Selling

Swifty76
Swifty76 Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited February 2017 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

Tips on selling our motor home please

Comments

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582
    1000 Comments 250 Likes Photogenic
    edited February 2017 #2

    The safe option is selling it to a dealer but you will get far more if you sell privately. There are various web sites where you will be able to advertise and it is difficult to say which is best but you could try the clubs site first.

    Having put details on the web you then have to sort out the real buyers from the con artists who will answer in most cases in some numbers.

    Basically you have to avoid any that look wrong with all sorts of offers. You need to have all the paperwork ready with purchase documents and service and any repair documents and MOT to show purchasers. If they want a test drive make sure you have the keys until you are inside the van and get them back before you get out. You also need to make sure you have the insurance cover for them to drive as if not you will have to demonstrate.

    Get cash or a transfer into your account before you let the van go.

    It is a lot of work and needs great care so you have to decide if the extra work is worth the extra time taken and more cash.

  • Pippah45
    Pippah45 Forum Participant Posts: 2,452
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2017 #3

    Are you giving up or just changing to something else?  I would Part/Ex if possible thereby avoiding the pitfalls.  But I sold a caravan successfully on Gumtree. 

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited February 2017 #4

    I advertised one of mine in MMM and sold it for a far better figure than the PX figure. Then went to the dealer some weeks later with cash in hand and no PX and got a very good discount on a new one. In effect I really 'lost' very little indeed on what was my four year old van.

  • petertr
    petertr Forum Participant Posts: 199
    edited February 2017 #5

    Ebay is better than autotrader in my experience of selling cars, caravans and motorhomes.  And its cheaper.

    Gumtree is free, so doesn't hurt.

     

    Never entertain anyone who isn't going to pick it up at the same time as you get the money.

    Bank transfers are safe - if the money is actually in your bank, the deal is done.

    Paypal sales can be reversed after the fact.

    Good luck.

  • squip
    squip Forum Participant Posts: 42
    edited February 2017 #6

    Petertr

    I am thinking of selling something [not caravan related] so I am interested in what you say that Paypal payments can be reversed. This worries me as my item may well be paid for by Paypal. 

    Would you please explain to me how the payment can be reversed and what, if anything can be done to stop it.

    thanks  --  squip

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited February 2017 #7

    Hi Swifty, I sold our last caravan via a dealer acting as a broker.  No risk on my part, fix fee which included advertising, displaying etc, fixed fee for sale, no risk as dealer sorted money, van sold in less than a month netting me more than £1500 more than part exchange offer.  Great experience and entirely happy

  • dmiller555
    dmiller555 Forum Participant Posts: 717
    500 Comments
    edited February 2017 #8

    I use PayPal for most of my online purchases and sales, thousands of them so it obviously works for me.

    I'f the purchaser doesn't receive the item you sent to them they can claim a refund so when posting use a signed for delivery service and consider insurance if it's high value.

    Do not use PayPal if the purchaser is going to call on you and collect the goods, insist on bank transfer or cash. Lots of scams around that one.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582
    1000 Comments 250 Likes Photogenic
    edited February 2017 #9

    Problems can also arise if the buyer claims the goods are not as described or faulty.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited February 2017 #10

    Top tip, mark the item your selling with your post code with a uv pen.  There are a lot cases where the goods sold and reported as not as described.  When the refund is paid and the faulty goods returned the item is not the one you sent.  

    Stay cynical and beware

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2017 #11

    You could try brokerage, agree a selling price with a reputable dealer and they sell the van for you taking a fee for the sale.

  • petertr
    petertr Forum Participant Posts: 199
    edited February 2017 #12

    Don't have the exact details on how you can reverse a paypal transaction but it always appears on the "tips to avoid being scammed" articles.

    Paypal is fine for buying things.  And not so bad for selling on ebay etc for small items.

    But I wouldn't touch it for big numbers.  When I sold my motorhome, I walked into the bank with the buyer and we did the transfer over the counter.  When I bought my car, I did the transfer on my phone in front of the seller - so we could all see it was legit.

    Plus, no fees - unlike Paypal which is quite hefty iirc

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582
    1000 Comments 250 Likes Photogenic
    edited February 2017 #13

    You do have to be very careful with this as there are cases of the agent just running off with the money.