{"id":7427,"date":"2018-04-24T09:00:36","date_gmt":"2018-04-24T13:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rvusa.com\/blog\/?p=7427"},"modified":"2023-10-11T17:25:24","modified_gmt":"2023-10-11T21:25:24","slug":"smart-buying-how-to-avoid-scams-when-shopping-for-rvs-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rvusa.com\/blog\/smart-buying-how-to-avoid-scams-when-shopping-for-rvs-online\/","title":{"rendered":"Smart Buying: How to Avoid Scams When Shopping for RVs Online"},"content":{"rendered":"

To say the internet is a massive place is definitely an understatement. Because of this, it\u2019s easy for anyone to try and trick someone into thinking they\u2019re offering a good deal when they\u2019re really not. This is especially true when it comes to buying and shopping for good, dependable RVs and dealers online. And we know that a lot of RVers’ first stop when searching for a new one is their favorite dealer’s website. Being aware of fraud is the first step in not being taken advantage of. Most sellers and dealers are not out to scam anyone, but it always helps to be aware of fraud red flags. Below are a few tips on how to avoid scams from other websites that claim untrue or outrageous statements.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. First things first: If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. <\/b>If you\u2019re shopping for an RV, chances are you know estimates on how much each make or model may cost. Go with your gut feeling. So when you see a model on sale for tens of thousands more or less than what it should be going for, your instinct is probably correct. Move on to the next dealer.<\/li>\n
  2. <\/b>Do not wire any amount of money to a dealer or private seller. Even if you are a private dealer yourself. <\/b>Technology makes it so easy for scammers to get your bank info. They will request you to wire money because they don\u2019t need an ID to get the funds, they can receive it anywhere in the world and it\u2019s incredibly fast. If this is unavoidable, just verify the services you\u2019re using are legit.<\/li>\n
  3. Never make a purchase solely based on photos from the dealer\u2019s website or a classified site. <\/b>Though the photos are what may have sold you on the RV, it\u2019s still a really <\/i>good idea to see the RV or motorhome in person before purchasing it. Just because the dealer or seller has posted photos doesn\u2019t necessarily mean the RV actually exists. They could have easily gotten photos from another website. Photos also don\u2019t show you everything you\u2019ll see in person. The RV may have a massive scratch or dent on the exterior that’s hard to miss, but if all their photos are clear of that mark, to the viewer, it doesn\u2019t exist.<\/li>\n
  4. <\/b>Learn about the RV\u2019s history. <\/b>Think about the research you do before buying a car. You attain its VIN number, get a maintenance history on it, you know its market value and you may even have a complete inspection done before you make a decision. The exact same should go for purchasing an RV.<\/li>\n
  5. <\/b>Verify the dealer or seller\u2019s legitimacy. <\/b>Do some research on the seller or dealer to ensure they are real. You can always call and speak with them beforehand, as well. It\u2019s always a good idea to meet them in person before you make any decisions. This should raise a red flag if they refuse to meet or speak with you instead of emailing.<\/li>\n
  6. <\/b>If you\u2019re buying from a private seller, do so in public. <\/b>You never know someone\u2019s intentions, so it\u2019s always a good idea to meet and conduct business in a public place. The seller shouldn\u2019t have issues with this and will probably happily comply if you ask to meet in public.<\/li>\n
  7. <\/b>Requesting personal information. <\/b>NEVER give anyone any information that will lead them to you. Requests for bank info, credit score or any financial or personal information too early in the game should be a red flag for you. Avoid working with this seller or dealer if they ask for any of this information.<\/li>\n
  8. <\/b>Always ask for a detailed receipt. <\/b>Any legit dealer or seller should give you this without you having to ask. Be sure the receipt states whether it is under warranty or if you\u2019re buying it as is. Attaining all of the hard copies of records, receipts, etc that you can may come in handy one day should you decide to sell your RV. You should also be sure to ask for the title to the RV and any sort of previous history.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    We also understand that there are several gray areas when it comes to buying anything online. So just use your best judgement. If something seems strange or off, move on to another seller. You\u2019ll find the right RV for you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    To say the internet is a massive place is definitely an understatement. Because of this, it\u2019s easy for anyone to try and trick someone into thinking they\u2019re offering a good deal when they\u2019re really not. This is especially true when it comes to buying and shopping for good, dependable RVs and dealers online. And we […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[1272,1274,1273],"class_list":["post-7427","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-rv-tips-and-tricks","tag-avoiding-online-scams","tag-protecting-yourself-when-buying-an-rv-online","tag-shopping-for-rvs-online"],"yoast_head":"\nSmart Buying: How to Avoid Scams When Shopping for RVs Online - RV Lifestyle News, Tips, Tricks and More from RVUSA!<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/rvusa.com\/blog\/smart-buying-how-to-avoid-scams-when-shopping-for-rvs-online\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Smart Buying: How to Avoid Scams When Shopping for RVs Online - RV Lifestyle News, Tips, Tricks and More from RVUSA!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"To say the internet is a massive place is definitely an understatement. 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