Just a bit of a moan- had to edit my listing and now two bidders have cancelled their bids to the tune of £500... :(

[JamesAndTheGiantBanana]

Selling a caravan on ebay, reaaaaaally need the money. I listed it honestly, took loads of photos, described everything that was in it. BUT assumed the manual was there as I was told it was, and later found out it isn't there, so I updated the listing to say so, as it's only fair.

Also thought it might be a good idea to take a photograph of an old water mark on the wallpaper in the tiny bathroom (the van isn't damp at ALL though, anywhere) and a scratch on the back of the van, as I was worried the winning bidder might come out and take issue with them. Now the last two bidders have retracted their bids (their choice, obviously, I know) which means I'm down £500, which is a rent payment.

I wouldn't mind but the mark is light coloured and usually hidden behind something, and the scratch is only a couple of inches long. They are so insignificant considering the caravan is otherwise SO well maintained, clean, tidy, it's spotless and has EVERYTHING in it, awning, everything, just needs people, bedding and food putting in it!

I'm a bit gutted really, feel like by being honest I've been punished. Just a moan to be honest, but I would be interested to people's thoughts: Why would what I've said put you off the caravan? is it the watermark? would you assume it was damp? or is it the lost manual? it can't be the scratch, that's just cosmetic (we had to really hunt for it, it's at the bottom at the back) Opinions?

[meemar]

sorry to hear that - you must be gutted.

I think probably they just had last minute jitters. £500 is a lot to pay out for something you haven't seen and the relisting, showing problems (albeit minor ones) probably just made them have second thoughts.

Hopefully, someone else will bid and you will be confident that they can have nothing to complain about because everything is out in the open now.

Good luck

[SorenLorensen]

I didn't think you could edit once you had bids - have I read it right, you got a couple of bids, you edited your listing, and the potential buyers have pulled their bids?

If that's right then I think the listing changing would have put me off. If you had listed all those things from the outset then I don't think they would have put me off (not that I know anything about caravans!) But if I'd put in a bid (and £500 is a lot of money) and then suddenly new 'faults' were added to the listing I would probably start to have doubts about the buyer and I might well pull out.

If you don't get any more bids then I would re-list with everything in your details again...and hope you get more interest. But I think it might be the perceived 'flakiness' of the changing listing, rather than the faults putting buyers off. Does that make sense?

[chamaeleon]

agree with sorenlorenson, you dont bid for that kind of thing without a lot of thought and it would panic me if a seller had listed something without checking it out properly first. who knows what else you might find before the listing ends!

[JamesAndTheGiantBanana]

Hmm, I hadn't thought of that. You're probably right. You can't edit your original listing but you can add bits underneath.

I had offered for everyone who was interested to come out and see it this evening to see the condition of the caravan for themselves, that's the annoying thing. I could have shown them the marks and they could have seen that it's immaculate except for them. So far dspite having over 1100 views, 60 watchers, and about 15 offers to buy it now outside of ebay, no-one has actually taken me up on my offer to come and see it. bah!

[benbon]

whats your user name i might be interested?

[dramaqueen]

Can you give us the link please?

[JamesAndTheGiantBanana]

Link to the auction here It was at £1,500 last night before the two top bidders pulled out (therefore losing £500) but it's got a few hours left yet so fingers crossed.

[twofishes]

Good Luck with it..looks great to me if I had the ££ it would be snapped up!!!!

[JamesAndTheGiantBanana]

Aaw, well thankyou twofishes, I'm hoping it will get what it's worth, it really is a good caravan and I've even bought a couple of easter eggs for the winner lol (daft sod, eh!)

[ninedragons]

Looks immaculate to me, and as a seller you sound honest and meticulous.

I would imagine that the people pulled out because they had second thoughts anyway, and your revision of the description gave them an excuse.

My theory is that the economy is going pear-shaped quicker even than people realise, based on my eBay sales. I listed a batch of antique jewellery in November last year, got loads of watchers and bidders, sold everything at a good price. I've just finished a batch of eight listings, only two of which sold (a diamond and sapphire 14k Art Deco pendant for US$70! 99 cent no reserve format - won't be doing that again), hardly any watchers and no bids at all on six of the eight listings. People are jittery.

Good luck with your auction - don't get excited about the extra watcher, it's me. I always get intrigued about MN stories and like to see how things ended up.

[2sugars]

JATGB, it looks utterly gorgeous. Is there an instruction manual available online? Or could you 'phone the manufacturers and say you've lost yours?

Agree with the others - I think they've just bowed out and nothing to do with the mark you mention.

If I hadn't seen H's daughter and her partner in situ with their caravan on a campsite, I would be sorely tempted.

But it would be lovely to have as a 2nd home at the bottom of your garden for visitors.

[JamesAndTheGiantBanana]

lol ninedragons, don't worry I know what you mean, it's frustrating if you don't find out the ending to some of the situations you hear about on MN! esp. the "Am I Pregnant/in labour?" threads people forget to update!

98 watchers at the moment, I've had so much interest in it, they even made me go and take a photo of down the loo! I did, and noticed it has a teeny tiny (unused, I might add) loobrush built into the seat. I love caravans, everythings so dinky and cute, even the bogbrush! lol

It's up to £1,220 at the moment which I'm perfectly happy with, but I wouldn't be surprised if it gets a few more bids nearer the end. I feel like I did the right thing by listing the faults, as those people who did have a kneejerk reaction and pull out might have done so after winning. And you can't put a price on peace of mind, can you.

[blueshoes]

As a buyer, I find listing the faults is a good thing, especially for an item like a used caravan (erm, not that I ever bid on anything so big) where you Would expect wear and tear.

By listing the minute faults, I can be assured that there are no bigger faults. Also you have a lot of photos which is very good. Big plus. Combined with your impeccable feedback, it shows honest and serious seller. It is the ones with the skimpy descriptions and poor photos that I would be wary of.

There is still time on the clock ...

[JamesAndTheGiantBanana]

Thanks blueshoes, that's what I was hoping people would think, I suppose everyone's different though, some people must think the small marks etc are the tip of the iceberg when the opposite is true. Ah well!

2sugars, I doubt there's a manual online as the caravan is from about 1991/1992. I did have a quick look but couldn't find anything. Most caravans that age don't have their original manuals with them so I don't think it's a huge issue.

My big sister gave me this caravan to sell as we've had money problems for a while now (she's awesome) so I need to think of a way to thank her. Any suggestions? She gets flowers all the time off her dp (no, he doesn't have a brother...)

[salsmum]

JATGB,
HAVE YOU SOLD YOUR CARAVAN OR HAVE PIX OF IT BECAUSE MY SON IS AFTER ONE

[solo]

I would try to get a replacement manual and put new paper in the bathroom - you could probably get a roll for a £1 in Wilkinsons. The scratch...T Cut?