"Flawless,excellent, clean" RANT

Free Range Human wrote:
I have to say it shocks me that you had the exact same experience with a dealer, though. Dealers have "people" whose only job it is to clean and fix stuff, so WTH are they not even bothering to clean it up?

Stuff like this just disgusts me, because I've never done it. Whatever it is, I clean it up first, then tell both the good and the bad about it (trying to put it as diplomatically as possible). I figure that if they hear the not-so-good stuff from me, it will make everything I'm telling them believable.

Plus, if I lie to them, they (often) know where I live :)

So sorry you're having these experiences. I don't get it, either. My gut reaction to something like that is just to turn around and leave. You're a liar. If I can't trust what you say, I can't trust anything you're selling, either.

But what a waste of time and mileage to find that out.

You might try first remarking that you've "seen so many units that weren't in the condition described, so do you mind if I ask you some questions?" And then, "What does the carpet smell like? About how many spots on the linoleum have worn through to the underlayment? How many sides have delamination/bubbling on them (just assuming they do until proven otherwise)? When was the last time the (fill in the blank) was cleaned/washed? How many places on the roof have gaps around the caulking? If I buy it I'd like to take all the service records with me; I assume you have them?"

IME, one of three things will happen when you start getting real specific:

(1) The true scam-artists get fuzzy, disappear, or get defensive.

(2) The "salesmen-liars" start giving honest answers in spite of themselves, and/or see #1.

(3) The ones who've taken care to clean up and fix everything will already have told you some of this in their ad, and won't (if you explain why you're asking in the first place) mind answering your questions.

My experience is mostly with rental houses, but people are people and this should work with every big-ticket item.

my thoughts exactly with a dealer, as a matter of fact I went to look at nice DP at a very reputable local new car dealership, they about 3 years prior had opened a second location selling new airstream trailers and Thor motorhomes. I looked at a used airstream land yatch they had with a 68k price tag. I opened an upper cabinet to see a fairly large waterspot inside on the wall. I asked the salesmen about it. He said oh our guys were supposed to steam clean that!.. I walked away without another word spoken.this coach was also advertised as flawless no leaks.