Advice for responding to classified ads

[Blischke]

We are in the market for a late model trailer. Any advice for responding to classified adds?

Thanks, Eric and Heidi (New Users)

[Rich W]

Originally Posted by Blischke

We are in the market for a late model trailer. Any advice for responding to classified adds?

Thanks, Eric and Heidi (New Users)

We got ours from an Airforum classified ad. I think I had emailed a few times to other ads, but this one was fairly close to us and I called them, set up an appointment and went to see it. It was the right size, looked good so we bought it. Turned out, the guy went to the same high school as me, 2 years behind my class. I recommend calling rather than emailing, you'll get a faster response. If you buy, get the title and signed bill of sale.


The AS has been good, there were some repairs that needed to be made, always is when buying used. It's not perfect, but she's all ours.

[azflycaster]

If you are seriously interested in a trailer listed for sale, prompt communication is a must. Contact the seller and ask for additional pictures and address any concerns that you might have. If you are still interested go see the trailer if possible or arrange for someone to inspect it. Time is of the essence, a good trailer at a reasonable price will not last very long. Once you decide to buy, make a reasonable offer. Nothing will turn a seller off more than an extreme low ball offer or requests to make payments.

[AlinCal]

Good advise above.
If it were a trailer I was serious about I would call asap. Not a text and not a reply to their add, phone call and talk will reveal far more than text exchanges about who the person is you are possibly going to make a transaction with then lots of photos and I will ask for photos of any defects it may have. Seller may discribe a scratch or dent as very minor and hard to see but photos may say different.

[flmgrip]

I've had a trailer for sale for a while, I got a few emails indicating interest, I responded nicely and quickly, but never heard back … I wonder if the interested party is getting my response?

[kb0zke]

And from the other side, sellers that don't respond to the buyer's request will find that we can and will go elsewhere.


We have a party that is serious about buying our Foretravel, so we're seriously looking at Airstreams. I check the Classifieds daily, as well as RV Trader and PPL. I keep a running list of those trailers that are of interest to us. Those that are were listed yesterday, but not today, are removed from the list and any new trailers are added.


There was an ad for a trailer that interested us, but seemed a bit far away. The price was very attractive, though, so I decided to call. The lady who answered didn't recognize the name in the ad, nor did she have an Airstream for sale. Okay, typos happen. I used the email form on the ad to reach out to the seller. That was last week, and I still haven't heard back. The ad has either been pulled or expired, so the question is moot.


Sellers, please make it easier for us buyers to choose your trailer. If you can't make your phone take pictures that will post right-side up, please use a regular camera (or get a friend to take the pictures for you) so that we can see what your trailer looks like without contortions. Find out how many pictures you can post, and post that many. Please make sure that every picture is actually of your trailer (yes, I called on an ad that showed two different couches and two different kitchens for the same trailer). If your trailer has something unique, include a picture AND tell about it in the text. Otherwise, please make sure that the pictures actually show your trailer accurately.


Yes, it takes some effort to create an ad that is effective, but it can be done.



Please price reasonably. We looked at a trailer that was older, and looked it. The clearcoat was peeling off in many places, the ceiling liner was falling down in a couple of places, a few things didn't work, and yet the seller was asking a premium price because "these trailers don't depreciate." If you want to ask a premium price you had better have a premium trailer. Fix everything that needs fixing before you post your trailer. Be prepared to prove that your trailer is worth more than average. No, you aren't getting back every penny you spent, but putting new tires and batteries on your trailer may make the difference between selling it quickly and having to relist it 90 days later at a lower price.