3rd party dealer

[gypsyrose1126]

I have been trying to get a response from an ad in RV Classified for a 2011 Thor that has been listed in several different states. I have finally received this response:

I wanted to let you know that my 2011 Thor Freedom Elite is still available. I recently divorced and moved to Canada and the RV is here, too. Sorry for the confusion with the location, I advertised it nation-wide because it is still titled in the United States so there will be no import taxes or additional fees to pay. I own it free and clear. It is in great condition, no dents or scratches. It wasn't involved in any accident and it is a non-smoker. No pets, no odors. Clean interior.

Because of the amount involved and the distance, I want to use a dealership from US for closing this deal. If you are not aware of how they work you should know that they will allow you to test drive and inspect the vehicle before I get the money. You will have 3 to 5 days allowed for inspection, to decide whether you want to keep it or not before they release the funds to me.

SO MY QUESTION is has anyone bought an RV like this. From what I understand you send your money to some company, the RV is shipped to a dealer and you can drive it have it inspected etc to make a decision. If you decide to buy it the money is then released to the owner. It just makes me a little nervous to send that amount of money to some company I don't know. Any thoughts, comments etc. will be appreciated. Thanks!
Rosemary

[Bethers]

It's hard to say without the name of the company and being able to check. It could be a scam or legitimate. Further information is needed.

[MelissaD]

I'd imagine the dealer would be a respected US dealer and the money would be placed in an escrow account. This shows the buyer you have the funds. Just like when you buy a house funds are held in escrow while the process runs it's course. If there is a dealer in your area you trust see if the seller will use that dealer. It is actually a protection for the both of you.

[mitch5252]

..

I was going to try and find more information on this trailer (seems like a scam to be, but then again - I'm a skeptic)
This immediately popped up when I typed rv classifieds in my search bar.
So, be careful...



..

[Bethers]

Black hat seo wouldn't be anything to do with the ad, but how the site was built.

That said, see if you can do as Melissa suggested and you pick the dealer, then have the dealer explain how it works.

[retiredhappy]

Sorry but this sounds like a scam. Waaay too much personal information. If she is using a US dealer, check them out really well to be sure they're legitimate. You should never pay ANY money up front before seeing the rig.

You would not believe the scams out there. When I was listing my Class C on Craig's List I was contact several times by different people all claiming they were in the service and at sea and eventually asking me to use Paypal and to include a "Shipping" fee which they would then include in their Paypal payment to me. It was the shipping that was the scam so they could get the money. They even sent me an email from "Paypal" saying the $18,000 was in my Paypal account. When I actually went to my Paypal account (not using the link in the email) there were NO FUNDS there. Paypal also has a $10,000 limit on transactions.

You should never have to put any money up front before you've seen and driven the rig.

[Acadianmom]

I don't know anything about this but if I was going to put money in an escrow account it would be one I picked not them. The dealer would also be my pick. There are just too many RV's out there for sale to have to jump through hoops like this.

Martha

[gypsyrose1126]

Yes, my worry was that it was a scam also. It is listed at RVCLASSIFIED.COM under class B -- finding a dealer in my area is a good idea. I also thought it would be better to actually just fly up to where the RV is, instead of going thru a dealer. But will wait to see if I hear back from her in answer to my questions as to the who she was going to use in the U.S.

Thanks for your help everyone.

[FinallyTime]

Don't fall for it, it's a scam. One sure give away is "owner" is out of the country and is advertizing it nationwide. It even hits some of the cautions listed on RV Classified's website. It it were legit the "owner" would have put it on consignment with a sticks and bricks dealer.

Quotes from RV Classified's website.
(UPDATE #2:) Vehicles are now being offered at a more realistic selling price. Often these vehicles are supposedly being held by a 3rd party in some distant location making it difficult or impossible for you to inspect the vehicle, but it will be shipped to you at no cost etc.

(UPDATE #3:) You will be required to place a significant deposit before the seller will agree to hold the vehicle for your inspection and or, meet you for your inspection. Seller he/she, generally has to travel a long distance to meet with you and previous buyers didn't show up etc. Therefore you will be told to send a significant deposit via MoneyGram etc., and you are told to send it to yourself for your pickup (for your monies safety/protection), BUT... advise the seller of the name the MoneyGram is sent in and provide the seller the reference # so that he knows you are a serious buyer... DON'T DO IT !!! ..Once you have sent the deposit all contact with the seller may be lost and when you arrive to inspect the vehicle there may be no one to meet you, no vehicle to inspect and your deposit may have already been picked up, and not by you ! The asking price may seem like a steal but the delivery of the vehicle may never occur and what's stolen may be YOUR MONEY !!

[WickedLady]

DON'T DO IT! Keep looking. The rig perfect for you will show up and it won't be in "Canada".

[bluepinecones]

Unless you can arrange something on your own terms, including with a dealer you know/trust if necessary, I'd back away from this one.

[Pooker]

Don't walk away - RUN AWAY! You would be making a deal out of the country. Even if it's the deal of the century and on the up and up - RUN AWAY. If you were to actually do this transaction, we don't know the complications of bringing a vehicle into the US for resale, or a newly purchased one from there. Even though they say it's registered in the US - anyone can put a stolen license place on a vehicle. Keep searching. You will eventually find the exact rig for you. Take your time. It will happen.

Pooker

[gypsyrose1126]

Thanks for all of the advice, I am going to let this one go and keep looking.

[BarbaraRose]

Good idea! I see "SCAM" written all over this one! Never send money up front for anything, especially sight unseen. And anything that says the person is out of the country, is usually a scam also.
Time to move on...

[Birdie]

For more SCAM data on this see rvbusiness.com then search for SCAM. The alert came out in July of 2014.