Selling motorhome back to original dealership

[debs65]

We have decided to sell our motorhome as it doesn’t suit us and will wait to buy another one:
We contacted the original dealer who agreed to buy it back but wanted to reduce the price by £9000 as this was they VAT they paid on it when they sold it to us brand new and a further obvious reduction as it is now a used motorhome. We bought it brand new 12 months ago and only has 3k mileage. Purchase price 56k and they wanted to give us 43k!
We phoned a different dealership who offered us 52k as it is a desirable MH with lots of added extras. They know they could sell it quickly end would rather have a MH than an empty space.
Is the original dealer trying to work a fast one!!

 

[Vipar]

Estate agents, second hand car salespeople and motor home dealers ,spot the difference

All related to each other

 

[POH]

give Somerset motorhome centre a call , when we sold our AT they gave us a fair price knowing it had a damp issue
phone numbers 01823444193 or 07860428477 and they collect as well money is in your a/c before they drive off.
then you can go with cash and get a better deal.

 

[Eggs]

Am I missing something, again? You want shot of it, you've been offered £52k, if you are happy with that take the money. Who cares what the original dealer is on with.

 

[Old Gibber]

I sold my van recently for more than I paid for it new 3 years before. The dealer offered £10k less than I achieved against a new van.

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[debs65]

Am I missing something, again? You want shot of it, you've been offered £52k, if you are happy with that take the money. Who cares what the original dealer is on with.

No your not missing anything I was just interested to know if others had experience with dealers doing this. It was just very disappointing as they have been really great with their service

 

[Lenny HB]

ISTM that a 4K drop after 12 months isn't a bad deal, notwithstanding the current market. You've then got the cash in your hot little hand for when the "right" van comes along.

4k is a massive drop in the current market. 4½ years ago when I traded my van for the current one I only lost £6k after 3 years.

If the other dealer is offering £52 could probably sell privately for at least £56k if not more.

 

[Eggs]

No your not missing anything I was just interested to know if others had experience with dealers doing this. It was just very disappointing as they have been really great with their service

Sounds like he/she was trying their luck, unfortunately for them they got outbid by £9k. Good luck with the sale, and your next van.

You only get 5 free posts here then you need to join to take part, well worth it while you are looking for a new van.

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

When you bought the van you paid the VAT, Why would you want/need to pay it again? We bought our van new 3 and a half years ago and when we re-insured it this year the replacement value has increased by 12% on last year, it is now valued at £3k less than we paid originally in 2018 and it's got 11,000 miles on the clock. Try hiring a van, you'll pay £600 - £900 a week, as far as we're concerned we've had free holidays since we bought it

 

[GAVLAD]

I'd save yourself the hassle and sell it to the alternative dealer that offered you more money.
Maybe the alternative dealer is looking at the bigger picture in that they see customer retention to attract you using them for servicing, mot's and buying spares to make some money. Maybe they have a buyer lined up who's wish list ticks what you have and they know they can move it on quickly.
Or maybe, the original dealer is struggling and thinks if you're desperate to sell, you'll accept their first offer and they can then make a killing.
Either way, go with the least hassle for the most money.
The excuse of charging you for the tax they paid is just a stealth commission. If they're VAT registered, they'd claim some of it back anyway. I wonder whether they charge the VAT on items bought in their shop that someone decides to return?

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[The Wino]

I'd save yourself the hassle and sell it to the alternative dealer that offered you more money.
Maybe the alternative dealer is looking at the bigger picture in that they see customer retention to attract you using them for servicing, mot's and buying spares to make some money. Maybe they have a buyer lined up who's wish list ticks what you have and they know they can move it on quickly.
Or maybe, the original dealer is struggling and thinks if you're desperate to sell, you'll accept their first offer and they can then make a killing.
Either way, go with the least hassle for the most money.
The excuse of charging you for the tax they paid is just a stealth commission. If they're VAT registered, they'd claim some of it back anyway. I wonder whether they charge the VAT on items bought in their shop that someone decides to return?

I think they'd claim almost all the vat back because the only vat they do pay is more or less on their net profit they can reclaim vat on the cost price plus on all their business expenses other than staff. I'd sell it to the higher bidding dealer and tell the original seller that they tried to swindle me and I wouldn't be going back. I suspect the op has made their decision now.

 

[Don Campbell]

Don't really understand why this is so complicated. Dealer B has a buyer lined up and he's going to make a few bob for very little effort, so if you don't want all the hassle of selling privately take the money and run. The VAT argument is pure nonsence.

 

[Marauder]

there are some very clever scammers around at the moment!

.
That's why I chose to sell, and then buy thro motorhomedepot.com

Also, they offered to hold cash over from my sale to my purchase, which neatly swerved my anxiety about cash transfers and scammers.
So the whole thing worked smoothly. Was all done in less than a week start to finish.

One of their agent bought my old van ( for original purchase price ), and arranged my viewing of another van with a different MHD agent. ( this was spring 2021, so covid and staycation were all in the mix in both my decisions, and the prices involved )

MHD has unique business model - no premises or overheads etc ( except website and finance office). Agents everywhere in Britain and nationwide coverage with the website. My guy delivered my purchase to worksop from North Yorks. So quite a versatile organisation.

Both agents were very happy helpful smiling characters, but why not? they got a nice little wedge for, essentially, walking round the van with me and kicking the tyres on my behalf. What's not to like ?

It might be worth a phone call to them next year - see what they come up with.
They will either act as broker for your van, or buy it outright.

Mine sold direct to MHD, and I bought a brokered van through them.

Don't forget:
1) in every scenario except private sale, someone will be making a profit from the deal.
2) Scowling, shifty salespersons dont get rich.

History shows that the most successful conmen are ( not coincidentally ) the most plausible and lovable.


Ste
.
.

 

[Brains]

Sell it to whomever is offering the most.

A private sale will get you more than a dealer sale,
but selling private is a bit more work and you need to ensure the money arrives before you hand over keys.

As an FYI, my van, new in 2018 would have sold for £85K.
I bought it second hand just before the pandemic in 2020 for 20% less.
Today there is an identical van 2018 van for sale at a dealers for £85k.
(With 4 years use and 8,000 miles on the clock)

The current list price for a 2022 model is £120k
(2022 deliveries all sold out months ago)

Therefore given the age of your van, I'd expect you to get back almost what you paid for it, if not more!
However it may be a case of waiting until March/April to sell it.

 

[Marauder]

Therefore given the age of your van, I'd expect you to get back almost what you paid for it, if not more!

.
Yes,

I did (minus what i had spent on it - welding etc)

BUT: A dealer aims to SELL at market value.

Or more if they can get it - the ancient motor industry mantra "You only need one" [you only need to find one fool] is true in both directions - buying AND selling !

Therefore, they will never offer what your pride and joy is worth at street value retail prices. Dealers are wholesalers.
.
.

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[Dorwyn]

.
That's why I chose to sell, and then buy thro motorhomedepot.com

Also, they offered to hold cash over from my sale to my purchase, which neatly swerved my anxiety about cash transfers and scammers.
So the whole thing worked smoothly. Was all done in less than a week start to finish.
.

History shows that the most successful conmen are ( not coincidentally ) the most plausible and lovable.

I sold my last van through MH Depot for that reason. Selling privately is a big risk, and I didn't want the personal hassle and grief. As it happens, the agent lives half a mile away. He was good to deal with, and I would consider them again.

 

[Basildog]

Many thanks for your replies. They definitely want it as they offered to pick it up the same day and take it off our hands!!! I just wanted to understand if taking off the VAT was usual practice.

No it’s just a play on words and widely held misconception that you lose the VAT when you drive a new vehicle away .
I just got nearly £5k more than I paid for my Ford Transit Tourneo Custom after 18 months of ownership!
There’s a shortage of new and secondhand vehicles at the moment .

 

[RM_Marine]

I sold my last van through MH Depot for that reason. Selling privately is a big risk, and I didn't want the personal hassle and grief. As it happens, the agent lives half a mile away. He was good to deal with, and I would consider them again.

I brought my motorhome from motorhome depot and I have to admit that the fault I found they fixed and I got it for a really good price.

After a year of ownership I've made about 8k from what I paid and I've very happy with the van

 

[Dorwyn]

I brought my motorhome from motorhome depot and I have to admit that the fault I found they fixed and I got it for a really good price.

After a year of ownership I've made about 8k from what I paid and I've very happy with the van

There have been uncomplementery posts on this forum, saying things like they get paid for doing nothing you can't do yourself, they are dodgy, etc. For me they improved the price I got, they were helpful, a third party between seller and buyer, and a reassuring hand. It was also helpful for the buyer. It's a franchise I think, and it's in their interests to see it through satisfactorily for both parties. Most of all, for me, it was the payment security position.

 

[RM_Marine]

There have been uncomplementery posts on this forum, saying things like they get paid for doing nothing you can't do yourself, they are dodgy, etc. For me they improved the price I got, they were helpful, a third party between seller and buyer, and a reassuring hand. It was also helpful for the buyer. It's a franchise I think, and it's in their interests to see it through satisfactorily for both parties. Most of all, for me, it was the payment security position.

If you look on this site even the biggest dealerships havent helped or assisted the people that have brought brand new top end motorhomes

I was sceptical about using them but I would 100% use them again

They where helpful, made what was wrong right before I picked it up and even the bits that I found on collection they sorted the parts for me to fix

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[Nanniemate]

There have been uncomplementery posts on this forum, saying things like they get paid for doing nothing you can't do yourself, they are dodgy, etc. For me they improved the price I got, they were helpful, a third party between seller and buyer, and a reassuring hand. It was also helpful for the buyer. It's a franchise I think, and it's in their interests to see it through satisfactorily for both parties. Most of all, for me, it was the payment security position.

As you said it maybe a franchise my experience was a joke. They told me they had a dealer/rep/agent. locally. I called on the day of assessment/valuation as they had not arrived 15 minutes after the appointed time. They said they could not get to me because of the distance when I asked where they were, Reading - approximately 120 miles away but they were happy to travel to take the van away and store it until it was sold . They had not even left or had the curtesy to call
The office had told me they were based 15miles away and when I tried to speak with them about the more local dealer they promised, I could not get any sense. It took the van off sale for a week as I stopped advertising it and caused inconvenience and upset to the family and the executor of the will.
You can only judge by your experiences and each agent behaves differently, they should never have booked the appointment knowing where the van was located.
They will never get a second opportunity of my business as when I have seen a van was advertised by them it was disregarded. I am sure that not all dealer/agents are as unreliable but as they say 1 unhappy customer will tell many others.

 

[Dorwyn]

As you said it maybe a franchise my experience was a joke. They told me they had a dealer/rep/agent. locally. I called on the day of assessment/valuation as they had not arrived 15 minutes after the appointed time. They said they could not get to me because of the distance when I asked where they were, Reading - approximately 120 miles away but they were happy to travel to take the van away and store it until it was sold . They had not even left or had the curtesy to call
The office had told me they were based 15miles away and when I tried to speak with them about the more local dealer they promised, I could not get any sense. It took the van off sale for a week as I stopped advertising it and caused inconvenience and upset to the family and the executor of the will.
You can only judge by your experiences and each agent behaves differently, they should never have booked the appointment knowing where the van was located.
They will never get a second opportunity of my business as when I have seen a van was advertised by them it was disregarded. I am sure that not all dealer/agents are as unreliable but as they say 1 unhappy customer will tell many others.

A million miles from my experience, but speak as you find.

 

[rosalan]

What the original member was offered, was not unusual. When I last sold a motorhome that cost £25,000 Iwent around all the dealers at a Motorhome show. The lowest offer was £12,000, the average was around £15,000 but we settled then for £23.500 with no haggling.
I guess if they do not want or need your van, their offer will reflect this.