Buyer Beware !!

[markdenise]

Just wanted to let you know, especially the newer folks, to be careful when buying a Vintage Airstream. We just recently bought another project trailer and as I was searching for it I was amazed at how many people do not know what they are selling. You would think that if you own something and are selling it, you would do a tiny bit of research on it. This is not the case!! You can go to this website:Vintage Airstream Photo Archives - Vintage Airstream and check out which models were made in which years and how long they are. I saw 1968 26 foot Tradewind for sale-there is no such thing-a 1968 26 foot trailer is an Overlander. So, I had to call people and ask them what it was they were selling. I'm so glad that I didn't make a long drive to see the wrong thing. Another great listing is 1967 International Land Yacht for sale-this is not the name of a model but rather what upgrades the model has. So, don't assume, like I did, that the sellers knows his/her stuff!

[J. Morgan]

I bought a 75 Limited...

There is no such thing...



(But I didn't care)

I imagine it was a nicely done creation in its day. It was well faked.

[Panama Red]

That's awesome! Think I'll make my '74 into a Sovereign Excella Land Yacht Limited International SS Hemi.....

Nice shed you got there by the way!

-Red

[Photobum]

But what is that tow vehicle in front of the 75 Limited????

[Minno]

We have a '73 31ft Sovereign "customolsson" !

Kay

[J. Morgan]

50 Plymouth,,,

and I dig the shed. No winterization required!!!

We are kind of thinking that my "Limited" is really an Excella.. But I am not certain.

Minno,,, your little girl is awesome!!

Panama,,, hybrid trailers are COOL!!!

[Minno]

Sheez - Now I have to make an emblem...

Chris

[markdenise]

One of my favorite sales pitches is also " these sell for $ 25,000 once fix up" ! Really now ? So, you want 15k for your trailer that has been sitting out in field for 20 years, and you don't even know what it is, and you think I will put 10k into fixing it up and do countless hours worth of work-and then get really excited about maybe getting 25k for it ?? Makes sense to me!!

[markdenise]

One more rant:
At least you "boys" can garner some respect simply by being males. As a "girl" this is not the case. I asked a guy what condition the floor was in-did it need a frame off renovation ? Also, was the axle original or had he replaced it at some point? His answer was "well, you certainly ask all the right questions!" And then didn't answer any of them!

I nicely explained to another guy that there was no such thing as a 24 Overlander in 1965 and could he please measure it for me (from rear to ball) and tell me how long it is. Because if it really was 24 ft then it would be a Tradewind (what I was looking for) but if it was 26ft then it would indeed be an Overlander and longer then what we wanted.

His response was-I did measure it Honey-it's a 24ft Overlander!!

[surfpod]

I sometimes see ads that advertise a smaller size than it really is. There was a seller on eBay who put "Safari" in the headlines when it was an Overlander. I sent a message that it looked like an Overlander. He still didn't change the ad.

[Stefrobrts]

My favorite seller maneuver is when they say they 'haven't checked' the appliances or the electric or the plumbing. Really? Because it's pretty darned easy to check. And it probably means a lot more money for them, because if they haven't been tested to see if you can even plug it in and see if the lights come on, I'm going to have to assume that whole system is broken, and I will adjust the price accordingly.

Yeah, people are CRAZY when it comes to selling their trailers sometimes. Apparently they see silver, and they think GOLD It's definitely buyer beware out there!

[J. Morgan]

My experience is two for two on buying trailers with extensive fresh water plumbing damage due to freezing.

Neither seller admitted this up front, at least one said he hadn't tried the plumbing,,, SO, I knew the plumbing was trashed on both of them when I bought them...

Pex makes this hardly an issue though.

[markdenise]

I guess it's best to always expect the worst and hope for the best. And-always realize that it will be worse than you think it will be!!

[idroba]

I saw one advertised recently which was listed as a "very desirable Whale Tail" when in fact it was not. It was too new, (a '58) and even the photos showed it was not a Whale Tail.

[markdenise]

There is one for sale on ebay right now this is the title:

1963 22ft 20ft Airstream Safari Bambi Camper Travel Trailer RV Rare Vintage

A safari bambi camper !! That is a very rare model indeed!

[J. Morgan]

They are trying to hit all of the search words.

What about truth? Few care anymore!

[JeweloJalopy]

Exactly. How do you know a seller is lying? Their mouth is moving.

Or something like that.

[J. Morgan]

Unfortunatly,,, lying is expected today.

99% of all sellers know everything that works and what does not.

I have bought two trailers one guy was 100% honest, the other parsed a lot of words.

Fortunately,,, neither of my frames were nearly as bad as Millertime's.


1/2 Ton 4WD Truck, Big Trailer,
Hensley Arrow

[millertimeUS]

I got burned BIG TIME, I remember some of the doozies...

"Oh yeah we never use that not sure how it works" Busted furnace

"We just always use the camp shower" So don't go and look around that bathroom too much ok?

"Leaks? No NEVER" Then explain all this floor rot

" I took it to the dealer" Yeah once in 1999

" this thing is ready to travel the country". Frame rusted to bits, actually fractured in places

And the winner when I call with all these issues.....

" Sorry buddy but I can't help you "


There are people with integrity out there, but don't trust someone selling you their trailer to be in that camp even if they are a veteran..... Really steams me up.








Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

[julesean]

LOL! these are awesome. i'm currently on the hunt for an AS.

My favorite one was, "No leaks!" followed by "has a few bullet holes in the skin from hunting"

and i don't know how many people I've seen post a 70's AS with "super rare rear bathroom!"