1992 WBPT40 SanDiego 97K ForSale

[Ryan Wright]

On Feb 4, 2008 10:16 AM, Don Bradner wrote:
>
> That was my impression also. In our case a year ago, we tended to ignore the
> ones that were 40-100% higher than market

Likewise; the thing is, most people don't want to offend someone with
a low ball offer. The coach may only be worth $70k but if they're
asking $97k, why waste your time and theirs? I don't get these sellers
who overprice their coach, then hold tight to their price for years
while the thing continues to depreciate. Makes one wonder if they
really want to sell it.

I don't think a '92 PT-40 will get $97k. They might get $85k if it's
in top condition, and that's not too much to talk someone down from on
an item in this price category. On the other hand, many buyers may
only be willing to pony up $75-80k and most won't bother trying to
talk someone down that far.

Then there's me. I don't mind offending people with a low ball offer.
I figure they already "offended" me with their outrageous asking
price, the least I can do is clue them in on what the thing is really
worth. ;-) I offered $15k below asking price for my coach. That offer
was soundly rejected, but it did open negotiations and we met
somewhere in the middle. The way I figure negotiations is, if both
parties get to a point where each feels he's being screwed a little,
then you're probably right where you should be.

Back to selling your coach: These are specialty items, they really
are. Especially vintage birds and especially with today's fuel prices.
Those with the big bucks just buy new; most Americans with their 30k
in credit card debt, two car payments and adjustable rate mortgages
can't afford them; so you need to find someone in just the right
income bracket who can afford the coach but can't (or doesn't want to)
afford new, yet wants an old bus and has the ability to fuel and
maintain it. That pool of people is fairly tiny and the small size of
that market is the reason coaches that sold for $400,000 not so many
years ago can be had for $50k-$90k today.

So when you buy a toy that fills such a niche market as this, you
really should consider it money thrown away; that you'll never be able
to resell it at any price and are just going to keep it forever. If
you disconnect yourself from the idea that it's an "asset", and
instead assume you blew all that dough just to have fun, then when you
go to sell it you'll be OK with whatever price you get. If I wanted to
tap into this money some day I'd have bought more mutual funds, not a
22 year old coach.

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92