| "body"> | | | | find the weary seller - and strike when they are at |
| Just as the RV Dealer isn't your enemy - the Private | | | | their weakest point. Ruthless -yes... Unethical - no. It's |
| Seller can be your best friend. They don't have ANY | | | | the law of the urban jungle. Live and prosper by the |
| appreciable overhead built into the sale, other than | | | | law, or live and pay a higher price... still by the law. (I |
| the cost of their advertising, and/or any repairs or | | | | can't believe I just wrote that) |
| refurbishing to be done to the RV. | | | | Higher motivation = Lower selling price |
| The private seller is usually much more motivated | | | | Most private sellers are very IMPATIENT. They easily |
| than a dealer. They only have ONE unit on which to | | | | tire of the phone calls and missed appointments. |
| concentrate their efforts. Many times their sole | | | | Many times they tire of NO phone calls or ANY |
| intention is to rid themselves of the burden of their | | | | appointments to view their RV. This quickly |
| no-longer-needed RV. | | | | motivates them to consider any and all GENUINE |
| In RARE cases, they are WISELY selling by owner so | | | | offers. |
| they can move on to a unit more suited to their | | | | Many times these sellers have found an RV that |
| present needs and desires. This allows them to sell | | | | they wish to purchase upon the sale of their present |
| their RV for a higher price than a dealer would allow | | | | unit. They worry that if their RV doesn't sell quickly |
| them on trade-in, while still offering a bargain to their | | | | they'll miss the opportunity to buy their TARGET unit. |
| potential buyers. | | | | This also makes for a very motivated seller. |
| Purchasing from a Private Seller can work to your | | | | Most of these sellers realize that if they can sell their |
| advantage in many ways: | | | | RV for a little more than the RV dealer is offering on |
| 1. Lower overhead = Lower selling price. | | | | trade-in, they will come out ahead. This is a win-win |
| 2. Higher motivation = Lower selling price. | | | | situation for both buyer and seller. They are willing to |
| 3. No over-pricing to allow for trade-ins. | | | | accept a little over wholesale for their RV, and you |
| 4. More complete vehicle history. | | | | able to purchase the same unit for MUCH less than if |
| 5. A more personal transaction. | | | | it were for sale by an RV dealer. |
| Because of these benefits, buying an RV from an | | | | No Over-Pricing to Allow for Trade-Ins |
| individual may allow you to save thousands of dollars | | | | Hopefully you realize that an RV dealer will ALWAYS |
| over buying a similar unit from a dealer. | | | | take a trade-in at, or even BELOW wholesale. Also, |
| You MUST however do your due diligence prior to | | | | that same dealer's "sale price" will nearly ALWAYS be |
| the actual purchase. Any faulty systems left | | | | set HIGHER than the actual RETAIL price of any |
| unchecked or untested will likely become your own | | | | particular unit. This is done to allow room in the price |
| burden unless discovered PRIOR to your purchase. In | | | | to show the buyer a retail price for their trade-in. |
| other words: "Caveat Emptor"... or "Buyer Beware". | | | | We know that there was a time you may have |
| For now, let's take a look at some of the | | | | traded a car, boat, RV or something else to a dealer |
| advantages of buying an RV from a private seller. | | | | (of any kind) and thought you actually received |
| Lower or NO Overhead Costs | | | | RETAIL on your trade-in. |
| Most individual sellers will incur minimal selling costs | | | | You DIDN'T - EVER! If you don't accept this for |
| when selling "by owner". Most of these costs will | | | | ABSOLUTE truth, then we have failed in our efforts |
| come from advertising in local newspaper classifieds, | | | | to educate you in the dealer/individual sales process. |
| Internet advertisements or other forms of marketing. | | | | Complete Vehicle History |
| When compared to the costs incurred by an RV | | | | Most RV dealers DON'T want you to contact the |
| dealer, the individual has a major advantage. First of | | | | previous owner of a used RV. Go ahead and try it... |
| all, they have no commissions to pay upon the sale. | | | | Next time you're looking at a used RV, ask the |
| Commissions in the RV industry are commonly set at | | | | salesman if you can contact the previous owner. |
| approximately 20% of the gross profit. | | | | You'll be amazed how the salesman can come up |
| In other words, if a salesman sells an RV for an | | | | with excuses NOT to contact the previous owner... |
| average profit of $5,000 - Then $1,000 of that is | | | | at least not until the sale has taken place. |
| going to the salesman as commission. This is not a | | | | It may be reasons of privacy; it may be against |
| concern for the private seller, therefore sales | | | | company policy... it will, however be very entertaining. |
| commission ALONE can be a potential gain of $1,000 | | | | Private RV sellers normally have a much different |
| or more to the buyer. (Not to mention the other | | | | philosophy. They're TRIHILLED to provide complete |
| $4,000 the dealer gained over his wholesale price) | | | | records of service work, maintenance, storage |
| Also, because of the minimal or nonexistent | | | | information, etc. If they don't... you might want to |
| overhead of the individual seller, profit is commonly | | | | ask a few more questions. This is a good indication |
| NOT a motive for selling. In MOST cases, the sellers | | | | of a negligent RV owner. They may be passing their |
| simply want to rid themselves of the unit. This usually | | | | headache on to you. Do your homework and ask for |
| translates into THOUSANDS of dollars in savings. | | | | as many details about the unit's history as possible. |
| While most private RV sellers will try to achieve a | | | | A more personal transaction |
| RETAIL sales price when the unit is initially offered, | | | | One of the most gratifying aspects of buying a used |
| they rapidly tire of the stresses of the sales process | | | | RV from an individual is the personal aspect of the |
| and lower their "perceived" value of the RV. In other | | | | buying process. As a result of your investigation of |
| words, when they start the sales process, they have | | | | the RV, you become intimately involved with the |
| an unrealistic impression of their RV's value. After | | | | seller. |
| dealing with prospective buyers for a minimal amount | | | | Hopefully, the RV you are considering has been the |
| of time, they rapidly become educated on the true | | | | seller's prized possession. They have loved it and |
| value of their RV. | | | | taken care of it. They have (hopefully) kept |
| Seriously, think about your own experiences. How | | | | complete records on each and every repair, |
| many times have you tried to sell something for a | | | | improvement and service work done on the vehicle. |
| premium price, only to accept a lower, yet HONEST | | | | Selling their prized RV is practically the same as losing |
| offer for much less than your original price? It all | | | | a child to college. In many ways, these conscientious |
| goes back to the old saying: "One in the hand is | | | | sellers may seem to be sizing you up as a potential |
| worth two in the bush." In other words, fatigued | | | | owner of their pre-loved RV. However, at the right |
| sellers WILL accept a bargain price if the offer is | | | | time, and for the right price... They'd more than likely |
| GENUINE. It ends their suffering - so to speak. | | | | sell it to a carnival. |
| The key is to FIND these fatigued sellers when they | | | | Barry Wilder |
| are weak. Just as the predator on the African Plains | | | | President - Best Rate, Inc. |
| seeks out the weaker and slower prey, you must | | | | |