Do you talk to previous owners before you buy?

bigdogger wrote:
When I sell or trade something, I am done with it. I will be POed at the dealer for giving out my name and at any prospective buyer or owner if they researched and tracked me down.

Exactly why dealers don't want to give out that info. IMHO though, you're in the minority.....Dennis

I would be interested, though why you would be upset at a new owner trying to find more info about something they just bought. As you said, you're done with it...what could it hurt?..Wouldn't you want it if you were the buyer..?.:h....Dennis

Mr.Mark wrote:
Dennis, you have brought a good point that I've been thinking about. When it's time for us to sell, consign or trade, I thought about all the stuff that is really unique to our coach

- The snap-on front and side mesh shades
- All the manuals and service records
- Extra water filters for the plumbing system
- Extra oil and fuel filters
- Extra water filter for the fridge
- Two matching wood folding tables to put in front of the sofa (had them custom made).

I was wondering if I should just take it all away and then when it sells, have the new owner call me? I'll give'm the stuff, I don't want it to be thrown out. I would probably keep or sell the wood tables, otherwise, I would give the other things to the new owner.

MM.

I don't know...maybe if you gave permission to the dealer to share that info it might work, might not. If it's on consignment, they would with your permission. What I did with the Dynasty is I taped my name and phone number on top of the medicine cabinet. If the "new" owner finds it they might call me and we can share info over a beverage. I'm sure the dealer didn't clean up there, but the new owner may never clean it either. I know my DW would...:W...Dennis

When I sell or trade something, I am done with it. I will be POed at the dealer for giving out my name and at any prospective buyer or owner if they researched and tracked me down.

Executive wrote:
Privacy laws prevent that info from being passed on. Often previous owners are a wealth of info. However, if your vehicle was a piece of junk, the dealer probably wouldn't want you talking to them anyway.

The dealer we traded the Dynasty to took all the "good" stuff out of it after we traded it in. I had a 3 ring notebook with everything that had ever been done to the coach since it was born. They threw it away. I had a box of floor tile that came with the coach when it was mfg. so it would match the ones on the floor..they threw it away. I had a patio room that attached to the outside of the coach..no idea what they did with that, but it didn't go with the coach. There were some other smaller things as well that the "new" owners probably would have liked but they were also "lost"...dumb, but the new owners knew nothing about them and the dealer didn't get an angry customer back asking where this stuff was....Dennis

Dennis, you have brought a good point that I've been thinking about. When it's time for us to sell, consign or trade, I thought about all the stuff that is really unique to our coach

- The snap-on front and side mesh shades
- All the manuals and service records
- Extra water filters for the plumbing system
- Extra oil and fuel filters
- Extra water filter for the fridge
- Two matching wood folding tables to put in front of the sofa (had them custom made).

I was wondering if I should just take it all away and then when it sells, have the new owner call me? I'll give'm the stuff, I don't want it to be thrown out. I would probably keep or sell the wood tables, otherwise, I would give the other things to the new owner.

MM.

On edit: I also have 4 or 5 matching replacement tiles and a roll of wall paper. I would sure want it if I bought the coach.

If the dealer is selling you a piece of junk then they will discourage you from talking to the previous owner(s). If they are a reputable dealer selling you a good unit, then they should facilitate the call. My last unit had all the previous paperwork, manuals, service receipts, everything from the past two owners. I was the third owner of the unit, all sold by the same dealer.

Vehicle registration information as far as I know is public information.

When we purchased our Dutch Star, the dealership gave us the contact info of the previous owner. However, its important to note that this was done only with prior consent of the previous owner to the dealership. As they were the original owner (purchased new), they were a wealth of information about the coach. The dealership had no reservations whatsoever about us speaking to the previous owner.

I also gave consent to the dealership to give my contact info to the new owner of the the coach we were trading in.

Make it a requirement of the deal. That is what I did on both of my last two DP purchases with the dealer. Either you put me in touch with the previous owner or no deal. In both cases, the dealer called the PO and got permission for me to call them. Same thing on the coach I recently traded. I left all the service records with the coach and other 'stuff' unique to the coach and told dealer it was OK to have potential buyers call me. First couple that looked at my traded rig talked to me then bought the coach.

The dealer does not want you to know how little they paid for it. Has nothing to do with privacy as with a little luck searching you may find it as it's public info. I'd tell them I will not buy it until I speak to the previous owner.

Privacy laws prevent that info from being passed on. (at least that's what they will tell you) Often previous owners are a wealth of info. However, if your vehicle was a piece of junk, the dealer probably wouldn't want you talking to them anyway.

The dealer we traded the Dynasty to took all the "good" stuff out of it after we traded it in. I had a 3 ring notebook with everything that had ever been done to the coach since it was born. They threw it away. I had a box of floor tile that came with the coach when it was mfg. so it would match the ones on the floor..they threw it away. I had a patio room that attached to the outside of the coach..no idea what they did with that, but it didn't go with the coach. There were some other smaller things as well that the "new" owners probably would have liked but they were also "lost"...dumb, but the new owners knew nothing about them and the dealer didn't get an angry customer back asking where this stuff was....Dennis

if you call tiffin with the VIN they probably will tell you if all the recalls have been taken care of.