I have a Coachman Amara 520/4 which I bought new in 2003,this van has served me well as a family van.This year we decided we could perhaps manage a smaller 2 berth caravan so looked into the possibility of trading in again. I was horrified to see how little I was offerred for my van (they always refer to this "secret" caravan value guide )so i thought blow that for a game of soldiers and looked around to see if any dealers would entertain the idea of doing a straight swap for a used 2 berth van of a similar age obviously my van must be worth more to a dealer to sell on at a greater price but alas no one seems interested in doing a deal without some extra cash being asked for my van is in excellent condition its not as if its an old shed on wheels !
Dealer Rip off ?
- Thread starter ian_5109116
- Start date
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
ian, the dealer is in business so what is in it for him to swap your van for one of identical "value"?
You would expect a warranty of sorts on your new van - he may have spent money getting it into a saleable condition [cynical tongue in cheek]. He would have to offer a warranty on your van when he sold it. If he carries on like that he will go bankrupt.
With regard to your van I would expect a trade in price of 50% to 60% of its purchase price, on a 5 year old van, against a new one. Could be more if your van is desirable and the van you are buying is in stock and the dealer wants to shift it.
You would expect a warranty of sorts on your new van - he may have spent money getting it into a saleable condition [cynical tongue in cheek]. He would have to offer a warranty on your van when he sold it. If he carries on like that he will go bankrupt.
With regard to your van I would expect a trade in price of 50% to 60% of its purchase price, on a 5 year old van, against a new one. Could be more if your van is desirable and the van you are buying is in stock and the dealer wants to shift it.
Ian....although it can be less hassle and easy to do a PX with a dealer and I agree the dealer has to make a living.
However, if you are not in a rush, why not try to sell your Amara privately. You will easily get as much, if not more, than any dealer will offer for it in PX. And, if you price it competatively it should sell easily this time of year.
Then go and buy your new van from the dealer as a 'cash' buyer. That way you will be the one calling the tune in any price negotiations. You can expect to get at least 10% off their window price as well as negotiate for some extras.
However, if you are not in a rush, why not try to sell your Amara privately. You will easily get as much, if not more, than any dealer will offer for it in PX. And, if you price it competatively it should sell easily this time of year.
Then go and buy your new van from the dealer as a 'cash' buyer. That way you will be the one calling the tune in any price negotiations. You can expect to get at least 10% off their window price as well as negotiate for some extras.
We experienced axactly the same. We bought a Compass Corona 556 and paid 13,000. 8 months later 2 dealers offered only 7,500 including the one we bought it from! When we told them thanks but no thanks (okay, not so politely!) they offered 8,500. The dealer we bought it from tried to tell us the new van we were looking at buying wouldn't lose as much. Yeah, like i'd go there again! Needless to say we will be selling privately.
Why not put your van on the classifieds on this website - and see whether there's any interest.
In September 2001 we were offered
In September 2001 we were offered
Thanks for the replies everyone I WILL get a decent deal on my van somewhere,it just seems to me that caravan dealers are becoming very much like car dealers,like when you start looking at their vans on the forecourt they say things like "this is a really sought after popular model, you`ll have no problem trading it in when you need to they hold their prices really well " yet 3 years down the line : " Nobody wants these nowadays we cant shift the ones we`ve got on display! ". I`m sure Caravans didnt depreciate in value as quickly as they seem to do nowadays.
ian
ian
Ian, I think the problem is similar to cars in that buyers will not pay for a 2nd hand van which is only a few thousand pound less than a new one. People who can afford new ones do so, mainly by trading in and "only"
Hi Ian
Came across this - might be of interest to you -
http://www.touringandtenting.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18681&mode=linear
Mac
Came across this - might be of interest to you -
http://www.touringandtenting.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18681&mode=linear
Mac
Boringly, a history lesson is needed.
When I was younger (!) first cars, and caravans, were inevitably bangers and then gradually trading up to a new, basic, one and eventually trading up to a high specification car/caravan. In such an environment there was always a good market to sell to someone coming up the ladder behind you.
Today's consumer want, expect and borrow enough to buy a new high specification car/caravan as first-time buyers. As more do this the bottom drops out of the market for second-hand cars/caravans because there are no buyers, they all want to buy new.
Because I'm old-fashioned, I work on a different basis - I depreciate a new car/caravan by 100% on day one and keep them until they cost more to run than new or our needs change substantially.
"The customer is always right" - if only the customer knew what they wanted.
When I was younger (!) first cars, and caravans, were inevitably bangers and then gradually trading up to a new, basic, one and eventually trading up to a high specification car/caravan. In such an environment there was always a good market to sell to someone coming up the ladder behind you.
Today's consumer want, expect and borrow enough to buy a new high specification car/caravan as first-time buyers. As more do this the bottom drops out of the market for second-hand cars/caravans because there are no buyers, they all want to buy new.
Because I'm old-fashioned, I work on a different basis - I depreciate a new car/caravan by 100% on day one and keep them until they cost more to run than new or our needs change substantially.
"The customer is always right" - if only the customer knew what they wanted.
Hi
I tend to agree - we've bought our first van just last year. We've got one little princess with a view to more royalty turning up as and when.
Because of this - we bought a six berth van, hopefully future-proofing ourselves. Therefore, we don't worry about depreciation because we know that we're going to have this van for at least 8-10 years.
If you buy something and then want to change it less than a year later, maybe you need to think more carefully before purchasing next time? This sort of decision always costs...As I know from past experience in other areas.
Mac
I tend to agree - we've bought our first van just last year. We've got one little princess with a view to more royalty turning up as and when.
Because of this - we bought a six berth van, hopefully future-proofing ourselves. Therefore, we don't worry about depreciation because we know that we're going to have this van for at least 8-10 years.
If you buy something and then want to change it less than a year later, maybe you need to think more carefully before purchasing next time? This sort of decision always costs...As I know from past experience in other areas.
Mac
We bought new 9 months ago a superstorm for 18,000 decided to change to motor home and accepted we would have to let it go for 12 - 13k. Rang around dealers only to be told they did not want it or they would only give us 10,000. Thats what I call a rip off.
Dave.T - second-hand caravans aren't wanted by the majority of today's caravanners, certainly not that sort of caravan - without customers, dealers won't make "decent" offers.
Try selling it privately.
Try selling it privately.
Second hand caravans not wanted by todays caravaners!!!!! Thats rather an all embracing statement. When we decided to come back into caravaning after a break of ten years, we didn't even consider new, much to expensive. Nor did we consider buying from a dealer, still too expensive due to huge mark ups when we knew that the price they paid for that van was far lower, but hey everyone wants to make a profit these days. We bought our van from an advert on a website called pre-loved caravans (or something similar. We knew exactly what style of van we were after as we prowled round the various dealers sitting in dozens of vans and working out exactly what we wanted. We Googled our short list of vans, found our Abbey Vogue up for sale (by a vicar!) about a half hour drive away. Decided he was a nice honest man and bought it there and then and have not looked back three years later. The research was worth it and we love the van as much now as when we first bought it and have no intention of changing it. I do wonder if some people havn't thought particularly hard about what is an expensive item, when they want to change their van less than a year later. Perhaps an impulse buy, regretted later.
I did say majority - it's modern consumers, they want the latest new product.Second hand caravans not wanted by todays caravaners!!!!! Thats rather an all embracing statement. When we decided to come back into caravaning after a break of ten years, we didn't even consider new, much to expensive. Nor did we consider buying from a dealer, still too expensive due to huge mark ups when we knew that the price they paid for that van was far lower, but hey everyone wants to make a profit these days. We bought our van from an advert on a website called pre-loved caravans (or something similar. We knew exactly what style of van we were after as we prowled round the various dealers sitting in dozens of vans and working out exactly what we wanted. We Googled our short list of vans, found our Abbey Vogue up for sale (by a vicar!) about a half hour drive away. Decided he was a nice honest man and bought it there and then and have not looked back three years later. The research was worth it and we love the van as much now as when we first bought it and have no intention of changing it. I do wonder if some people havn't thought particularly hard about what is an expensive item, when they want to change their van less than a year later. Perhaps an impulse buy, regretted later.
I don't like it and don't agree with it but I think it's the modern way.
Dave T,
Have you tried trading your caravan into a dealer who also sells motorhomes? You may get a better price but i suspect not by very much.If you are not buying from the same dealer you are trading in with,then the dealer has a problem with your caravan.
First he has to look at the retail price of your caravan and remove all taxes from the new price. When selling your caravan he is up against new ones he sells having a 3 year parts and 6 year body guarantee. He will most probably have to stand a one year gaurantee on your caravan.He then has to take into account how long he may have your caravan in stock before resale.
Then he has to make a profit.
From past experience over many years and many caravans the best time to trade in a used caravan for a new one is between 4 to 5 years old. This on modern caravans is before the 6 year body guarantee runs out, so if there is a problem there is no cost to the dealer.
Hamer
Have you tried trading your caravan into a dealer who also sells motorhomes? You may get a better price but i suspect not by very much.If you are not buying from the same dealer you are trading in with,then the dealer has a problem with your caravan.
First he has to look at the retail price of your caravan and remove all taxes from the new price. When selling your caravan he is up against new ones he sells having a 3 year parts and 6 year body guarantee. He will most probably have to stand a one year gaurantee on your caravan.He then has to take into account how long he may have your caravan in stock before resale.
Then he has to make a profit.
From past experience over many years and many caravans the best time to trade in a used caravan for a new one is between 4 to 5 years old. This on modern caravans is before the 6 year body guarantee runs out, so if there is a problem there is no cost to the dealer.
Hamer
Not in quite the as a caravan, but whenever I've wanted to change my car and I've been offered silly part ex deal, I've always shopped around until I find a dealer that is happy to work along the following lines (but this is best done on factory orders or a stock order with a months lead time)
Find a part ex deal that the part-ex price manageable (if there is one) and then, advertise the caravan on E-bay starting at the part ex-price and see what happens but you need to find a dealer who is willing to do a deal on the basis that the caravan / car comes in on part ex OR you turn up with the cash instead.
My last car went on e-bay for
Find a part ex deal that the part-ex price manageable (if there is one) and then, advertise the caravan on E-bay starting at the part ex-price and see what happens but you need to find a dealer who is willing to do a deal on the basis that the caravan / car comes in on part ex OR you turn up with the cash instead.
My last car went on e-bay for
One thing I have learned - dont take the better half with you when you do the deal. She cooed and arred so much about the van we wanted I could not get a penny off the price. I reckon this little mistake cost us at least
Practical Caravan is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.
© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.
Facebook
Twitter