23-2015 11:09 AM
Buying a Clipper 17BH - need buying advice. mikedelta Travel Trailer Discussion 14 06-15-2014 11:20 PM
Buying a Neptune Campynye Monaco Owner's Forum 9 02-02-2009 06:27 PM
Thinking of buying yar1982mmer Winnebago Industries Owner's Forum 12 01-07-2009 06:19 PM
Buying in Canada Ottawa Class A Motorhome Discussions 5 11-26-2008 11:44 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:14 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.