1993 wanderlodge bought on e-bay for $51,300----LEFT IT IN SOUTH CAROLINA !

[jburgessx2]

That is quite the story and very unfortunate. I've had very good luck with Ebay
(knock on wood) and it's bad when people try to take advantage of others. I'm
sure they were well aware of most of the problems (maybe not the water - surely
they wouldn't have flooded the coach again in front of you if they knew). I'm
sure they knew of the paint problems, doors, cabinets, etc.

I bought my coach from just looking at the pictures on the internet.
Fortunately, the PO (he originally wanted a bank transfer before I arrived)
allowed me to bring a cashiers check and gave me the opportunity to check it out
prior to me buying. I knew the coach needed a few repairs and I fully accepted
it. And, I've discovered a few other problems and I'm sure the PO didn't even
know about them (tie rods, leaking wheel seal on tag). But, I got a good price
and have freely paid for the fixes.

I'm sure you will find the coach you want for the price you want. It seems
there are plenty available right now and the prices continue to drop. It surely
is a good time to buy.

Jerry
85 PT40

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Ernie Ekberg wrote:
>
> WOW, What a nightmare, Bob. This is the new meaning to the term fixer-upper.
>
>
> Ernie Ekberg
> 83PT40
> Wanderlodge
> Weatherford, Tx
> http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/erni...gandrepair
>
> --- On Sat, 4/25/09, Bob & Carol Howald` wrote:
>
> From: Bob & Carol Howald`
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] 1993 wanderlodge bought on e-bay for
$51,300----LEFT IT IN SOUTH CAROLINA !
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Saturday, April 25, 2009, 9:33 AM
>
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>
> What I thought could end up being a really good deal on a 93 wanderlodge ended
up being a waste of time and money. Being the successful bider on e-bay my son
and I left early Tuesday to go to Piedmont SC to pick up the coach. Karolina
Koaches wanted me to wire them the full amount before we would arrive, I gave
them a $500,00 deposit and told them I would hand carry a cashier check for the
remaining amount.
> When we arrived at their place in Piedmont on Wednesday morning we were met by
Bob the sales manager who told us the coach was plugged in and ready to go. We
went out behind the building and there was the 93 plugged in all the doors etc
open plus air conditions, radios, light, televisions etc all turned on.
Immediately we could see that the coach did not look very clean, covered with
red mud and dirt. that part was ok so we started looking beyond this, It had
been repainted and who ever painted it did not prep the surface at all, dings
painted over instead for being sanded out etc. Lots of paint mission around
rivets fiberglass cracked bumpers out of alignment etc. Three of the cargo doors
would not close as the hinges were broken on two of them and a third one was
missing completely. The generator auto-start control box was torn completely out
of the bay wall and lots and lots of great stuff foam was used in the generator
fan area to patch or ?
> something on the floor under the drivers seat. Upon further examination of
the paint we discovered that half the paint markings on the side were vinyl
decals which were cracking and pealing off. Lots of white rust. The engine
compartment door would not latch. The engine compartment was a mess with lots of
lose insulation hanging along with dirt and rust.
> Now we decide to check out the inside, upon first look it appeared to be ok,
some lights out and some drawers with broken hardware. I ask about the water
system as there was no water coming from the faucets or in the toliet bowl. Bob
said he would turn on the water pump, While we were looking at the safe that
would not open although we had the key's we saw water start running down the
isle. Water was running from under the cabinets and from under the bed in GREAT
amounts. I thought he had turned the city water on and called for him to turn
off the hose, but it was the coach water pumps running. The coach is flooded by
now with water every where. Several cleaners come in with towels etc and start
mopping up the mess. When we go outside water is running out of every crack in
the coach and running into all the bay area's on the left side. After the water
stopped and the mess cleaned up enough to go back inside and look around we
found the broken pipe's
> under the bed (bacteria filter completely cracked in half) pipes under the
sink dripping and the instant hot cracked and leaking. That's on the left side,
because of the leaks on that side no water could get to the stool, washer,
vanity etc so who knows how many breaks on the right side.
> Ok, so now he says I guess the bank diden't get it winterized?? ?I don't know
who or what ever but I do know that the plumbing has big problems. He says he
did not put that the plumbing was ok in the e-bay ad. and that I had bought it
as is. and I replied that he was nuts to think I would take that coach and that
it was totally mis-represented on ebay ( pictures of the exterior had to be
touched up)
> To shorten this story, I told him I would give him $47,000 and take it. He
disappeared for a few minutes then came back and said " They would release me
from the deal and write me a check for my $500,00 deposit plus give me money for
my expenses. All they asked in return was a positive feed back on e-bay.
> My son and I got back in the car and started home for Illinois , thinking
about what a Junker the once lovely 93 bird had become and glad we were leaving
her in SC.
> Don't get me wrong, I knew there would be problem's with the coach, I've owned
4 bluebirds and feel that I know the birds well, and this bird had problem's
that I could not over look or that I was willing to work on for the next year or
years.
> This coach will probably be back on e-bay when they get the plumbing put back
together. What kind of job or repairs they'll do???? who knows
> Iam still looking for a bird and hopefully a bargin but, in the mean time I
still have my 06 PonyExpress Super C with the Duramax diesel and 10-13 mpg
(anyone want to trade), ha
> Hope I diden't bore anyone but felt that this story should be shared with the
group. O' both primus boilers were bone dry and the radiator needed water and
the generator smoked...... .
>
> Regards to the group..Bob..
>