Auctioned trailers... warning flags?

[Gator113]

I had a dealer tell me to be very carful about buying trailers from any dealer that buys from auctions. This was not the main thrust of the conversation, so I neglected to ask him why.

I had shared with him that one of the trailers I was presently considering, besides his, was purchased by the dealer at auction.

Should caution flags come up if a dealer is trying to sell you a trailer he purchased at an auction?

Can anyone shed more light on this subject?

Thank you,

Dan

[overlander63]

There are many reasons a trailer could be sold/bought from a dealer auction.
It could be as simple as the selling dealer had too many of that model on their lot, that trailer "aged out" (didn't sell within the allotted time), is not new enough for the selling dealer, or has some combination of features or flaws that make it unpopular, and not easily resold. For example, it may have flaming neon green wallcovering, or black carpeting.
It could mean the trailer has some damage, either visible or not, such as a damaged interior or exterior section, excessive wear, or mechanical or electrical problems the selling dealer didn't want to spend the time and money to fix, and they just ran it through the auction. Pretty much the same as cars and trucks.

[Gator113]

Terry,

Thank you for your quick response. I am so glad that I found this site before I spent my money.

[mojo]

It's amazing how when you go to buy something from someone, that what you need is what they got.

And beware of buying from someone else that has something that they don't have or sell.

[Gator113]

Yes Mojo, I thought that might have been what was going on.

[wahoonc]

I have bought plenty of cars and trucks that came from auctions. Not all dealers will keep the stuff that is traded in, for a variety of reasons. I know that my local Ford dealer buys and sells vehicles at auctions all the time to keep their used car inventory fresh.

Aaron

[LLB21]

Trailers that have been valued at a total loss by insurance companies are also sold at auctions. Beware, they cost much more to repair than it looks!

[Lumatic]

Also repos

[Gator113]

I covered all the details in my introduction thread, but as it turns out... this trailer had hail damage. Grrrr

[VIKING]

Auctions are just another way of selling and buying. They have no bearing on the condition of any vehicle.
Believe everything every salesperson tells you, right up until they open their mouths.

Rich

[SARGE/AF]

Just because a dealer bought it from an auction does not mean that it is a bad deal, and that depends on the type of auction, (there are 2 dealer, public), in fact you can find some really sweet deals at actions which I use frequently when buying things. You just need to be a really informed person.
Lets look at Dealer only auctions (which i use)- these are things that a dealer took in trade or used as a promo unit and can not sell at a price to prevent a loss, reposetions, insurance sales, estate sales. This is also where you find many of your good deals because of the requirements that is placed on notification of history, such as insurance must list their stuff as total when it is or repairs exceed the value which is set by NADA. As many of you know Ins will total things and it basically will not cost that much to fix if you are a do-it-yourself. You will also find that a dealer will take in a trade and not know what they have and will just want to part with it, I have had several things I have bought this way including a 1982 Excella that I paid 4000 for and sold for 7500, someone elses lack of knowledge was my gain.
General Public Auctions- these are the ones that you really have to exceptionally aware because these are people who doctor and hid stuff just to make a buck. But a really informed person can occasionally find a deal but it is rare.

Sarge

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by SARGE/AF

that depends on the type of auction, (there are 2 dealer, public)e.

Sarge

I don't know if this applies everywhere but a year or 2 ago I saw an AS sitting in a dealer only auction lot in Albuquerque. Naturally I stopped to ask about it. I was told no, don't know anything about it, no, you can't look at it if you are not registered with us. Yes, you can register if you can prove you are a dealer and pay a several hundred dollar registration fee.

[SARGE/AF]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

I don't know if this applies everywhere but a year or 2 ago I saw an AS sitting in a dealer only auction lot in Albuquerque. Naturally I stopped to ask about it. I was told no, don't know anything about it, no, you can't look at it if you are not registered with us. Yes, you can register if you can prove you are a dealer and pay a several hundred dollar registration fee.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX
Of the ones I have attended, that is pretty much the standard rule, you have to be a registered dealer to get in. Yes we have to pay in some cases large amounts to these auctions, which you would think the 10% min they make would be enough and this is why I do not have a dealer license anymore as of 8 yrs ago, I do have a couple of dealer freinds that allow me to go with them and if I want something they bid for me. I only deal with repos now if I buy at all.

Sarge