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We have been looking for a caravn for a while now and I am getting fed up with the adverts I am seeing and the replies to them.

I am sick of traveling miles and making phone calls to folk who can`t be bothered to tell me the truth. Private sales as well as dealers. I have now  resorted to asking all my questions by email but still folk cant answer simple questions.

Do you have cris reg docs in your name?

How long have you owned the caravan?

Any faults?

Is there an xtras included in the sale, ie awning etc?

Are these questions so hard to reply to and why are these things not included in the ad in the first place.

we found exactly the same thing when we looked for our first van earlier in the year. The amount of sellers who dont even bother replying and the rubbish vans we drove miles to see that were described as immaculate.

We did eventually find one on preloved (athough we've since sold the van as the layout didnt work for us).

Thanks guy`s I thought I was going round the bend.

We nearly bought a caravn last week but something wasn`t quite right, the owner said it was cris registered in her name but when we went back to see everything working they said they didn`t have documents (which they didn`t tell me when I asked). They also had sold off water butts and couldn`t show us how everything worked, we had agreed over the phone to go back to see everything working.

Surely you would see everything working before you bought a caravan, you wouldn`t buy a car without starting up the engine.

The problem with extras is that some people turn up expecting to haggle a massive reduction in the price and expect extras thrown in.  I think extras should be given if the asking price is met, otherwise negotiated separately.

Look at it from a sellers point of view.  They deter other buyers because they think they have a serious buyer coming only for them to make a silly offer.

It works both ways.

Quote: Originally posted by brianconwy on 17/10/2011

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The problem with extras is that some people turn up expecting to haggle a massive reduction in the price and expect extras thrown in.  I think extras should be given if the asking price is met, otherwise negotiated separately.

Look at it from a sellers point of view.  They deter other buyers because they think they have a serious buyer coming only for them to make a silly offer.

It works both ways.

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When I mention extras I mean the basic running gear ie battery, step, spare wheel, water bottles. I would expect to at least known then I can work out a budget of how much I will need to spend to be able to go away and if it`s worth going to see the caravan. Not trying to rip anyone off but need a clear picture before traveling miles.

Look at it from a buyers point of view the`re the ones sending money on petrol and phone calls to find out that the caravan isn`t as described.

If everyone put the info in the ad in the first place I wouldn`t have started this topic.

am looking to buy our next 'van now we've got a taste for 'vanning, not in too much of a rush but the one thing i'm finding and it's really peeing me off is the number of folk that advertise a 'van for sale , tell you everything about it bar the important bit's i.e . length, laden / un-laden weights and when questioned have no idea what these are .

 how the heck have they been towing them safely with-out such basic info'?

Quote: Originally posted by Travel Bug on 17/10/2011

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We have been looking for a caravn for a while now and I am getting fed up with the adverts I am seeing and the replies to them.

I am sick of traveling miles and making phone calls to folk who can`t be bothered to tell me the truth. Private sales as well as dealers. I have now  resorted to asking all my questions by email but still folk cant answer simple questions.

Do you have cris reg docs in your name?

How long have you owned the caravan?

Any faults?

Is there an xtras included in the sale, ie awning etc?

Are these questions so hard to reply to and why are these things not included in the ad in the first place.

Post last edited on 17/10/2011 15:08:03

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I had to smile at this. I spent months trying to find a decent caravan and as you say, you can never get a straight forward answer. Try asking if the van has any damp and you will be amazed at the answers

Quote: Originally posted by realbusdriver on 17/10/2011

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am looking to buy our next 'van now we've got a taste for 'vanning, not in too much of a rush but the one thing i'm finding and it's really peeing me off is the number of folk that advertise a 'van for sale , tell you everything about it bar the important bit's i.e . length, laden / un-laden weights and when questioned have no idea what these are .

 how the heck have they been towing them safely with-out such basic info'?

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We found this too when buying our 'van back in the summer. The people we eventually bought our van from did not have/know this info when we responded to the ad.

Had to get all the info from the makers website. Thankfully it was only a few miles away and was all ok when we came to view it. Vendors turned out to be lovely genuine people who simply hadn't taken to caravanning - they had bought it only last year from a dealer. It came with everything we needed to get going - but the ad had one grainy picture and two lines. We probably would not have travelled any distance to see it.

Looking on eBay it is a wonder some people manage to sell anything? Badly spelt (there is a spell checker) and poorly punctuated descriptions often in block capitals with meaningless, often duplicated pictures. If they can't be bothered with the ad - what is the item going to be like??

So pleased our van was local and all ok on inspection.