PP Bear
LIFE MEMBER
Heres my story regarding the dealer verses private sale. It's understandable that the dealer has overheads to cover, that a motorhome may stand for sometime before a sale occurs and that the chances are you'll pay top dollar. For that you should expect a first class service, an immaculately displayed model, a habitation check and mechanical service, plus a warranty too.
I was looking for an Autotrail Dakota SE and had £35K to spend, so was looking for a 2006 (ish) model as I should be able to cover that with this amount of cash to spend.
I found only 2 for sale within a reasonable distance, one at a dealer and one private. I visited the dealer first in Southampton as they were nearest and viewed the 2006 4 birth SE with 36000 miles on the clock. The dealer told me that I'd get a habitation and mechanical check, but that I'd need to change the cam belt "just to be safe" I asked the price and he said about £200 just parts. When I enquired as to why they would sell me a motorhome for this price without maintenance that was required, they simply replied that they wouldn't cover this in the sale and it's for peace of mind only. The vans age said it needed doing, especially if it had been sitting for some time. There was also no microwave fitted and while it was an SE, there was no extras to talk of and looked tired and unloved. The dealer said that they'd prepare it before i collected it. Asking price £34,900. I info'd the dealer that I would be looking at the private sale the next day and get back to them.
When I visited the private sale, the vehicle was immaculate and was gleaming both inside and out. There was a box full of receipts, manuals and every single bit of history. It was a 6 birth on a 2006 plate, had covered 11000 miles, had the microwave, a solar panel, fitted satellite and TV system, DVD player fitted in the dash, as well as numerous extras they would be leaving in her (leveling ramps, 2xpower cables and connectors, hose and fittings etc), it was exactly what I was looking for. The price was £34,000 and we shook on £31,000. I spent 3 hours at the sellers house, half of which was spent indoors drinking tea and making new friends. The lady then went on to mention that a dealer from Southampton had called her and mentioned that someone was coming to view the van and that he would buy her's there and then on the phone as he wanted to make a sale on the one he held. She refused his offer.
After one phone call back to said dealer to "discuss" his tactics, I paid the lady and have now had a fabulous first year in my wonderful motorhome and I couldn't be happier
I know that dealers need to make a living, but not at our expense. I'm a military man and we train for EVERYTHING, so maybe the sales guys should undertake some form of training too, it might just make a difference to completing a sale or not.
I'll now always look to buy private as the owners are usually proud to sell on their "homes" and display them in their full glory, it keeps the private sales trade alive and you usually save money in the process. You can also buy a warranty if needed for peace of mind.
Read on dealers, I know your not all bad, but there isn't much press for honest ones I'm sorry to say :thumb:
I was looking for an Autotrail Dakota SE and had £35K to spend, so was looking for a 2006 (ish) model as I should be able to cover that with this amount of cash to spend.
I found only 2 for sale within a reasonable distance, one at a dealer and one private. I visited the dealer first in Southampton as they were nearest and viewed the 2006 4 birth SE with 36000 miles on the clock. The dealer told me that I'd get a habitation and mechanical check, but that I'd need to change the cam belt "just to be safe" I asked the price and he said about £200 just parts. When I enquired as to why they would sell me a motorhome for this price without maintenance that was required, they simply replied that they wouldn't cover this in the sale and it's for peace of mind only. The vans age said it needed doing, especially if it had been sitting for some time. There was also no microwave fitted and while it was an SE, there was no extras to talk of and looked tired and unloved. The dealer said that they'd prepare it before i collected it. Asking price £34,900. I info'd the dealer that I would be looking at the private sale the next day and get back to them.
When I visited the private sale, the vehicle was immaculate and was gleaming both inside and out. There was a box full of receipts, manuals and every single bit of history. It was a 6 birth on a 2006 plate, had covered 11000 miles, had the microwave, a solar panel, fitted satellite and TV system, DVD player fitted in the dash, as well as numerous extras they would be leaving in her (leveling ramps, 2xpower cables and connectors, hose and fittings etc), it was exactly what I was looking for. The price was £34,000 and we shook on £31,000. I spent 3 hours at the sellers house, half of which was spent indoors drinking tea and making new friends. The lady then went on to mention that a dealer from Southampton had called her and mentioned that someone was coming to view the van and that he would buy her's there and then on the phone as he wanted to make a sale on the one he held. She refused his offer.
After one phone call back to said dealer to "discuss" his tactics, I paid the lady and have now had a fabulous first year in my wonderful motorhome and I couldn't be happier
I know that dealers need to make a living, but not at our expense. I'm a military man and we train for EVERYTHING, so maybe the sales guys should undertake some form of training too, it might just make a difference to completing a sale or not.
I'll now always look to buy private as the owners are usually proud to sell on their "homes" and display them in their full glory, it keeps the private sales trade alive and you usually save money in the process. You can also buy a warranty if needed for peace of mind.
Read on dealers, I know your not all bad, but there isn't much press for honest ones I'm sorry to say :thumb:
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