| Author |
Message |
ogite
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 2:45 pm: | |
I am planning to list the first coach I bought 18 months ago for sale. When a buyer comes to inspect the coach and wants to take it for a drive, is it a good idea to accompany him for that drive? Just wondering, as I've never sold a bus before.
Thanks for the replies. |
truthhunter@shaw.ca
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 4:06 pm: | |
Gee what would your insurance company say? In commercial transport a new driver is pre screen current drivers licence standing , accident claims history as well as violations before he/she is taken for a test drive with the tester in the shot gun seat. It is real easy to see how much easier it is to cause a lot of damage and harm in something the size of a bus. At the least I am sure your insurer would insist you ride shot gun; but it is your liability at the end of the day. Seems to me an truly interested prospective buyer would have no problem understanding this or the fact you wanted to drive it first to a less congested area were the "buyer" could then get behind the wheel after you gave your demonstration.
Yes insurance rules may be different when testing a vehicle with a dealers plate from the car sale lot. |
Len Silva (Lsilva)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 4:11 pm: | |
I would say absolutely yes! And from my perspective as a potential buyer, I always want the owner to drive it first while I walk around and listen and feel and observe.
I would never expect the owner to let me drive his bus unaccompanied unless he knows me personally and that I can drive a bus.
I have never taken an RV on a test drive without the sales person along. Most of the time they are required to drive it off the lot and back on. |
Donald Lee Schwanke (Dontx)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 4:44 pm: | |
From experience, everybody seems to want to drive or go for a joyride. You MUST come up with some sort of prequalification or you will be just giving rides.
I think a conversation concerning how the person is expecting to pay for it, or some assurance that if it drives out ok he will buy it is in order first.
90% of my would be buyers were yuppies that would waste a lot of time, THEN say they for sure wanted it, as soon as their bank would approve a loan on it, and that their credit sucked bigtime. |
truthhunter@shaw.ca
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 5:35 pm: | |
Ah yes isn't that the point in the conversation, just before the silence, where your suppose to offer them credit or something ?
The best way I found to deal with those out for an experience at my expense (as if you profession was a salesman) is to show them the vehicle, followed by a discussion about if they will be financing the coach (details about how). At the end of it all , if they still seem serious and ask for a test drive is when I make a tentative appointment for them to return for a test drive. |
Jim & Linda Callaghan (Jimc)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 6:22 pm: | |
I would only let someone test drive my bus AFTER they decided that they wanted to buy it. I would first show them everything, come to terms on the sale, and part of those terms of sale would be that they agree it drives like you told them it would.
Then I would drive the bus to an area where you know there is little chance that they would strike someone or something, an area with little to no traffic, and no problems merging ect. ect.
No way would I let them drive it first. I remember looking at a used motorcycle at a dealer, the only way I could drive it was to buy it. I had to fill out all the paperwork, pay for it, and then I was allowed to test drive. I ended up not liking it, and had to void all the paperwork anyway, but after I thought about it, it eliminated all the tire kickers, and their insurance company probably made them do it.
Jim Callaghan 4106
Wisconsin |
ogite
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 10:25 pm: | |
Thanks everyone for the input about test driving my coach. A service road or an empty parking lot would be the safest place for any drive. I like the suggestions about how the shopper plans to pay for the purchase. And I don't do financing...banks do, as they know the credit risk of the buyer.
I remember selling an RV in years past when a family brought all three kids (mini tornadoes) to tear through our rig. I don't want a repeat of that.
I'll definitely use the info and try to prequalify the callers. Thanks all. |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 5:59 am: | |
I would TAKE the "interested party" for a ride .
Selling a bus camper and running a Driving Skool are two different adventures.
FAST FRED |
mel 4104
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 11:24 am: | |
I am like the rest and say NO to any riders before there is a firm buy in place and once they have their name on the paperthey are welcome to test drive it and as stated if it is not as i said them i will cancell the deal. the sign that i seen leaning beside a bus for sale --sorry no joy reders they are at the local fair date of fair have a nice day the coach sold in three days and he had only two couples ask about it and the first couple toke it. |