frankdamp wrote:
I went with a consignment, with the dealer estimating $28K and a fixed fee of $700 instead of a percentage. They reckoned the only offer they got was for $14K. We ended up, after threatening a lawsuit, with $19.5K. we wanted out so we took it. Turned out the dealership's owner had bought it and he had his guys fix a few minor issues. He got $24K for it.
Nevermore!!
Nothing in this post makes any sense. First and foremost, in a consignment situation, the dealer cannot sell the RV for less than the price that you agreed to without your expressed permission. If they said they only got an offer of $14,000, that really makes no difference, you have the right to take it or leave it.
Second, why would you list your RV for such a small flat fee? It gives the dealer no incentive whatsoever to sell it. By the time he pays a commission to the salesman, covers the costs of preparing the paperwork and the labor of just plain having to maneuver around the thing, he is probably going to make next to nothing. And also, a flat fee offers no incentive to attempt to sell the rig for anything other than the absolute minimum he can convince you to take. It is much better to set a floor price and offer a substantial percentage of the sales price over and above that floor. And you still need to offer a substantial profit for the dealer at that floor, or they will walk around your rig to sell a rig they make more money on. It's both human nature and good business.
Finally, what do you care what anyone does with the RV after you have sold it? If the dealer wanted to buy it, invest money into fixing it up and then sells it at a profit, how is that any skin off your teeth? The only thing you could perhaps be upset about is if you had made those repairs yourself, maybe you could have gotten a much higher price. Just like homes, most people buying RVs are looking for "move in ready", they are not looking for a fixer upper.
