Blue Book Values

[Pete Masterson]

It's important to understand that "blue books" do not include prices of private sales. The prices attributed to Blue Bird Wanderlodges in either the NADA guide or the Kelly Blue Book are highly suspect since they only cover dealer sales coupled with the low volume to give often spurious results.

For example, if dealers have handled sales of three 1990 Wanderlodge PT40s that were in less than optimum condition, then an artificially low price may have been established. However, there may have been (say) four 1990 PT40s sold in private transactions -- coaches in tip top shape -- that did not get recorded and entered into the statistics. Obviously, the premium priced, but privately sold WLs will not be included in the blue book pricing statistics. This would include all the coaches sold via Vintage Birds, Bird Connection, eBay (from a non-dealer), and other non-dealer consignment outlets.

The various blue books work fairly well for widely traded mass produced vehicles -- but fail miserably for thinly traded uncommon vehicles.

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On May 1, 2009, at 1:14 PM, Al Scudder wrote:

The "BLue Book" will state that a price of a coach was sold was $75,000. and if it was the ONLYsale recorded for the FACTS that are in the " BLUE BOOK" indeed that value of that coach in BLUE BOOK will be listed at $75,000.

This is the same as boats. If I sell the only 1990 54 FT Hatteras Sport Fish and I sell it for $750,000, it is pristine, new genny, new mains, neweverything. That will be the price of a 1990 54 Hatteras because it was the only one that sold. It makes no difference that there maybe only 3 built.

THis will defiantly tweak the base of figures that you take out of a book that is published. Wait until the next book comes out on RV and boats the bottom is still open
and it will take some time for things to come in line with what they are worth.

Scooter 2000LX Ocqueoc, MI