Misleading Info from Sellers
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03-06-2008, 01:34
Post: #11
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Misleading Info from Sellers
Glad to see you learned from the trip, I was in awe.
My first 'bird' trip was a lone traveler deal, sure am glad. The 'bird' was a hell pile, but the whole experience was very positive. Wouldn't have been if I had brought company.
MH
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03-06-2008, 02:06
Post: #12
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Misleading Info from Sellers
Michael, posts like yours make my day. Thank you for being a member.
Ernie Ekberg 83PT40 Livingston, Montana It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms and advice on AOL Money Finance. |
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03-06-2008, 04:04
Post: #13
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Misleading Info from Sellers
Searching for a Wanderlodge usually requires nationwide travel. I made
4 trips before my Bird found me, each trip cost about $1000, with airfare, car rental, hotel, and meals. I would have loved to travel a few hundred miles to examine one. Even a wounded Bird is a learning adventure. My first trip was to look at an 84 PT with some interior fire damage, I did know going in that it was a real long shot, and my lack of important Bluebird knowledge really was appalling throughout my searches. Still, I had fun in that trip to beautiful Tennessee. I fought hard against even going to look at the Bird I eventually bought, (February in Detroit), but I asked the owners family to email me a hundred high-resolution digital pictures of every part, (inside and out), looking for a reason not to travel, and they quickly, and cheerfully, complied. The owner had passed away, so real information was non-existent. Freezing my spoiled Southern California backside off, I found a clearly cherished Bird sleeping in a huge, well-equipped heated garage, (I wish I could have taken the garage with me as part of the deal). Stored every winter with the heat blasting, the family had an emotional attachment to this Bird, and really were not trying hard to advertise it because they gave me lots of time to think about it, and I returned on April Fool's Day (how appropriate) to start my ownership. To shorten this story, I did not make much progress in learning, and repairing the many things Bluebird ownership requires until I discovered Ernie's Forum. Quickly discovering every post was full of Gold, (information); I started at the beginning of the forum postings and have enjoyed the journey as I have continued to find out how much I need to learn! Most of my time has been spent it the past, but now I am trying to keep up in real-time. Not fair that work constantly interferes with play, though. My many, many belated thanks to Ernie, the Moderators, and to every single person, past, present, and future, who has taken the time to post, and educate, with this absolutely fantastic and necessary Bluebird Owners Workbook. To the Bluebird Wannabees, do not give up; do not lose heart, because your Wanderlodge is waiting out there for you! Michael Kramer 86 PT-40 8V92 San Diego, CA --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Hohnstein" <MHOHNSTEIN@...> wrote: > > Glad to see you learned from the trip, I was in awe. > My first 'bird' trip was a lone traveler deal, sure am glad. The 'bird' was a hell pile, but the whole experience was very positive. Wouldn't have been if I had brought company. > MH > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Ryan Wright > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2008 12:32 AM > Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Misleading Info from Sellers > > > On Wed, Mar 5, 2008 at 1:00 PM, Pete Masterson > > > > Sounds like the real error was bringing along the wife and family. > > I second that. Of course, had the seller not been a lying scumbag (I'm > being polite), Hoss's decision would have been fine. > > I flew my wife, two kids and my dog all the way down to Texas for my > coach. Thankfully I was dealing with a reputable seller and the coach > was in excellent condition, exactly as described and we were all very > happy. It's a good thing, too: Imagine, for a moment, you get up at > five in the morning; spend several hours in the air, plus 13 hours > stuck in the Phoenix airport, with two children, a wife and a dog, > finally landing in DFW well after midnight. You call every hotel > imaginable and they're all full, since the tornado that delayed your > flight also delayed every other and now a whole barrage of aircraft > have landed at once and weary travelers have packed the hotels. > > Finally, you find an available hotel but they don't allow pets. You > book the room anyway and sneak the dog in, since you don't exactly > have a choice in the matter. Oh, and the driver who takes you to the > hotel rips you off, $40 for a 15 minute ride. By the time you get > checked in, get the kids settled down, etc, it's 3 in the morning and > you're lucky to get 4 hours of sleep, then it's time to get up, find > some breakfast, and hook up with your ride. > > Now imagine the coach is junk. Oh, and you spent $1,200 on one way > airfare. And your ride from the airport hotel was the guy selling the > coach and he's not taking you back to the airport after you argue with > him over the misrepresentation. So now you all get to figure a way > home. > > Yeah, that's exactly my trip, except the "worst nightmare" last > paragraph didn't happen. The guy from Mr. Oliver's picked us up from > the hotel and everything was smooth as butter after that. We settled > into our new coach and finally were able to relax and enjoy the > experience and a huge thanks to Mr. Oliver's for their hospitality. > They turned the experience right around for us. I'll tell you what > though, the nightmare of that final paragraph was going through my > head non-stop from the time I made the offer until we saw the coach in > person. My wife was already just luke-warm on the whole idea to begin > with, and was ready to go home after the first couple of hours stuck > in Phoenix. If the last bit had come true she'd have never come along > on another - ever. > > If I were to do this again, I'd definitely go down alone, then fly the > family down after I checked the coach out. Although all turned out > well, it could have been a disaster had we been dealing with someone > else. It also would have been infinitely easier to outfit the coach by > myself (we went to Costco and Kohls and a few other stores and loaded > up on bedding, towels, food, toiletries, etc for our two week journey > home). Also, the dog stays home next time, too. That was probably the > worst decision of the whole trip. It was hard on both him and us. > > -Ryan > '86 PT-40 8V92 > |
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03-06-2008, 04:41
Post: #14
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Misleading Info from Sellers
The trick to all of this is really the mind set of the buyer. You can
enjoy the hunt or not. Have a positive attitude and laugh it off if it's a bust. Lot's of good suggestions. Best one is to leave the wife and kids out of it and look at a little road trip in the peace and comfort of your car as a "plus" regardless of the out come. Keep in mind too that once you make the purchase of an older motor home regardless of how perfect you think it is there are still going to be things that need attention. If you are easily frustrated you better just go buy something new and even that will not be without challenges. Some of the new ones are far from perfect I understand. I flew out to look at a couple of them and in spite of finding some a lot less then I expected it was a couple days out of Dodge and an opportunity to see new country and meet interesting (for the lack of better words) people. Sense that I don't feel badly for you? Its part of the process of owning a BB and really I hate to tell you the easiest part. It's a challenge. A little like what they tell me about golf, you either like it or ya don't. I spend my free time working to improve and repair the BB NOT playing golf. It is not, will never be, smooth sailing. I think most of the owners on this site will tell you that. For most of us it is worth it which is my point. But that being said we are likely in the minority. Many would hate having to fuss with an old motor coach. I must admit at times I get a little tried of it but after a year I can say that it's been a great learning experience and that the "big stuff" is pretty well completed. Just a matter of how perfect I have to have it and that is up to me. Make the best of it. Figure out what is fun for you as an individual and make it so. If traveling is frustrating maybe golf is a better game. A five hour drive in Florida right now sounds like heaven to me. John Heckman central Pa 1973 FC > > Searching for a Wanderlodge usually requires nationwide travel. I made > 4 trips before my Bird found me, each trip cost about $1000, with > airfare, car rental, hotel, and meals. I would have loved to travel a > few hundred miles to examine one. Even a wounded Bird is a learning > adventure. > > My first trip was to look at an 84 PT with some interior fire damage, > I did know going in that it was a real long shot, and my lack of > important Bluebird knowledge really was appalling throughout my > searches. Still, I had fun in that trip to beautiful Tennessee. > > I fought hard against even going to look at the Bird I eventually > bought, (February in Detroit), but I asked the owners family to > me a hundred high-resolution digital pictures of every part, (inside > and out), looking for a reason not to travel, and they quickly, and > cheerfully, complied. The owner had passed away, so real information > was non-existent. Freezing my spoiled Southern California backside > off, I found a clearly cherished Bird sleeping in a huge, > well-equipped heated garage, (I wish I could have taken the garage > with me as part of the deal). Stored every winter with the heat > blasting, the family had an emotional attachment to this Bird, and > really were not trying hard to advertise it because they gave me lots > of time to think about it, and I returned on April Fool's Day (how > appropriate) to start my ownership. > > To shorten this story, I did not make much progress in learning, and > repairing the many things Bluebird ownership requires until I > discovered Ernie's Forum. Quickly discovering every post was full of > Gold, (information); I started at the beginning of the forum postings > and have enjoyed the journey as I have continued to find out how much > I need to learn! Most of my time has been spent it the past, but now I > am trying to keep up in real-time. Not fair that work constantly > interferes with play, though. > > My many, many belated thanks to Ernie, the Moderators, and to every > single person, past, present, and future, who has taken the time to > post, and educate, with this absolutely fantastic and necessary > Bluebird Owners Workbook. To the Bluebird Wannabees, do not give up; > do not lose heart, because your Wanderlodge is waiting out there for you! > > Michael Kramer > 86 PT-40 8V92 > San Diego, CA > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Hohnstein" > <MHOHNSTEIN@> wrote: > > > > Glad to see you learned from the trip, I was in awe. > > My first 'bird' trip was a lone traveler deal, sure am glad. The > 'bird' was a hell pile, but the whole experience was very positive. > Wouldn't have been if I had brought company. > > MH > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Ryan Wright > > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com > > Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2008 12:32 AM > > Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Misleading Info from Sellers > > > > > > On Wed, Mar 5, 2008 at 1:00 PM, Pete Masterson > > > > > > Sounds like the real error was bringing along the wife and family. > > > > I second that. Of course, had the seller not been a lying scumbag (I'm > > being polite), Hoss's decision would have been fine. > > > > I flew my wife, two kids and my dog all the way down to Texas for my > > coach. Thankfully I was dealing with a reputable seller and the coach > > was in excellent condition, exactly as described and we were all very > > happy. It's a good thing, too: Imagine, for a moment, you get up at > > five in the morning; spend several hours in the air, plus 13 hours > > stuck in the Phoenix airport, with two children, a wife and a dog, > > finally landing in DFW well after midnight. You call every hotel > > imaginable and they're all full, since the tornado that delayed your > > flight also delayed every other and now a whole barrage of aircraft > > have landed at once and weary travelers have packed the hotels. > > > > Finally, you find an available hotel but they don't allow pets. You > > book the room anyway and sneak the dog in, since you don't exactly > > have a choice in the matter. Oh, and the driver who takes you to the > > hotel rips you off, $40 for a 15 minute ride. By the time you get > > checked in, get the kids settled down, etc, it's 3 in the morning and > > you're lucky to get 4 hours of sleep, then it's time to get up, find > > some breakfast, and hook up with your ride. > > > > Now imagine the coach is junk. Oh, and you spent $1,200 on one way > > airfare. And your ride from the airport hotel was the guy selling the > > coach and he's not taking you back to the airport after you argue with > > him over the misrepresentation. So now you all get to figure a way > > home. > > > > Yeah, that's exactly my trip, except the "worst nightmare" last > > paragraph didn't happen. The guy from Mr. Oliver's picked us up from > > the hotel and everything was smooth as butter after that. We settled > > into our new coach and finally were able to relax and enjoy the > > experience and a huge thanks to Mr. Oliver's for their hospitality. > > They turned the experience right around for us. I'll tell you what > > though, the nightmare of that final paragraph was going through my > > head non-stop from the time I made the offer until we saw the coach in > > person. My wife was already just luke-warm on the whole idea to begin > > with, and was ready to go home after the first couple of hours stuck > > in Phoenix. If the last bit had come true she'd have never come along > > on another - ever. > > > > If I were to do this again, I'd definitely go down alone, then fly the > > family down after I checked the coach out. Although all turned out > > well, it could have been a disaster had we been dealing with someone > > else. It also would have been infinitely easier to outfit the coach by > > myself (we went to Costco and Kohls and a few other stores and loaded > > up on bedding, towels, food, toiletries, etc for our two week journey > > home). Also, the dog stays home next time, too. That was probably the > > worst decision of the whole trip. It was hard on both him and us. > > > > -Ryan > > '86 PT-40 8V92 > > > |
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03-11-2008, 08:48
Post: #15
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Misleading Info from Sellers
Thanks to everyone that responded. Glad to hear mine was not a unique
experience, but rather quite common. I have not mentioned the WL for some time, and I think that's a good thing. I will wait until this summer, and then when the time is right, I will try again. But, this time it will be a solo initial scouting trip!!! Thanks again, HOSS |
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03-11-2008, 11:17
Post: #16
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Misleading Info from Sellers
Hoss,
Search the several forums, Vintage Birds, FMCA for BlueBird Wanderlodge Rallies, This is where you will see the highest number of Blue Bird models, There are also several informal rallies depending on your location.. Wannabes are always welcome. Try here for a small sample of Bird owners. http://www.frappr.com/wanderlodge Bill 88 FC Michigan --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "ho5s" > > Thanks to everyone that responded. Glad to hear mine was not a unique > experience, but rather quite common. > > I have not mentioned the WL for some time, and I think that's a good > thing. I will wait until this summer, and then when the time is > right, I will try again. > > But, this time it will be a solo initial scouting trip!!! > > Thanks again, > > HOSS > |
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