So first time posting here. Just wanting to talk something over I guess. We bought a new Keystone Laredo travel trailer this year. Just picked it up yesterday. We traded our 2005 Laredo trailer on it which we loved but needed more room. Anyway this is our third trailer through this dealership. When we went to look we bought our new one and they took our trailer sight unseen which we were comfortable with because there were no problems that we knew of and they remembered our trailer from before.So today the dealer calls and says that they were cleaning the roof vents and they discovered that there were/or had been mice in the ceiling and in one wall. I just about died!!!He believed us when we told him we had no idea! There was no trace, no smell nothing and I am like on high alert at all times for those things. He even said when he did the walk through there was no smell and that 4 of his technicians had been through it and could not smell a thing. They also took off some panels inside and could find no trace of mice. When we asked how that could happen he said he had no idea.Anyway he said he cannot legally sell it but was going to look into having it professionally looked after. When my husband said well what will you do if that doesn't work he said we would have to try to sell it privately....wait a minute what??I mean I feel absolutely awful this has happened. We are not the type of people who would hide such things, in fact we told them we had a mouse in there one time. The papers are signed and I have packed the new camper. I'm just not sure what he is implying but he said he would keep in touch....what are your thoughts on this??? thx

He said they can't sell it because it had mice in it?? That sounds a bit extreme to me? I guess I can't sell my house because we had a mouse in it a couple of years ago??Clean up the mess the mice made, try to find out where they came in and fix that and button it up and call it good...Anyway, sounds a bit 'fishy' to me, but since you have a pretty good relationship with the dealer, I can't imagine they are trying to pull something on you??Anyway, good luck with it, and if you can't sell an RV because it's had mice in it, then there wouldn't be many 'used' rigs for sale out there... ;)Mitch

A couple of thoughts. 1) You did not intentionally misrepresent your unit when you traded. The fact that you are so concerned tells me you did not misrepresent your trade. 2)Unless there is a clause in the paperwork, the deal is done. I think the dealer is worried he will not be able to sell if the damage is extensive or he has to put a lot of money into it to sell. The dealer is the one who made the deal on your trailer site unseen

Dtaylor wrote:Unless there is a clause in the paperwork, the deal is done.Agreed. You are obviously fair-minded, conscientious people, but a deal is a deal. There are ALWAYS possibilities for unforseen/unknown issues to arise with every transaction. And the remark about not being able to sell it is suspect. You made a deal. Enjoy your new rig and don't let this situation ruin it for you.

If you signed papers and I'm guessing there's the "as is" clause for yours then it's a done deal. I would just blow them off. But that's just me. If in fact they did find mouse droppings in your old TT then it's their problem. Sucks because it sounds like you have had good dealings with them and now that relationship is tarnished.

just feeling upset | Good Sam Community

SprinklerMan
Explorer
Jun 21, 2013
Tell the dealer , since he cant legally sell it , I will be a nice guy and take it off his lot and I wont even charge him for doing so , and I will sign a paper absolving him from all responsibility .
Duck
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
Most all dealers will make a deal with a trade in sight unseen but it is based on a inspection at the time of signing the papers and before money changes hands.
Don
brirene
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
I think you're missing the point, parkowner. The DEALER is the one who made the offer sight unseen. Those were their rules. They signed the papers even after op brought it in. Have you ever been asked by a dealer when pointing out a problem after the sale "did you get the extended warranty?" I have. Dealers always have the upper hand in these situations. Coming back to the op after the deal like this is chicken bleep in my book, especially when op has purchased 3 units from them? Customer service much? I don't feel a bit sorry for this dealer.
kearlms
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
I say the deal is done and over if there is nothing in the papers. I will follow this to see what happens. I hope Candy65 comes back and lets us know what the dealer is getting at with his call.
I_am_still_wayn
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
Once again because this is important: The fact that the dealer failed to do his due diligence (inspecting the trailer before trading) does not therefore shift any burden back to you when a unknown defect surfaces.
I_am_still_wayn
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
Candy65 wrote:

1. So today the dealer calls and says that they were cleaning the roof vents and they discovered that there were/or had been mice in the ceiling and in one wall.
2. There was no trace, no smell nothing
3. They also took off some panels inside and could find no trace of mice.
4. he said he cannot legally sell it but was going to look into having it professionally looked after.
5. if that doesn't work he said we would have to try to sell it privately
6. I'm just not sure what he is implying but he said he would keep in touch

I broke down your post into 6 key components. First let me say that Canadian laws could be very different than what the posters from the States are saying. Having said that, and a trained legal expert, let me chime in.
1. Read the agreement and contract in full, as that is the complete and binding arrangement you have with the dealer.
2. Cleaning roof vents sounds suspicious. Who cleans roof vents preparing a RV for sale?
3. Took panels off inside sounds suspicious. A dealer is not about to disassemble a RV to prepare it for sale.
4. Have it professional looked after I suppose means a professional exterminator.
5. Have you sell it make no sense.
This whole thing sounds very suspicious. Why don't you go to the dealership and ask to see the mice damage. If they can't or won't show it to you that is a big read flag. While at the dealership with your papers in hand ask them to show you in the paper work where any of this is your responsibility. If they can't or won't another big red flag. With your knowledge having already read your paperwork, explain that the trailer they now own is theirs to deal with. You disclosed all defects you knew about and could not disclose any defects you had no knowledge of. This is important:Tell them the fact the failed to do their due diligence does not therefore shift any burden back to you.
PA12DRVR
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
Need to confirm that the "trade" was in fact a trade and not a consignment with an estimate of sale price. Assuming it was a true trade and that there is no "buyers remorse" clause in the trade-in agreement, the dealer is stuck with your old trailer.
Huntindog
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
Candy65 wrote:
So first time posting here. Just wanting to talk something over I guess. We bought a new Keystone Laredo travel trailer this year. Just picked it up yesterday. We traded our 2005 Laredo trailer on it which we loved but needed more room.
Anyway this is our third trailer through this dealership. When we went to look we bought our new one and they took our trailer sight unseen which we were comfortable with because there were no problems that we knew of and they remembered our trailer from before.
So today the dealer calls and says that they were cleaning the roof vents and they discovered that there were/or had been mice in the ceiling and in one wall. I just about died!!!
He believed us when we told him we had no idea! There was no trace, no smell nothing and I am like on high alert at all times for those things. He even said when he did the walk through there was no smell and that 4 of his technicians had been through it and could not smell a thing. They also took off some panels inside and could find no trace of mice. When we asked how that could happen he said he had no idea.
Anyway he said he cannot legally sell it but was going to look into having it professionally looked after. When my husband said well what will you do if that doesn't work he said we would have to try to sell it privately....wait a minute what??
I mean I feel absolutely awful this has happened. We are not the type of people who would hide such things, in fact we told them we had a mouse in there one time.Right here is the explanation. He now says he found evidence when cleaning the roof vents...Really? That doesn't involve removing them to look inside the ceiling or walls... He planned this as a way to get you to agree to more money. Perhaps he overpaid on the trade, knowing that he had a "ace in the hole" After you get your new TT home, he now discovers a mouse infestation. He knows that you will now be very reluctant to give up your new TT.
Don't. He has done this sort of thing before. A dealers only way to make money is to get it out of some ones pocket all the while acting like your best buddy. Don't fall for it. The papers are signed and I have packed the new camper. I'm just not sure what he is implying but he said he would keep in touch....what are your thoughts on this??? thx
westernrvparkow
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
I am going to save this thread. It sure will be interesting to cross reference all the posters who post on the next thread about how a poor customer got a screwing at a dealership. I have no idea what the terms of the trade in were, and what representations were made, and what damage any mice will have done. If they got into the electrical wires, which apparently are tasty to rodents, there could be enough damage that the dealer doesn't want to sell it. I have no idea what the legal grounds will be here on the representations the seller (the guy trading it in) made. But if there is significant damages, "we had no idea" is not a strong defense. Nobody of these forums would accept that as an answer from a dealer, who may have had the vehicle in their possession for a few days, yet we are supposed to blindly accept it from someone who has owned a rig for 8 years. And I am a bit curious as to why the entire deal had to be made sight unseen? Maybe there is a little more to this story.
dadmomh
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
Let the buyer beware.....basic High School Business Law. For the life of me, I cannot figure out how they supposedly found mice had been in the roof and walls. You didn't intentionally misrepresent the trailer, they bought it sight unseen, it's their trailer. Taking that further, does this mean that we can't sell our house on the open market because we've had a mouse wander through from time to time?

We fell for this deal as much younger and much "stupider" (is that a word??) kids. We traded a car for another car. A couple of weeks later the dealer called with some cock-a-mame story that there was something wrong with our trade and he would have to have another $500. We were young and very stupid...and we paid him the $500 we didn't have. Several years of experience, if that happened now, we would just tell him sorry, it was his problem. You signed, he signed, it's his problem. Go camping and don't let this ruin you trips.

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