Slow response to selling Sport

[KayakGa]

Seeking advice! I am selling my 2019 Bambi Sport 22; I've had it posted in Airforum classifieds and RVT, Facebook.
I've had no serious inquiries.
59,999, now 55,000.
Ad is still up; is the size, queen bed the holdup?
I am disappointed and want to move on!

[RickBullotta]

Honestly I think it's because there are lots of Caravels on the market as well. The list of differences is substantial, but you can pick one up for only about $10K more.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

You are heading into the "slow" part of the RV selling season. As school starts up, folks focus less on vacations and more on other things. RV's head back into storage after long summer trips. Folks look at the cost of that storage and maybe decide to sell their RV.

No, you aren't into the late fall yet. No, the dynamic isn't the same in every part of the country. As freezing weather pops up on the forecast, the process really gets going in this or that area. It's true for boats as well as RV's ....

Top that off with concerns about inflation / recession and one might expect the RV market to cool off a bit. Used RV prices have been a bit insane for the last few years. One would guess that the market will correct a bit. Some of that will be price some will be lower sales volume.

How does this apply to any one RV listing? Who knows. There is no real way to directly connect the dots between one listing and the general market. This or that listing might be "priced to sell" and the random nature of this stuff simply has it sitting.

Bob

[rideair]

Well, lots of things go into the selling or not selling of an item. Timing, cost of money (interest rates), how many is on the market, cost of new vs. used, area of the country, etc. The question becomes, how bad do you want it gone, and how much will it cost you to keep it through the slow season of winter if it doesn't sell before then.

Then ask yourself, "Is the trailer going up/down in value?" If the trailer is going down in value, the cost of money is going up, if you can purchase a new one off the lot for 10-15% more, it might be time to cut your price and run. If you take your $60K from the dealer, minus the 15% that puts you at $50K.

Sadly, the value of something and what you can sell it for are never the same.

Good Luck,

[Gsmblue]

It is far from an optimal time to sell such an item for the reasons listed above.

My 2 cents… Covid saw everyone buying trailers and going camping. Then this summer international travel opened up and all the people i know that bought trailers in 2020 sold them (at a loss) and booked family tickets to Italy/Portugal. Those that did not have trailers are buying them now at really nice prices.

If you are looking to get into a bigger airstream consider trading in/up. Private sale at a good price (for you) may be tricky.

Any which way, wishing you all the best.

[rfequity1]

Someone just posted a 2020 Sport for sale in OH for $50k. I think maybe your price might be a bit high and the fact that you are in Oregon has to make a difference since pretty far for many potential buyers. Also, $50 to 60k opens up a lot of possibilities on a used AS including maybe getting something with duel axles.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

If this gets into dealers, it gets even more complex. It's not at all clear to me that's part of the mix here.

In most states, you get to pay sales tax. They typically waive sales tax on the portion of a new car / truck / boat / RV that is made up by the trade. Effectively that gives you something in the > 5% range as a boost on your trade. If your local tax is in the YIKES range, it could be a lot more than 5%.

Dealers ( all of them ) are going to make money on a vehicle they take in trade. They want to stay in business. They will give you less for your trade than you could (likely) sell it for. They will sell it for more than you (likely) can sell it for. That's just how this all works.

If you are a private seller, you normally can't provide the seller with the same thing a dealer does. Just how valuable this stuff really is .... very debatable. A used this or that from a dealer typically comes with some sort of warranty. It comes with a claim that it has been "carefully gone over and fixed up by our pro service team" ( try not to laugh at them when they say this ...). They most certainly do have somebody who does a very good job cleaning things up and keeping them clean. Cosmetic nonsense likely has been addressed. If you the buyer need / want financing, they will be happy to set you up. Looking for a "terrific" extended warranty ... they have those.

You don't have to look very hard on the forum to find threads about "how to do payment on the trailer I just sold". This is / can be a stressful thing for many sellers. I would never suggest that concern is unwarranted. It's also a bit nutty from the buyers perspective. The dealer works through this kind of thing every day. They likely will take credit cards. The ones I've worked with always seem to be ok with a normal personal check. Much easier than the "bring cash" that some threads here seem to suggest ....

Do you need to be 10% below the dealer? How much "pad" does he have in that price? Some will drop the price 10% without much pressure at all. That (at least to me) suggests that their real price never was what was in the listing .... Very much a "who knows" sort of thing.

Any selling process involves promotion. The dealer has a web site. They talk long and hard about what great folks they are. All sorts of "highly believable" reviews back this up. About all a private seller has is posting a billion pictures of the trailer. The dealer is open just about all the time. Walk in and they are ready to do a job on you .... errrr .... help you out. No need for an appointment or scheduling. The person who you are dealing with is a pro. They know exactly how to handle the process to optimize the outcome. Even if you have been selling this or that for years, you aren't going to promote the deal as well as they will.

You see a lot of listings for RV's. What you don't have is any sort of data on actual sell prices. The data on cars and trucks is far more solid than the data on RV's. Just why that is gets into a tangle of things. Bottom line is still that the data is not available. This makes any sort of pricing on an RV a guess.

Crazy !!!!

Bob

[Silvr_Bullet]

There’s a knack to selling ( doesn’t matter the item ) prepare the trailer for sale cleaned, waxed , staged, presentation is #1, get some professional photos ( worth the expense ). Always add negotiable to your asking price. Hopefully you saved some photos from trips, use the best ones with good backgrounds mountains, beaches, land marks etc. list all extra upgrades as well as standard items, some folks are not familiar with all that your Airstream includes. Mention everything that’s important, scratches ( more appropriately called ‘cosmetic’ blemish, if that best describes it ). Remember your selling a trailer, but it’s also someone’s dream.

[Dennis C]

Good advice above.

I think the timing is challenging, as mentioned. Camping season is coming to a close. Inflation is at record high levels, interest rates are up, the stock market is volatile, there’s a general lack of confidence and trust in our elected officials, people are worried about massive tax increases, there’s a war in Ukraine, etc.

People are holding onto their money more carefully right now, especially when considering luxury items like an Airstream.

[jeffb831]

Originally Posted by KayakGa

Seeking advice! I am selling my 2019 Bambi Sport 22; I've had it posted in Airforum classifieds and RVT, Facebook.
I've had no serious inquiries.
59,999, now 55,000.
Ad is still up; is the size, queen bed the holdup?
I am disappointed and want to move on!

Is this your ad?: https://www.airforums.com/forums/f53...on-236469.html

If so, the problem may be that it's listed as a Sport 21 (does that even exist?) in the title so it may not be showing in searches for people looking for a Sport 22 trailer.

[KayakGa]

Originally Posted by jeffb831

Is this your ad?: https://www.airforums.com/forums/f53...on-236469.html

If so, the problem may be that it's listed as a Sport 21 (does that even exist?) in the title so it may not be showing in searches for people looking for a Sport 22 trailer.

I think that was generated by the classifieds; I answered it all, 22"; I never gave it a title.
Will see if I can edit but at first glance, cannot edit the title.
Thanks

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by KayakGa

I think that was generated by the classifieds; I answered it all, 22"; I never gave it a title.
Will see if I can edit but at first glance, cannot edit the title.
Thanks

Try using the 'contact us' link at the bottom of the ad page to get in touch with the help desk. If there is a way to edit the title they'll know.

[Turkeybaster]

For a comparison: we listed our last travel trailer (not an AS) for sale on RVT and FB Marketplace this past spring. We kept hearing how “hot” the RV market was, both new and used. We priced it low for a quick sale. We included lots of pics including beautiful camp site pics.
We had very few inquiries (<10). It took over 2 months to sell and we had to drop the price quite a bit. In our experience the market has cooled.

[Por Sonia]

Originally Posted by Turkeybaster

. . .
. . . In our experience the market has cooled.

Agreed . . . Ukraine . . . gas prices . . . fear and uncertainty about the future. We ended up basically giving our 2014 FC20 to an old friend.

Advice from Colonial Airstream mirrored the above.

Peter

[trilink5]

We sold our 2020 19CB on classifieds in July for 54,500. We had it listed @ 56,700 which was a few thousand below other comparables (probably yours was one of them) We also threw in hitch/Weber grill & Rock Tamers to sweeten the sale. I'm guessing you purchased at a much lower price 3 years ago...we paid 42k. If you are really wanting to sell before winter I would drop it to around 52k and hope to get 51k. Even at that price you basically made money on it and got to camp for free for 3 years in the coolest camper on earth! Good luck.

[Rich Jenkins]

It's always about the price. I agree the market has cooled quite a bit since spring/summer.

[Ray Eklund]

Take a camping trip. Put a sign on the rear, left and right sides: For Sale with cell number.

Drive slower at a RV Park or when entering a Town to refuel... as if you are looking for that 'special camping spot' or grocery store. Park where the signs are visible to all.

Large words and cell number... 20 feet is a good sign. Forty feet... Ohhhh Weeee.

No calls. Nobody is interested after seeing your sign? Drive through... slower. Many potential buyers have to think... before they act. The second trip around WILL get them motivated. Adding a PRICE is important.

NO price shown... I would not waste my time calling, either. Zzzzzz I say.

Drive through your town. Go grocery shopping, stop at a restaurant, fill your tow vehicle with fuel... slowly. Check air pressure away from the fuel pumps. Go inside the trailer to look for... anything. Time is cheap. Use the restroom inside the station. Buy a soda. Take your time. Glance out the window to see if there is any interest.

Check the competition out of RV Sites and discount your asking price. Add Make offer, does not hurt. Make concessions only AFTER payment, as willing to tow the trailer to new owner's home, etc.

Raise the price for two days... then "Price Reduced $4,000" later in the week. Add 'Motivated Seller'.

Many who are selling, need to also consider if they were buyers, what would get your attention. Offer to tow it after payment, to any place within 350 miles if they pay for fuel. Even that is negotiable.

If you price it too cheap and only get an offer and if they are on the telephone, ask them to come look, first and then you may work with them. Avoid bargaining when the buyer is not breathing in front of you.

If you do not care to sell one way or the other, you will do better. I am a Neanderthal. When someone offers a 'low ball offer'... do not blink. Consider and THEN raise the price... $2,000. They will blink... if interested.

No body expects a counter offer to be higher. The more desperate you are to sell... the good buyers, like myself... can smell the tension for a motivated owner to SELL.

No interest. Too high in YOUR Area. Some areas are Good for Buyers. Some large communities are better for Sellers. Been doing this since I was 9 years old. If you WANT IT GONE... show a price and then add... Will Consider ALL Offers.

Offer a complete package of Costco Toilet Tissue as part of the deal.

[mkcurtiss]

I just had to take a big hit on a house I sold, just because the market has cooled off......

Plus, selling an Airstream takes time.....its a unique item and needs to appear before just the right persons eyes.....

[waninae39]

I sold my 22fb sport 2016 for $60k. It has sold on 1 day.

[Condoluminum]

Used Airstream market is both regional and national market. By that I mean folks you know or who see it at an RV park or rally or parking lot with sign could be the next owners, or someone looking for that floorplan and color combo in Michigan could be the one. You should advertise in all 3 major online RV markets (Airstream Classifieds, RVTraderonline and RVT.com. Look through all 3 before listing to see what else is out there. Avoid temptation to be precise (like an engineer..) and just say length is 22' instead of 21.6'. One technique for motivating buyers and getting best price is to create concept of scarcity in mind of buyer. How is your trailer unique or one of very few with ___ or last of the units with xxx or first 22' Airstream with special A/C.. Telling buyer someone else is "interested" and said they'd call back is another way to create sense of urgency.. The lift kit might not actually be an attractive option, and I'd have said easy to tow with 4 cyl. Crossover SUV, or small truck like Toyota Tacoma.



You should also think through transaction in event buyer is remote.. Will you "hold" with deposit or demand $$ wired up front? How much? Are you willing to take risk of Cashier Check <you shouldn't...> or expect cash or wire or Official Check printed in front of you at local branch of national bank, like Bank of America, Wells Fargo or Chase? If buyer gets to town and backs out, what is plan? Refund deposit but not responsible for travel expenses? What if buyer wants dealer inspection down in Eugene?