Well, that was an eye opener

[Julie and Charles]

What an amazing Motorhome show. We spent the day there yesterday and, there was so many MHs that my brain fryed.
There were so many to choose from.
What I did learn from yesterday is, pre loved isn't for me. Every pre loved we went in wasn't pre loved. I'm guessing that, there is someone like me out there, selling their loved, clean van, with no rust, FSH, etc.
I think we need to come back into the show after our overview and, with the knowledge we have so far of what to expect. Take a look with new eyes.
#Enlightened

 

[duffs]

What an amazing Motorhome show. We spent the day there yesterday and, there was so many MHs that my brain fryed.
There were so many to choose from.
What I did learn from yesterday is, pre loved isn't for me. Every pre loved we went in wasn't pre loved. I'm guessing that, there is someone like me out there, selling their loved, clean van, with no rust, FSH, etc.
I think we need to come back into the show after our overview and, with the knowledge we have so far of what to expect. Take a look with new eyes.
#Enlightened

Really don't know what's harder, the looking side or the waiting side x

 

[Minxy]

Don't dismiss 'pre-loved' ... second-hand in my language! You can get some stonking deals on them - we've bought ones in the past that have been fantastic - when we bought our last SH one it was only 3 months old as the owner hadn't settled to the layout so had traded it in for another one ... we saved a LOT of money by buying it rather than a new one, same with ex-demonstrators or those that have been 'on view' in showrooms/driven around to shows so are not totally 'new', we've had some of these too and the savings can be quite large ... it makes no difference whatsoever to the resale value either.

 

[Julie and Charles]

Really don't know what's harder, the looking side or the waiting side x

Here is how our day went.
Went to SMC to look at a Symbol. Liked it.
Got a price on our car, made sure they knew that we were retired and couldn't just go and work a bit of overtime.
The salesman did us a good deal on our limited savings. Then the big boss said 3000 more.
So we just had to leave sadly. But, they'll always be another one. It's happened to me with cars and it will happen again with MH. We're not prepared to go into debt, Walking away was sad and dissapointing but, I look at it as a trial run in sales negotiations for our MH.
So another learning day. We were happy about the way we conducted the negotiations, we thought we had stressed that the savings cannot be increased, it's all we have. They missed a sale we missed a MH.

Bring on the next one.

 

[TheBig1]

best bargains to be found between about now and end of february. especially just before christmas

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[duffs]

Here is how our day went.
Went to SMC to look at a Symbol. Liked it.
Got a price on our car, made sure they knew that we were retired and couldn't just go and work a bit of overtime.
The salesman did us a good deal on our limited savings. Then the big boss said 3000 more.
So we just had to leave sadly. But, they'll always be another one. It's happened to me with cars and it will happen again with MH. We're not prepared to go into debt, Walking away was sad and dissapointing but, I look at it as a trial run in sales negotiations for our MH.
So another learning day. We were happy about the way we conducted the negotiations, we thought we had stressed that the savings cannot be increased, it's all we have. They missed a sale we missed a MH.

Bring on the next one.

I bet he was hoping you'd change your mind, well done so hard to walk away, big learning curve. Have you downloaded the guide on buying a mh?, sounds like you might have.

Onwards and upwards to the next viewing xx

 

[TheBig1]

Here is how our day went.
Went to SMC to look at a Symbol. Liked it.
Got a price on our car, made sure they knew that we were retired and couldn't just go and work a bit of overtime.
The salesman did us a good deal on our limited savings. Then the big boss said 3000 more.
So we just had to leave sadly. But, they'll always be another one. It's happened to me with cars and it will happen again with MH. We're not prepared to go into debt, Walking away was sad and dissapointing but, I look at it as a trial run in sales negotiations for our MH.
So another learning day. We were happy about the way we conducted the negotiations, we thought we had stressed that the savings cannot be increased, it's all we have. They missed a sale we missed a MH.

Bring on the next one.

in situations like the above, if i cant reach a deal, i would leave my phone number with my final offer. it usually works as a solid offer is better than holding out to possibly get a few quid more

 

[Julie and Charles]

in situations like the above, if i cant reach a deal, i would leave my phone number with my final offer. it usually works as a solid offer is better than holding out to possibly get a few quid more

Yes, I did this.
I Left my contact details, the offer and said that, now you know the standard I want, call me when the next one comes in.
I believe this is called testing in the auto industry. Seeing if they can get you closer to the windscreen price. It will never work if you can't magic more money together.

I feel they wanted to get rid of a cheap one they had held for ages, making the one we wanted unaffordable, they thought we'd buy the stinker. Wrong. The offer had been made, they know my number but, we see a private sale one on Tuesday, same year, same age, less money!
There will always be others.
Julie

 

[Julie and Charles]

I bet he was hoping you'd change your mind, well done so hard to walk away, big learning curve. Have you downloaded the guide on buying a mh?, sounds like you might have.

Onwards and upwards to the next viewing xx

Well, it's hard to say okay we'll pay the extra 3000 when you can't just get it.
We won't borrow, we won't get into debt. So, although sad to walk, I don't want the stress of debt. I've recovered from cancer and now want to live. As debt makes you stress, I'd rather continue to camp and be stressless.

I worked a second job ages ago in aviation sales. I know all the selling tricks, I also know that leaving a final offer and contact details shows them this is it. No more money is available.
They will either get back to me, and if they do, they will want at least 1000 more. They all use the same selling script. It's just a bit different from aircraft because they have a few more noughts.
Even so, people buying them would have limited budgets and I knew when they were honest and not bluffing.

We were honest and went through all the negotiations only to find that, the negotiations wasted an afternoon. He suggested the offer to take to the boss. We told him repeatedly that this is our savings gone! There is no more. Then the boss just says 3000 more. It might as well have been a million more, we can't do it anyway.
We have a private sale to see on Tuesday. Same van, same year and mileage. Less money.
So looking forward to seeing that one.

Bring it on

 

[TheBig1]

We have a private sale to see on Tuesday. Same van, same year and mileage. Less money.
So looking forward to seeing that one.

you seem to understand the dealers game well, so if this van is ideal use your knowledge to get an extra couple of thousand off. with the private sale you are not contributing to wages and premises or a warranty, this should indicate a correct private sale price

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[Minxy]

There are lots of Symbols out there so you'll get one you want at your price, just bide your time.

 

[Minxy]

Have you done a check on the value of your car without px-ing it? As SMC will have to pass it on to the trade they won't be willing to pay much for it, you're more likely to get a better price selling privately or even to one of the "we'll buy your car" companies, this could put you in a much better position not only financially but also bargaining wise as they won't then have the hassle of getting shot of the car.

 

[hilldweller]

Every pre loved we went in wasn't pre loved.

And many new ones are new-loved either as you should have picked up in here by now.

Be careful that that good deal you do is not miles from home with real stress getting the love put into your new van.

 

[Julie and Charles]

you seem to understand the dealers game well, so if this van is ideal use your knowledge to get an extra couple of thousand off. with the private sale you are not contributing to wages and premises or a warranty, this should indicate a correct private sale price

Yes, the Symbol negotiations with the salesman was acceptable. However, the boss??? Didn't work hard enough really. His demands for 3000 meant in reality that he was knocking 1200 off the windscreen.
Nobody will shake on that. That isn't a deal, it's a robbery.

I hear you about private sales, we would rather work a deal with SMC.
We were just worrying about paying all that money to a private sale and having a bought as seen receipt.
We are considering cancelling the viewing.
If this van is still around in a couple of weeks, we'll see if he will put the offer to him again.

 

[Julie and Charles]

Have you done a check on the value of your car without px-ing it? As SMC will have to pass it on to the trade they won't be willing to pay much for it, you're more likely to get a better price selling privately or even to one of the "we'll buy your car" companies, this could put you in a much better position not only financially but also bargaining wise as they won't then have the hassle of getting shot of the car.

The car valuation from anycar had me in shock. I just realised how hard they deprecate.
SMC deal with we buy anycar, but, we can sell privately, it's just getting a car sale in place without leaving us without transport and, getting a van. I'll be glad when it's all over.

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[Rob and Val]

We feel the same as you regarding not wanting to go into debt. We paid cash for our now elderly motorhome but it was still several thousand pounds. We've been very happy with our 'van which has taken us all over the UK plus France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and even as far as northern Spain. Was reading the MMM magazine a few months ago and the same model as ours but 3 years older was on sale for £1,000 more than we paid for ours seven years ago! So, if we were to sell ours we could probably make a good profit - not that we want to sell. Hope all goes well for you on Tuesday.

 

[Julie and Charles]

We feel the same as you regarding not wanting to go into debt. We paid cash for our now elderly motorhome but it was still several thousand pounds. We've been very happy with our 'van which has taken us all over the UK plus France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and even as far as northern Spain. Was reading the MMM magazine a few months ago and the same model as ours but 3 years older was on sale for £1,000 more than we paid for ours seven years ago! So, if we were to sell ours we could probably make a good profit - not that we want to sell. Hope all goes well for you on Tuesday.

Thank you, I'll keep everyone posted. We are so excited about getting a second home. So many travel plans

 

[Minxy]

Yes, the Symbol negotiations with the salesman was acceptable. However, the boss??? Didn't work hard enough really. His demands for 3000 meant in reality that he was knocking 1200 off the windscreen.
Nobody will shake on that. That isn't a deal, it's a robbery.

I hear you about private sales, we would rather work a deal with SMC.
We were just worrying about paying all that money to a private sale and having a bought as seen receipt.
We are considering cancelling the viewing.
If this van is still around in a couple of weeks, we'll see if he will put the offer to him again.

To be honest if you can get £1200 off the windscreen price that's not bad but that's assuming the starting price was decent in the first place. Don't get overly bogged down by the windscreen price and your px-value, at the end of the day its the amount to change that matters not the actual price of the car and the camper separately. Dealers always 'jiggle' the deal prices to reduce their tax etc burden, eg they may agree to pay £10,000 for your car and the camper you're after is £35,000 so a difference of £25,000 to pay, but when the final paperwork is drawn up this can change to £8,000 for your car and £35,000 for the camper, the overall cost to change is the same though. This is a situation a funster found himself in recently when he bought a used MH so his new to him purchase was 'devalued' immediately in the eyes of the insurers ... he wasn't overly happy!

 

[gwyntaxi]

Well, it's hard to say okay we'll pay the extra 3000 when you can't just get it.
We won't borrow, we won't get into debt. So, although sad to walk, I don't want the stress of debt. I've recovered from cancer and now want to live. As debt makes you stress, I'd rather continue to camp and be stressless.

I worked a second job ages ago in aviation sales. I know all the selling tricks, I also know that leaving a final offer and contact details shows them this is it. No more money is available.
They will either get back to me, and if they do, they will want at least 1000 more. They all use the same selling script. It's just a bit different from aircraft because they have a few more noughts.
Even so, people buying them would have limited budgets and I knew when they were honest and not bluffing.

We were honest and went through all the negotiations only to find that, the negotiations wasted an afternoon. He suggested the offer to take to the boss. We told him repeatedly that this is our savings gone! There is no more. Then the boss just says 3000 more. It might as well have been a million more, we can't do it anyway.
We have a private sale to see on Tuesday. Same van, same year and mileage. Less money.
So looking forward to seeing that one.

Bring it on

Nothing wrong with preloved,used,second hand,call it what you like. I have bought numerous caravans over the years,new and used no real difference apart from used having less faults, same with Motorhomes only one “almost “new 2 weeks old same thing, fine if you are in the financial position where only new wil do,sometimes I think this is mere snobbery, others well they really can afford to specify new only used vans usually have all the niggles sorted out had one or two expensive extras fitted sometimes all the bells and whistles only to find the layout, which looks lovely isn’t as practical as it appears,no I certainly would not dismiss “preloved “

 

[Barclaybasher]

Nothing wrong with preloved,used,second hand,call it what you like............ used vans usually have all the niggles sorted out had one or two expensive extras fitted sometimes all the bells and whistles only to find the layout, which looks lovely isn’t as practical as it appears,no I certainly would not dismiss “preloved “

Only ever bought one brand new car - 1971 Capri GT in mustard yellow - one year later it looked 5 years old - decided I didn't 'deserve' a new car again...............

As said - a good SH van will 'be sorted' and probably have all the stuff you need - my 'new' SH van has auto satellite, tv, air-ride suspension, after market cruise, full awning with sides, solar panel, etc etc