Checking a van before buying help

[Diane1969]

Hi, we have found a van that is a very very good price, too good to be true really. I have done a vehical registration check and it's not stolen and all checks out with no outstanding finance , is this all I need to do or are there other checks I need to do?

 

[Judge Mental]

Well what do you make of this ?????

The campervan is already at the delivery company. The transport is free because i supposed to send the campervan to another buyer, then he told me that he doesn't have money to pay for it. He already paid the transport charges.
I have a contract with eBay so this deal must go through them. I'm very busy with my job ( I'm a surgeon ) so I can't meet in person with you so this is the reason why I chose to sell my campervan over the Internet. According with the eBay you have 3 days from the time you receive the campervan to inspect it and decide if you want to keep it or not.
Here is how it will work:
1. First of all I will need the following details from you:
-Full name and delivery address.
2. After I will receive the details from you, I will forward them to eBay.
3. After they will process your info, they will send us both more informations about how we can complete this transaction. They will contact you regarding the delivery process and the arrival time.
4. Once payment is made (bank transfer) eBay will start the delivery process and it will take up to 48 hours for you to receive the campervan. After you receive the campervan you will have 3 days to test, verify and do whatever you need to it. If you will buy, then I will receive the payment through eBay.
5. If you decide not to buy the campervan, then eBay will send it back to me (and you won't be charged for this). If you wish to make the transaction, please send me your complete name and address so that we can proceed. I look forward to hear from you.

what do I think?..first few lines enough.. wasting your time looking at nonsense like that, with its pidgin English?..surgeon my backside. Your just being drawn in by the price in the first place. all part of the find a mug tactics

 

[Boringfrog]

You can always tell if its a scam if : THE PRICE IS WAY TOO CHEAP! End of.

 

[Charlie123]

to be caught by this very common scam, a buyer needs to be gulibble or greedy

Perhaps a little harsh...... Some people are simply too trusting. Also as the OP points out very busy.
Its easy to say but not always quite easy to do...

 

[Judge Mental]

No harsh about it..the scammers aim to attract and feed of the gullible. Most sensible people would give up after reading a few lines...

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[Badknee]

Two things,
If it looks too good to be true it probably isn't true,
buyer beware.

 

[mjltigger]

No harsh about it..the scammers aim to attract and feed of the gullible. Most sensible people would give up after reading a few lines...

my first place researching vans was ebay.. my assessment of the worth of a van therefore was based on ebay prices.. many of which are adverts from less than scrupulous people.

Without a lot of research, people are unlikely to realise that the scammers are the wrong price as they see that as being a fair price based on other adverts.. what also seems to happen is that sellers that haven't the support of a network like fun use the prices they see online (ebay again) to base their own selling price on.. that means some genuine vans are advertised cheaper than their worth further muddying the waters for the new buyer.

I agree that the idea of the scam is to play on the 'bargain' element but it is unfair to suggest this is based on the greed of the buyer, it could just as well be naivety.

 

[Judge Mental]

my first place researching vans was ebay.. my assessment of the worth of a van therefore was based on ebay prices.. many of which are adverts from less than scrupulous people.

Without a lot of research, people are unlikely to realise that the scammers are the wrong price as they see that as being a fair price based on other adverts.. what also seems to happen is that sellers that haven't the support of a network like fun use the prices they see online (ebay again) to base their own selling price on.. that means some genuine vans are advertised cheaper than their worth further muddying the waters for the new buyer.

I agree that the idea of the scam is to play on the 'bargain' element but it is unfair to suggest this is based on the greed of the buyer, it could just as well be naivety.

Semamtics......anyway I never mentioned greed as agree its inappropriate in a way, but all feeds into the same problem..

Opted of all this over 25 years ago. I get the idea as to cost by looking on Link Removed , from there, having gotten an idea I go about finding a better deal. Up to now have never been disappointed...touch wood

 

[Charlie123]

No harsh about it..the scammers aim to attract and feed of the gullible. Most sensible people would give up after reading a few lines...

I think my friend you and I realise it's not quite that simple. People get carried away and exited about what is after all a purchase that means a lot.... Some may not even realise how expensive MHs can be.... It came as a shock to me when we first started looking ! Ended up spending twice as much as my expectations but they were founded on fancifulness in truth I hadn't a clue ..

 

[etap]

Don't do it or you will find yourself up a Gumtree.
Etap

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[Charlie123]

what do I think?..first few lines enough.. wasting your time looking at nonsense like that, with its pidgin English?..surgeon my backside. Your just being drawn in by the price in the first place. all part of the find a mug tactics

.surgeon my backside

Heameriods ?

 

[Judge Mental]

I think my friend you and I realise it's not quite that simple. People get carried away and exited about what is after all a purchase that means a lot.... Some may not even realise how expensive MHs can be.... It came as a shock to me when we first started looking ! Ended up spending twice as much as my expectations but they were founded on fancifulness in truth I hadn't a clue ..

That's the dilemma..the not very experienced look at all the big shinny boxes on wheels and get carried away. Not really examining the practicality & reality of living with one. Issues like payload, parking, running costs, is the warranty worth the paper its written on, support, what will it be worth a year down the road IF we change our minds, want to move on to something else etc..etc....

You see them at shows bless em, running round like headless chickens..blinded by it all. Buy in haste repent at leisure is a good motto....

Eddie

 

[Judge Mental]

.surgeon my backside

Heameriods ?

cant even talk proper enquish

can see it now: "oh my a surgeon..right posh....must be honest". sadly you cant make it up.

 

[Diane1969]

Did the photos of the vehicle by any chance contain a contact email address.
I have noticed a lot of vehicles on Gumtree that are scams and follow the same format. The vehicle is greatly under priced and usually the only means of contact is via email. I enquired about a van a few weeks ago and got a similar reply to the one you got including the fact that the previous intended buyer had already paid for delivery costs and the seller was also a doctor.
Gumtree is totally littered with scams, I reported 5 to them yesterday. They don't seem to be putting much effort into filtering them out as a lot of scam ads are being posted back on Gumtree quite soon after they have been removed.

It was yesterday I saw it and there were a few vans listed but very low prices and I genuinely thought it was a typo error on gumtrees part. As the saying goes " if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is "

 

[Diane1969]

[QUOTE="Diane1969,4. Once payment is made (bank transfer) eBay will start the delivery process and it will take up to 48 hours for you to receive the campervan.

I am sure that you know it is a scam by now, the quote above says all I need to know.

PLEASE, PLEASE, Do not be tempted with this scam.[/QUOTE]
I only posted the email they had sent as I was very certain by that point it was a scam , I posted it to show how they were doing the scam. I absolutly have no intention of going there

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[Diane1969]

what do I think?..first few lines enough.. wasting your time looking at nonsense like that, with its pidgin English?..surgeon my backside. Your just being drawn in by the price in the first place. all part of the find a mug tactics

Yes it was obvious that they were not English due to very poor wording And also not a surgeon

 

[Diane1969]

You can always tell if its a scam if : THE PRICE IS WAY TOO CHEAP! End of.

Perhaps a little harsh...... Some people are simply too trusting. Also as the OP points out very busy.
Its easy to say but not always quite easy to do...

I have to say when she said her husband had an affair and had left her and their two children I did wonder if it was a revenge tactic as she also said it was his pride and joy which was why she wanted it in the settlement! So yes maybe gullible but I always new it was to good and would be a scam , but I still checked it out

 

[Diane1969]

my first place researching vans was ebay.. my assessment of the worth of a van therefore was based on ebay prices.. many of which are adverts from less than scrupulous people.

Without a lot of research, people are unlikely to realise that the scammers are the wrong price as they see that as being a fair price based on other adverts.. what also seems to happen is that sellers that haven't the support of a network like fun use the prices they see online (ebay again) to base their own selling price on.. that means some genuine vans are advertised cheaper than their worth further muddying the waters for the new buyer.

I agree that the idea of the scam is to play on the 'bargain' element but it is unfair to suggest this is based on the greed of the buyer, it could just as well be naivety.

So glad you have said this as we were at the Lincoln motorhome show today and saw a van we liked at £42.000 sadly not in our budget but since coming home I have searched for it on line and have found two the same year one at £32 500 and one at £34 995 . So what is the realistic price ?

 

[Diane1969]

I think my friend you and I realise it's not quite that simple. People get carried away and exited about what is after all a purchase that means a lot.... Some may not even realise how expensive MHs can be.... It came as a shock to me when we first started looking ! Ended up spending twice as much as my expectations but they were founded on fancifulness in truth I hadn't a clue ..

That have gone up so much, I had a 1989 swift kon tiki back in 2002 I sold it for £9 500 in 2003 and saw one a couple of weeks ago on eBay that was on for only a fraction less, can't quite remember how much but I was shocked

 

[mjltigger]

So glad you have said this as we were at the Lincoln motorhome show today and saw a van we liked at £42.000 sadly not in our budget but since coming home I have searched for it on line and have found two the same year one at £32 500 and one at £34 995 . So what is the realistic price ?

Exactly. nd to disregard the cheapest because it 'must be a scam at that price' would potentially cost you 10k and leave a seller with a van they don't need.. probably to end up being traded in for peanuts and sold at next years show for 40k.

All of the other advice on here is spot on. Never buy until you have crawled under over and through, never buy without visiting home address, check vin etc but the price isn't a reliable sign of a con... If it was the consters would just put a higher price and scam more out of people

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[GeebeeJaybee]

I think the most dangerous scams are the ones where things are advertised cheap - but not too cheap. The ones that are stupidly cheap just scream scam but if something is only 10-20% cheap then you might think they are priced for a quick sale. Still wise to be careful.

Oh, and for those saying that the poor english means he can't be a surgeon - my sister is a nurse and says a lot of the consultants dont have english as a first language and their written skills are appalling!

 

[DBK]

That have gone up so much, I had a 1989 swift kon tiki back in 2002 I sold it for £9 500 in 2003 and saw one a couple of weeks ago on eBay that was on for only a fraction less, can't quite remember how much but I was shocked

Secondhand MHs in the UK do seem to go for premium prices, it is as if the depreciation seen on cars doesn't exist for MHs. If you are feeling adventurous you could buy one from say Germany and import it. There are many on here who can advise you how to do it and you would almost certainly get more MH for your money.

 

[Puddleduck]

Glad you weren't caught out, many have been and even through "reputable" dealers.

If buying second hand you can always ask a Funster to go along with you as a second opinion never hurts and a genuine seller won't mind you bringing a friend.

 

[Diane1969]

I think the most dangerous scams are the ones where things are advertised cheap - but not too cheap. The ones that are stupidly cheap just scream scam but if something is only 10-20% cheap then you might think they are priced for a quick sale. Still wise to be careful.

Oh, and for those saying that the poor english means he can't be a surgeon - my sister is a nurse and says a lot of the consultants dont have english as a first language and their written skills are appalling!

I can't believe how many of these scams are on ebay and gumtree , now I know what to look for I would say at least 5 a day are listed, it's really put me off trying to get a private sale,so think we will stick with a dealer

 

[Diane1969]

Secondhand MHs in the UK do seem to go for premium prices, it is as if the depreciation seen on cars doesn't exist for MHs. If you are feeling adventurous you could buy one from say Germany and import it. There are many on here who can advise you how to do it and you would almost certainly get more MH for your money.

I really don't have the time to buy abroad so it's out of the question sadly

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[34127]

I can't believe how many of these scams are on ebay and gumtree , now I know what to look for I would say at least 5 a day are listed, it's really put me off trying to get a private sale,so think we will stick with a dealer

I have found Gumtree to be littered with scams. They do remove the adds when you report them but the scammers post them back on again soon after.

 

[Puddleduck]

I really don't have the time to buy abroad so it's out of the question sadly

We are thinking about going to one of the big German shows to look round. Treat it as a working holiday

 

[34127]

https://www.gumtree.com/p/campervan...t-re-advertised-due-to-timewaster-/1135876516

2006 Fiat Swift, 27000 miles, £5995.

This gets advertised on a daily basis

 

[Diane1969]

I have found Gumtree to be littered with scams. They do remove the adds when you report them but the scammers post them back on again soon after.

Yes I've noticed that , I've reported one on eBay as I had a van in my watch list that only ended 3 weeks ago and was listed at a low price from a different location , trouble is it took 24 hours for them to remove it and then it was back on the next day, I wonder how many people they got hooked before it was removed

 

[gus-lopez]

Secondhand MHs in the UK do seem to go for premium prices, it is as if the depreciation seen on cars doesn't exist for MHs. If you are feeling adventurous you could buy one from say Germany and import it. There are many on here who can advise you how to do it and you would almost certainly get more MH for your money.

Friend of mine bought a 2007 Compass in 2011 for £26750. Sold it at end of June for a clear £30k.