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RE: our ebay story
Nuvi, I'm betting your title is tied up with prior owner's finance company and the dealer that should have paid them off before or after he got your money--not a good thing for you. Keep us informed how the VPP folks resolve this for you--that will add a bunch to future discussions of buying an RV on E-bay.
Well folks, I promised an update as to how this went for us.
I mentioned the eBay VPP program . . . . which is administered by Auction Insurance Agency. As promised, THEY did every bit of leg work on resolving this. They dealt with the dealer’s financing company, who were indeed the ones holding the title. I had to provide a little more documentation to show that the check had cleared the bank, and I now have my free and clear title.
So my verdict . . . if I had bought this RV directly from the dealer, the dealer would have still gone bankrupt . . . . and I would have had to chase this all down myself without the protection of the eBay VPP program. So I think that the fact I bought it on eBay was indeed a very good thing. Despite the time it took to get the title, the RV was still a sweet deal, and we have zero regrets. And hey, while we were waiting, the price of gas dropped to under $1.70 here in central Virginia. Since we bought the RV when gas was over $4 and no one wanted to buy one, we really benefited.
I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another vehicle on eBay!
Thanks for all the advice when I originally posted.
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NuviFamily
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11/23/08 07:03pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: our ebay story
No, it wasn't a consignment. It was a trade-in for a larger motorhome.
Chuckster . . . you make me laugh.
Well, I faxed all the paperwork I have to VPP gal today. We'll see how it goes.
Cheers!
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NuviFamily
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10/01/08 08:29pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: our ebay story
Wow Phils -- Sorry to hear that you are going through the same thing. I guess that the sad thing is, with the current economic turmoil, we're going to see MORE of this than not.
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NuviFamily
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09/30/08 05:41pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: our ebay story
Thanks for the feedback and advice.
Some clarifications . . . this dealer had this RV because he took it in trade-in. So the title was actually from the guy who traded it in. We also have a copy of the bill of sale from that transaction. But (at least in SC) a dealer is not required to transfer the title before reselling the rig. (An individual person MUST transfer before reselling.) So it wasn't possible for him to hand me the title then and there. Honestly . . . maybe I should have been more hesitant about this, but my research indicated that it wasn't unusual, and it certainly satisfied our bank. ((actually . . . . if Chris is right, it’s actually the floorplan company that holds the title)) Your advice about getting the title/paperwork right then and there is certainly sound, and it’s how I’ve handled used vehicle transactions with individuals, but alas not this time.
As for this being an internet sale . . . . if anything, it might have been better than dealing with the dealer directly. With eBay, at least I have a chance of falling back to the VPP insurance. From what they tell me, they, not I, will be the ones to pursue the legal avenues to get the title. If I had just skipped ebay and bought right off of his lot, I'd be even more screwed. :-) But to be clear, I would NEVER EVER buy something so big without being able to see it in person, talk to the dealer, etc. I probably wouldn't have bought it from an individual selling on ebay either, but this was a dealer.
Tiger notes that I should be able to use the bill of sale to get another temp tag in VA. So far, VA has been pretty useless in helping us. I would like to *think* they'd give us a temp tag, but doesn't seem that way. Perhaps I'll try again. Maybe we didn't ask the right question.
Vapor_Trails . . . . you're attitude is about where I am. I own the thing. It's just paperwork. I know that eventually I'll get it titled and registered in VA, it just might be painful and time-consuming.
Chris --- I thank you for that clarification. I recently exchanged emails from the owner of the dealership, and I didn’t really understand it. Your simple paragraph made much more sense . . . and I think you hit the nail on the head. It is indeed “floor-planned”, and I believe the bankruptcy court will need to be involved.
I don’t know what to expect at this time. Sounds complicated and time-consuming, but the VPP gal sounded like she was already familiar with this dealer’s situation, and she indicated a fair amount of confidence that she could resolve it for us “pretty quickly”. Whether quickly means a couple of weeks, months, a year, I really don’t know. But she at least made me feel better than any of the government employees in SC or VA have. :-)
Well, I’ve been pretty long-winded, and for that I apologize. I WILL let you know how it turns out though.
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NuviFamily
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09/30/08 05:03pm |
General RVing Issues
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our ebay story
So . . . .we bought our first motorhome in July. Great deal, bought it on ebay from a dealer in SC. We did all the homework we could think of . . . talked to the dealer several times, checked carfax and BBB, got a copy of the title to make sure it was indeed clear. Bid, won, and drove from VA to SC to inspect it and take possession. Love the RV -- it was everything we hoped for, so we paid for it and drove it home. We have camped in it several times and couldn't be happier with it.
Only . . . . the dealer hadn't yet transferred the title to us. After a number of unreturned calls, in mid-August we learned that they had gone bankrupt. (Should I have seen this coming????) SC DMV is handling titling, but every time I talk to them, they seem doubtful that they can help us given that we are out of state.
This week we officially made a claim with eBay Motors Vehicle Purchase Protection. I spoke to our "agent" today, and she seemed certain that they could help us get the title. I hope so! Fortunately we didn't have any camping planned after the temporary tags ran out until October 25th weekend, so maybe I'll get lucky and we can get the title by then so that I can register it in Virginia.
Oh well, it was such a "good deal" I should have known that there would be a snag! I was worried after talking to the SC DMV, but after talking to the VPP people, it seems like they will bear the burden of getting the title (otherwise they have to pay off the entire cost of the RV apparently -- which I don't want since I want to KEEP the darn thing.)
Wish me luck with getting the title!
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NuviFamily
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09/29/08 09:46pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: how far away can sewer dump be?
Hey there -- I must have forgotten to watch the thread -- didn't see all the replies after the first night I posted.
So, yes, my father is a septic tank contractor, and he's already coming out to the house to widen my driveway with the backhoe, so to add a line in to the tank is something he can do in his sleep. I hesitated simply because of the placement of the tank versus the closest part of the driveway. The "outlet" would end up having to be pretty much at the end of my sidewalk . . . which is just aesthetically unpleasing to me. Only other choice would be to take it across the drainfield . . . . which I don't think is an option.
But you bring up a good point of 50 feet of slinky means that much water pooling in the corrugation and a lot of water going in the septic tank to rinse it out well.
So . . . I'm thinking the suggestion to run some PVC over ground that I can remove when not in use is my favorite idea. I think we can fashion some couplers so that I can break it into a couple of lengths and just slide them under our shed when not in use.
I've looked at macerators and such, and part of my reason for posting was wondering if I needed one. I think I'll give it a try without, and we'll see how it goes.
Thanks all for the replies!
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NuviFamily
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07/28/08 09:21pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: how far away can sewer dump be?
Good. The distance from the place the MH would be parked to the connection is a consistent gradual downward slope. So I think it will be OK.
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NuviFamily
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07/25/08 08:57pm |
Beginning RVing
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how far away can sewer dump be?
Total newbie here, and still figuring out logistics. We've bought a used MH. We're having a 30Amp hookup put it at our shed where we'll park it, plus a frost-free water hookup. I already have a connection to my septic tank, but it's about 50 feet from the closest point I could park the RV. Am I going to be able to dump the black tank from a distance that far? My father is a septic tank contractor, so he can easily install another connection, but it's going to be awkward placement if I do (I don't really want a septic connection out in the yard if I can help it).
I'm hoping that gravity and water will do the trick . . . but given that all the dump hoses I see are 10-20 feet, I'm guessing that 50 feet is an unusual distance to dump.
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NuviFamily
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07/25/08 08:44pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Vacuum recommendations?
Thank you everyone for all the recommendations and options. I finally decided that going economical was the way to go for now. I bought the Bissell 3 in 1 that several posters mentioned. It doesn't have a beater brush, but I like that it is lightweight and versatile. And it's small and light enough for even my 3 year old to operate too. (I am trying hard to teach them to clean up their own messes!)
I might eventually get something heavier-duty, but this will do for now.
Thanks again . . . . I appreciate your impassioned vacuum reviews. :)
Kristin
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NuviFamily
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07/24/08 08:39pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Vacuum recommendations?
This will really sound off the wall but have you considered a small shop vac?
Not so off the wall. I have considered the option, but my experience with shop vacs is that they don't do much for hair. And my daughter and I have long hair. So I generally want something with a beater bar on it for pulling hair off of the carpet.
That said though, I could use a shop vac without a beater bar for cleanup on the road, and then follow up with my home Electrolux when we return home.
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NuviFamily
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07/17/08 07:59pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Vacuum recommendations?
Thanks for all the responses. You've come up with a variety of options that I hadn't looked at --- and I appreciate that. I hadn't yet come up with one that I really "knew" was the right one. Interesting that we have a price range of $20 - $200. :) I also found the Superfast 500 at Cyberguys, and I am thinking that might be a nice option in the middle of that range. I'll look hard at them all. Thanks again!
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NuviFamily
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07/17/08 07:01pm |
Beginning RVing
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Vacuum recommendations?
So we just bought our first MH, a used Class C, and I am in the process of cleaning and stocking it. I am anal to say the least, and I want to have a small vac on board. I'm curious as to whether anyone has recommendations for something relatively small that will work on both the carpet and linoleum? I have a Hoover stick vac at home that I like for light duty, but wonder if maybe a small canister might be better . . . for getting at places other than the floor? Two small kids on board . . . I expect messes often! :-)
If you carry a vac on board, what is it, and do you recommend it?
Thanks in advance.
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NuviFamily
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07/16/08 08:23pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Is this wrong?
Funny story . . . many years ago my father was looking to buy a used pickup from a local dealer. On a test drive, my parents found the previous owner's name and number in the manual in the glove box. They called him just to ask if there was anything that they should know about the truck before they bought it. His reply was "well yes . . . . you should know it was stolen out of our driveway and was never recovered!" Imagine my parents' surprise. Turns out that it had been stolen in Florida, sold to a small dealer in Virginia, who then sold it to the larger dealer my father was buying from.
So I say . . . make that call!
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NuviFamily
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07/11/08 11:05pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: First purchase advice
I suggest that you arrange to camp in it for at least one night and check out everything.
Clever idea. We'll have to try that.
Thanks all for the feedback. We've found an RV repair place that will do a full check, and I'll check those sites for a regular mechanic (it's a Ford model).
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NuviFamily
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07/08/08 10:27pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: NOT Shopping today..
A break is good. DH and I obsessed for a few months trying to find what we wanted, agonized over the finances, etc. Then we took a few months "off" and just started searching again recently and found the one we wanted almost immediately.
Good luck!
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NuviFamily
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07/08/08 04:36pm |
Beginning RVing
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First purchase advice
Hi there folks. I've been addicted to this site reading and absorbing all the info out there. I hope you can lend some advice before I plunk down my check. :-)
DH and I have been researching RVs for about 6 months. We had narrowed down to Class C's, preferably in the 28-31 foot range, a Minnie Winnie or Tioga. We found a used Tioga on eBay that we liked very much, talked to the dealer, did all the research we could from a distance, bid and won. Dealer lists on the auction is not as described we can walk away. (Wouldn't have bought it otherwise.) We're heading down (~400 miles from home) to look at it, and hopefully take it home.
So my questions . . . . would you advise finding a mechanic in the area to look at it with us? If so, any suggestions on how to find one? Any other things you advise we do before we had over the check?
Thanks!
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NuviFamily
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07/07/08 09:14pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: GPS lady goes berzerk!
We have Karen, the Aussie lady. DH loves her. For some reason neither of us could understand the English gal.
But I am dying now to upgrade to the Garmin 850 --- you can talk back to this one!
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NuviFamily
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07/05/08 09:26am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Handy Hints, Gadgets, Products & Gizmos
Thanks everyone. We just bought our first MH, so I have read this thread . . . all 82 pages of it, and it has been great.
Glad I stuck with it . . . the Port-a-crate posted in the last page was a great solution for our 4 legged family member. I ordered one today!
Funny, but one of the things that I am happiest about is that with a MH, we can take Buddy with us. I hated leaving him behind with family when we were vacationing.
Thanks again everyone. (BUMP)
Kristin
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NuviFamily
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07/05/08 08:57am |
General RVing Issues
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