Message Forums

Quote: Originally posted by millermicm on 30/11/2009

---

Not off Ebay but I bought my first van off one of these dealer resellers. He was honest about what he was doing and had 3 vans around his house but I took his word that it was a good van. I looked around it and believed him when he said it all worked.

I was fortunate and I got away with it and had a reasonable van which we toured france and spain. However, I think stephysue is giving a reasonable warning to all novices - beware. Especially as he appears to be doing the decent thing about how he is selling it on.

---

 Thankyou Steve, oh by the way i'm a she

Quote: Originally posted by snowy747 on 30/11/2009

---

I think you have just got to admit you didn't get it right this time.  Had you taken time to look the van over you would have run a mile, or if you didn't applied for a guide dog at the very least!

Ebay and indeed private ads are a case of buyer beware, the onus is on you to check it out and make sure the product meets the description.

Put it down to experience but if you ever part with hard earned money again, take your time to check everything out and don't part with money until you have seen everything working.

Ali

---

hi,very sorry to here about your caravan.we bought ours off ebay 3 weeks ago,it had been stored under cover for last 10 years,now we had it stored outside on a farm in all this wet weather,i`m going tomorrow to check and see if its still dry.previous owner had no problems me using a damp meter on it.if the person you bought it from wont give you any money back why don`t you put massive bids in on all his caravans on ebay with no intension of buying them,it might p*ss  him off a little bit,good luck

Quote: Originally posted by stephysue on 30/11/2009

---

---

 Thankyou Steve, oh by the way i'm a she

---

Quote: Originally posted by sparksy on 30/11/2009

---

hi,very sorry to here about your caravan.we bought ours off ebay 3 weeks ago,it had been stored under cover for last 10 years,now we had it stored outside on a farm in all this wet weather,i`m going tomorrow to check and see if its still dry.previous owner had no problems me using a damp meter on it.if the person you bought it from wont give you any money back why don`t you put massive bids in on all his caravans on ebay with no intension of buying them,it might p*ss  him off a little bit,good luck

---

Wouldn't recommend this!!! Remember bidding on an item is a legal contract to buy. ok you always have the 'not as described' option, but it may be as described!

Quote: Originally posted by Paul B on 30/11/2009

---

Quote: Originally posted by sparksy on 30/11/2009

---

hi,very sorry to here about your caravan.we bought ours off ebay 3 weeks ago,it had been stored under cover for last 10 years,now we had it stored outside on a farm in all this wet weather,i`m going tomorrow to check and see if its still dry.previous owner had no problems me using a damp meter on it.if the person you bought it from wont give you any money back why don`t you put massive bids in on all his caravans on ebay with no intension of buying them,it might p*ss  him off a little bit,good luck

---

Wouldn't recommend this!!! Remember bidding on an item is a legal contract to buy. ok you always have the 'not as described' option, but it may be as described!

---

Quote: Originally posted by millermicm on 30/11/2009

---

Quote: Originally posted by stephysue on 30/11/2009

---

---

 Thankyou Steve, oh by the way i'm a she

---

Sorry - never was much good at sex!

---

I hate buying things second hand, especially if they are a few years old. I'm hopeless at working out who I can trust until its too late, these salesmen are very good at telling lies.

I prefer to buy newer, say 3 years old or so, much less likely to have problems and always buy from a proper dealer with a reputation to preserve. Yes they are slightly more expensive, but that extra money pays for a proper warranty that puts things right if there are problems.

Its better to buy something that will last 5,6,7 years or so because every time you change there is a risk of getting it wrong.

Quote: Originally posted by snowy747 on 30/11/2009

---

You don't have much luck with buying vans Stephysue.  If I was you I would be a little more discerning, grab a damp meter, avoid fleabay like the plague and find a nice little number from somebody that is giving up perhaps?

Ali

---

agree with the damp meter quote snowy but disagree with the avoiding ebay part of your post.i sold my old elddiss on ebay and the buyer was very happy with it despite not seeing it until he turned up to pay for it.i sell lots of stuff on the bay and have always been fair to my buyers.3 times i have refunded a buyer full price and postage either due to damage in transit or once when i damaged it after the auction ended(dropped a mobile and cracked the screen)and have always had positive feedback about being honest and fair.

each to their own though Im also aware that ebay isnt for everyone.

Quote: Originally posted by navver on 30/11/2009

---

I hate buying things second hand, especially if they are a few years old. I'm hopeless at working out who I can trust until its too late, these salesmen are very good at telling lies.

I prefer to buy newer, say 3 years old or so, much less likely to have problems and always buy from a proper dealer with a reputation to preserve. Yes they are slightly more expensive, but that extra money pays for a proper warranty that puts things right if there are problems.

Its better to buy something that will last 5,6,7 years or so because every time you change there is a risk of getting it wrong.

---

Don't disagree & I bought my last van from a dealer for these reasons but I get the impression from the threads I read on here that people also get a bad deal from dealers - even on new vans sometimes.

It is difficult sometimes to know what's best

There are a lot of decent sellers and a lot of rogues, if somebody has a problem distinguishing from the two Fifebloke then probably for the best that they avoid it.  I think Stephy Sue got bitten by another van too, prior to buying this one.

If you can go with an open mind, check it out thoroughly and NEVER part with a penny until you have satisfied yourself it is as described then all well and good.

Ali

Quote: Originally posted by stephysue on 30/11/2009

---

Quote: Originally posted by snowy747 on 30/11/2009

---

I think you have just got to admit you didn't get it right this time.  Had you taken time to look the van over you would have run a mile, or if you didn't applied for a guide dog at the very least!

Ebay and indeed private ads are a case of buyer beware, the onus is on you to check it out and make sure the product meets the description.

Put it down to experience but if you ever part with hard earned money again, take your time to check everything out and don't part with money until you have seen everything working.

Ali

---

I know i got it wrong, please don't take the mick out of me with your comment's, they really don't help my situation

---

I wasn't taking the mickey but from the posts I have seen you make over the months you haven't exercised caution buying and hence found yourself in this unfortunate situation.  The point I was making was that if you take your time, check everything works BEFORE you hand over the dosh, you should manage not to get ripped off next time.

Ali

Unfortunately you can always get "caught" regardless of how vigilant you are. The del boy selling is usually one step ahead of the buyer - after all he knows what he is trying to hide, you don't. This applies to cars, caravans, whatever.

I have had good and bad experiences buying from dealers, private sellers and on ebay. Got caught with dealer missrepresenting caravan age once (age = £'s) and of course didn't want to know - an appearance at the small claims sorted that one out.

Like lesjane said - Buyer Beware

It is difficult sometimes to know what's best"

Thats why I go back to the same dealer next time if I'm plessed with what I had. Went to one car dealer for the 3rd car and started looking at one and he came out and said "I wouldn't bother with that one if I were you. I bought another from him and it was good.