deleted topic

MagillaGorilla wrote:
Et2,

LEt me see if I can add it up for you. I tried to keep the OP short and to the point so some details were left out.

When I went to the RV store we looked at the camper, went over it really well and then came to terms on a sell price. We then went to his office to move things forward. When we talked about the trade in he was not sure he wanted it due to its year. He said that I needed to send him some pictures so he could evaluate it. I went home, took pictures and emailed them to him. Then I put the camper on Craislist just in case the RV dealer did not want it.

When I did not hear back via email I started calling. It took a few days to get someone to talk to me and at that point I was told they were not interested in the trade in. So I told them that I had sold it.

The reason there was no cash down at the original meeting was due to the trade issue. They could not write up the deal without knowing what the actual deal was. So now that we knew there would be no trade we mutually agreed to go forward. He said that he would talk to his finance person.

In principle we had a deal at this point.

Days went by and I heard nothing. During this time I decided to look for my own financing in order to speed things up. I secured financing and then called the dealer. This is when I was told they were not able to find financing for me. I thought it was odd that they could not considering they still had not contacted me and had me fill out a credit app. You know how sometimes you just get a feeling that something is fishy? This was one of those times and it smelled more fishy each time I talked to them.

I was told to call Mike (the dealer) back the next day. I called, he avoided. It took a few days but I finally got someone to talk to me and that is when I was told the camper was sold.

At no time was there a "I'll be back" where it would have looked like I would not be back. I was in contact with them every 24-48 hours. If there was anything that they needed differently they could have asked me for it and they did not.

This entire deal was shady in my book.

When I sold my current MH I made a deal with the guy. We shook hands and he needed a few days to get the cash to me. No deposit just a hand shake. I had other offers after that but I had a hand shake and to me that meant that I had a deal. It took the guy a week to bring the money but he ended up coming back and buying it.

I sell motorcycles and this is how I do business. I don't pressure anyone and tell them if they want to take 24 hours to think about it, I will hold it for them while they decide. I have this thing about wanting every customer to be happy with what they buy. I've never had one come back.

I am old fashion and was taught by my dad that a mans word or a handshake was his bond. I've made it through 48 years so far with this ethic.

There were a few things that stood out in your post. But the biggest was in your second paragraph - first sentence. You came to terms on a sell price. That is were the negotiation of deposit and a purchase agreement is documented. Any details you wish can be added at that time, deposits, refunds, trades or no trades.

If you walked out of the dealer without a agreement in hand it was never yours. Hand shake or not. To many dollars exchanging hands for a handshake. That doesn't make this dealer any less of a man because he sold it from under you. It was never yours.