How much would YOU offer?

[restlessways]

I wanted to get some opinions on a used truck camper purchase. I will post a couple scenarios and I'd like to get some feedback on what you would offer the seller, and even how you would go about it if you were going to make the purchase. All of these campers are priced WAY above NADA, which is why I ask the question. I am not out to insult sellers, but I'm also not interested in grossly overpaying for a camper.

Scenario 1

Year: 2019
Low retail: $26,450
Average retail: $31,850
Seller's asking price: $35,000

Scenario 2

Year: 2016
Low retail: $20,650
Average retail: $24,850
Seller's asking price: $27,000

I will add that both campers are clean, and so condition is not an issue. Thanks for your input!

[ajriding]

Few sellers will list the price at their rock bottom dollar. Most buyers try to haggle price down, so the listed price is usually a starting point, but don't expect a huge discount.

The value is all dependent on the condition and what upgrades have been done.
If you were to have a shop install solar, for example, you would spend $2,000 possibly (way too much), so if you want a solar upgrade then consider that as a value. ( I can do same upgrade for $300 DIY).
What else is upgraded? mattress? fridge? interior lighting? inverter? tie down mounts included? high end tires or WDH for camper trailer shoppers?
There is a myriad of things that can be upgraded that add thousands to the value.

For a camper that is bone stock, I would not consider paying too much.

I would not look at something like NADA or Blue book for pricing, that is Pricing For Dummies and can be so far off reality.
Shop the internet and see what similar units are priced at, watch enough to see what they sell for (big difference).

[ppine]

RVs get traded pretty often. They often easier to sell than say a passenger car. I would be in the low retail range for an offer. Personally speaking I would never buy a TC that new because of the depreciation rate. I would be in the year range of around 2010 or a little newer.

I like to negotiate pretty hard and pay with $100 bills. I bought a nice Nash trailer during the recession for 11k, used it for 9 years and sold it for $9,800.

[Reality_Check]

mkirsch wrote:
A seller asking way too much for their item? Perish the thought!

Seriously, that's par for the course. Most people have an inflated opinion of the value of their item.

The litmus test is if it sits there for months and months unsold. Good deals don't last, and really, you never even see most of them.

Just keep looking. You'll find a suitable deal sooner or later. Keep money in your pocket and your eyes open so you're ready to pounce the second you see a good deal.

^^^ yep


Sold a sled to a Canadian awhile back. Few hours later, got a call from the border patrol. They had yanked him in and were questioning the 'sale'. Officer asked me if I had sold a sled and at what price. When I responded, he said he didn't believe us because he was on Craigslist looking at other sleds, and they were all 'priced higher'

LOL, I asked him if he knew what the difference was between mine and the ones listed? "no" .... Answer... "mine sold". I hung up.

It really isn't rocket science. Knowing your market and putting the effort in is the only way one gets consistent payoff.

[GeoBoy]

restlessways wrote:

GeoBoy wrote:
The RV, if in good condition is worth the average retail price. It appears that you want to pay low retail for a pristine camper and that is why you still don’t have one! Good luck.

That's a weird comment considering I have not even made a single offer. Are you the seller, by chance? :B

No, my AF990 is in pristine condition and not for sale. When I decide to sell my camper it will be sold at a fair price and nothing less.:B

[rider997]

I decide what I want to pay and what condition I'm going to accept (which is generally 'mint' or 'pristine'), and when I see a camper in the condition I want, at a price I'm willing to pay, I am on my way with cash in hand. This applies to both new and used items. Even paying a premium for a used camper in excellent condition is generally still a huge savings over a new one, but I've also purchased several new "last year" campers at a $10k+ savings (they don't last long when that clearance tag goes up- you snooze, you lose). You'll certainly quickly get a feel for what campers of a particular age and condition are selling for in your area- the overpriced ones stick around forever, and the ones that disappear the next day were probably priced below the "fair market value" in your area. Naturally, rarity of a particular model, special features, etc., may increase the going price significantly beyond what a linear depreciation estimate might yield.

When I sell items (including campers), I regularly get tire-kickers who lament the fact that they've been looking for XYZ for years, without luck, and make a lowball offer. As I decline their offer, I can't help but thinking they'll be dead and buried before they get that Cadillac at a Kia price.

[restlessways]

mkirsch wrote:
A seller asking way too much for their item? Perish the thought!

Seriously, that's par for the course. Most people have an inflated opinion of the value of their item.

The litmus test is if it sits there for months and months unsold. Good deals don't last, and really, you never even see most of them.

Just keep looking. You'll find a suitable deal sooner or later. Keep money in your pocket and your eyes open so you're ready to pounce the second you see a good deal.

Yep. All of these campers have been sitting many months. Have cash, will travel.

[restlessways]

GeoBoy wrote:
The RV, if in good condition is worth the average retail price. It appears that you want to pay low retail for a pristine camper and that is why you still don’t have one! Good luck.

That's a weird comment considering I have not even made a single offer. Are you the seller, by chance? :B

[mkirsch]

A seller asking way too much for their item? Perish the thought!

Seriously, that's par for the course. Most people have an inflated opinion of the value of their item.

The litmus test is if it sits there for months and months unsold. Good deals don't last, and really, you never even see most of them.

Just keep looking. You'll find a suitable deal sooner or later. Keep money in your pocket and your eyes open so you're ready to pounce the second you see a good deal.

[Bumpyroad]

GeoBoy wrote:
The RV, if in good condition is worth the average retail price. It appears that you want to pay low retail for a pristine camper and that is why you still don’t have one! Good luck.

yep
bumpy

[GeoBoy]

The RV, if in good condition is worth the average retail price. It appears that you want to pay low retail for a pristine camper and that is why you still don’t have one! Good luck.

[restlessways]

One other thing I wanted to mention is the fact that a lot of these listings I've watched for months and months are not adjusting their prices down to account for depreciation. It does not matter if it's sitting in a garage unused, depreciation is more a function of time than anything. Just by NADA guide alone, these newer campers are depreciating $200 per month, minimum. It's like these sellers have no clue or something.

[restlessways]

valhalla360 wrote:
The low retail minus a few thousand...or better search the web for similar units and see what the asking prices are running (then subtract a bit off that). Certainly start with low offers. If you go high, you can't cut it later.

If you are worried about offending, do an oblique offer: "Gosh I really like her but I only have $X available right now."

If you are way below, he isn't going to get in your price range anyway, so who cares if he is offended but now, you have started the price discussion. If you are close, he likely will counter offer either right then or in a day or two....maybe a couple weeks later when he gets no bites (make sure he has your number before going to look at it).

I didn't even bring up price when he offered up the story of an offer he refused. It could have been legit, or it could have been his way of setting a boundary on what he'd take. Either way, the amount was more than I'd pay so it pretty much shut me down. I didn't want to offer an even lower amount for 2 reasons: 1) If the offer he turned down was legit and I offered him even less, then he'd possibly go back and sell it to that person. 2) If he didn't accept that offer, why would he accept my even lower offer so soon after? I figure I'll wait it out and see if he drops the price and it's still available in a month or two, then I'll hit him up with MY offer.

[valhalla360]

The low retail minus a few thousand...or better search the web for similar units and see what the asking prices are running (then subtract a bit off that). Certainly start with low offers. If you go high, you can't cut it later.

If you are worried about offending, do an oblique offer: "Gosh I really like her but I only have $X available right now."

If you are way below, he isn't going to get in your price range anyway, so who cares if he is offended but now, you have started the price discussion. If you are close, he likely will counter offer either right then or in a day or two....maybe a couple weeks later when he gets no bites (make sure he has your number before going to look at it).

[restlessways]

winniman wrote:
I have as well. They were asking too much right from the get go. A lot of people are upside down on their rvs, and try to get what they owe. That's not my problem. I plan far ahead. People are always saying how do I get such great deals on things. I start looking far in advance of buying. By the time I actually buy, I know exactly what the values are, and only go for a great deal. I have been told to take a hike on many occasions, but if you kiss enough frogs, sooner or later you get a dinger. Many times I have taken two years to find the right deal. I buy a lot of different things through my work and personal life. Always wheeling and dealing.

I'm like you. In fact, I can suffer "paralysis by analysis" if I'm not careful. However, if I see a great deal I jump on it. None of these are great deals by any stretch. They are people trying to avoid taking a massive depreciation hit. I'm not going to bail them out on that.