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Topic: Asking a Favor! (segment 3) re: "Hang up the Keys" (Read 1112 times) previous topic - next topic

Asking a Favor! (segment 3) re: "Hang up the Keys"


I know what you are thinking--are these incredibly long postings ever going to end?  YES, this is the last one, but likely the most important one.  So please bear with me just a little while longer.  JC





One member on this forum and I have stayed in regular contact with each other for the past three years or so.  When he told me about his experience with the sale of his FT, I paid special attention.  He kept suggesting that I call MOT (after all I was so happy with my buying experience)--as stated on my personal website for most of the posts from January 26 thru April 1st.  He suggested maybe something could be worked out that I wouldn't have the upfront cost of transporting the coach to Texas.  MOT at least knows what they are selling, unlike the Burlington WA CW.

October 31st, I knew the time had come to call my friend and owner of MOTORHOMES OF TEXAS, David Robertson to Ask a Favor.  Would it be possible to delay payment if your people would transport my coach from Washington to Texas, till after my coach was sold, as I wanted to put it on consignment?  Before I could even ask the question, David wanted to know how I was doing and he explained how much I could reasonably expect to get for my coach after all was said and done.  Later that evening (Texas time) I got a call from David with the most incredible offer I could ever conceive.  "John, given your situation, both health & financial, what if I were to buy your coach from you outright and send you a check for the difference between what you owe on the coach and my offer?" "What you had to say on your personal website back in 2007, plus all the praises you have given MOT over these last few years--I just want to try helping you, the best way I know how." 

Were my ears deceiving me?  Did I just hear David say that he was willing to pay me what I could get for my coach if I sold it on consignment thru MOT less the transportation costs and that I'd be free and clear of any further payments to the bank, insurance and registration in 10 days or less?  YES!!! What's more all the paperwork went so smooth, that in my state of mind, I was certain something was missing.  It wasn't!  I remembered Jason Haskins from when I purchased the coach in February 2007, so he and I exchanged e-mails and phone calls for the next few days.  Probably more than were necessary, but each time we talked, he continued to be very patient and gracious with me as if I were his one and only customer.  When I called CW to tell them a driver would be arriving on Friday morning (Nov. 4th), all they wanted to know was the drivers name--and the coach would be released to him.  All the driver had to do was say his name to John L (acting manager of sales) and he was handed the keys!  Nothing to sign, nothing else in the way of proof!  SCARY??  You bet!  To think that a company the size of CW didn't require anything further and they were willing to just hand over the keys for a $100K plus motorcoach without so much as a drivers license ID or signature, made me shake in my boots.  I knew that somehow, someway, I had to see the coach before it left CW property.  I did, with the help of a long time friend who drove me up to Burlington and back.

Jason arranged for two drivers to come get the coach at CW in Burlington--keeping me well informed every step of the way.  One of the guys I met and knew from my original visit in 2007--Craig Dorsett.  The other fellow, Kevin Pierce has been working for David about a year.  I got the chance to meet with Kevin and Craig the morning of November 4th up at Camping World for all of about 10 minutes.  I was very happy that both Craig & Kevin were pleased with what they saw and that CW never removed anything for themselves (something that happens all to often in this industry).  The only thing Craig & Kevin did point out was that CW never Detailed the coach (as I asked them too), but then considering what they did regarding the listing of amenities, I guess it wasn't all that surprising.

As Craig eased the coach off CW's parking lot and got on the I-5 Freeway heading south, I was kept informed via Kevin's cell phone of the progress these two drivers, switching back and forth, were able to accomplish, including five major mountain passes and stopping for meals, etc. in less than 24 hours.  They made their first overnight stop just south of San Francisco and told me about the snow and ice they encountered crossing over the Siskiyou's from Oregon to California.  They told me something I already had first hand knowledge of -- that only one of the older Foretravel's can make such a claim to.  If the driver knows how to drive a Foretravel in mud and/or snow, chains are NOT always necessary when the roadway is covered in ice and snow.  One word of caution however, never use the retarder or the brakes, unless you have lots of experience driving over the tops of tall pine trees covered in snow.  Now talk about a THRILL RIDE, WHAT FUN...!

A weather snafu was starting to develop near Phoenix AZ (heading east & expected to reach eastern Texas on Monday or Tuesday).  Since I was almost certain that neither Craig nor Kevin were aware of the predicted tornado's and other nasty weather stretching from Texas, all the way up to the Dakota's, it was time for me to  alert them.  They indicated they knew nothing about it, but fortunately nothing devastating materialized and the coach arrived safe and sound & rather in need of a bath, mid-afternoon on Tuesday, Nov 8th. 

Now, like I said at the beginning, everything about the transaction went so s-m-o-o-t-h I almost couldn't believe it when my bank sent me a notice on Thursday morning, November 10th that I had received a wire transfer in the amount that David and I had discussed!  Further, the Bank I had my loan thru has been paid off and I just confirmed today (November 22nd) that the coach is being readied for resale to some very lucky new owner.  Both David & Jason promised to send me a "pre-sale" notice of my former motorcoach, a few days before the notice is posted on their website or publication, to give anyone on this forum one last chance to purchase this dream of a coach.  I've been told the pending price is considerably less than what I was first asking.  This is because of what lending institutions have been doing to the RV industry as a whole and the person acquiring this coach either with cash, financing or trade, will have the MOT assurances that I had when I purchased it in February 2007.  Besides of which, I've offered to answer any questions any new owners may have about the Silverleaf (including the Glass Dash) or any of the extra add-ons or any of the other "gadgets" I had installed (for as long as I can remember them that is).  This new owner will also get most if not all receipts for service work I had done during my ownership (we're talking a hundred or so) plus most if not all of the user/installation manuals for the coach.


This is the last of my series about "Hang up the Keys" and the only other will cover what I get from Motorhomes of Texas regarding the sale of the coach when they have that information available.  Both David and Jason knew nothing about what I was planning to write in any of these postings.  Everything I have said is from me and my own words of truth as I know & believe.  I do have to say this one thing in closing...NEVER have I dealt with a group of people in business that have a higher standard of honesty & integrity than I have with David Robertson and all those in his employ.  Several ForeForum friends have asked if I got a FAIR price for my coach or if I could have done better.  If what I have said thus far doesn't answer your question or concern, then let me say, you've missed the point altogether!

Again, thank you everyone for your well wishes for me and what the future holds for me.  I will be creating a whole new personal website covering the new chapters in my life and will post it when it is operational.  Again thanks for bearing with me for my long posts.  I just knew I had to tell it all and be as truthful as I can given my circumstances.

John Christman
Starting a new life with some exciting changes.     
John Christman

Re: Asking a Favor! (segment 3) re: "Hang up the Keys"

Reply #1 –
Quote from: John Christman –

John Christman
Starting a new life with some exciting changes.     

John,

Your closing says it all - new life, exciting changes.  It's great to hear your positive attitude!  I've enjoyed reading the installments, too. 

Quote
Both David & Jason promised to send me a "pre-sale" notice of my former motorcoach, a few days before the notice is posted on their website or publication, to give anyone on this forum one last chance to purchase this dream of a coach. 

"motorhomesoftexas" is a commercial member of ForeForums (Darren set up the ID; his e-mail address is associated with it), so they can post the ad for your former coach directly in the "Commercial Listings" board if they wish.

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Asking a Favor! (segment 3) re: "Hang up the Keys"

Reply #2 –
John,

Not everyone can have a successful ending to one chapter of their lives and a successful beginning to the next.  Thanks for sharing this moving story with us.  I am not at all surprised at David Robertson's role in this.  They are a class act.

If the rest of the RV business-- especially the manufacturers -- operated like Dave Robertson and Motorhomes of Texas, this would be an entirely different and better industry.

Well done to both of you.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: Asking a Favor! (segment 3) re: "Hang up the Keys"

Reply #3 –
Nicely done, John.  Nicely written, too.  Class act all around.

As you know, MOT ranks "best" in my experience.  Not necessarily "best" in some competition with all other dealers - can't do this not knowing about all others, although do I have a friend who speaks in the same way about corporate and personal fairness, honesty and generosity when he was a recent buyer at FOT - but best in terms of the way they measure up against the standards we all have in mind when describing best practices we'd like to encounter in the way we are treated as buyers and sellers of RVs or anything else.  For me, and for my friend, Tyle Fore was at the center of all of this, for me at MOT, and for my friend at FOT.

So... today is the first day of the rest of your life.  Great to see you looking up and looking ahead - with expectation of good.  Again, class act, all around.  Best wishes.
Bob Mulder
02 U270 3610 / 06 CRV
Spokane, WA

Re: Asking a Favor! (segment 3) re: "Hang up the Keys"

Reply #4 –
John, Glad that the sale worked out for you so well.  Good luck in your future, please keep in touch.
Gary B

Re: Asking a Favor! (segment 3) re: "Hang up the Keys"

Reply #5 –
John,
Thank you for your 3 "installments", interesting, insightful and well written.


Your experience with CW mirrors that which we had in previous purchases of our Airstreams...  dealing with dealerships/salesmen who knew about as much about the product as they did about a used NASA space shuttle or a tube of toothpaste (Airstream...  tube of toothpast.... hummm).  When we bought our first coach, we ended up after many bum experiences, at MoT.  Heard some good things about 'em. 


These folks knew what they were talking about and took the time to explain.  Better yet, they took the time to work with us and listen to what we needed.  As such, when we went fulltime and needed more space, a larger coach, we dealt only with MoT.  David, Jason and Stewart were great to work with and worked hard getting us the best deal.  When we settled on a coach, we were unable to go to Nac to drop off our Foretravel, so Craig came to Austin & picked it up.  When the Country Coach was finished with some work that was needed, Caig delivered it to us in Austin and spent time going over particulars with us.  He is a genuine article, great guy.


When we decide to settle down some and get a smaller coach, you can bet it'll be from MoT.  The manner in how they worked with you, John, speaks volumns about the business and the character of those who work there.  I know that was a huge load off your mind.
Bill Jackson & Kim Sweeney
2013 27' Lazy Daze RK
2002 U320 PBDS 36' Build 5941 (Sold)
1999 U320 40' (Sold)
2005 Country Coach Intrigue 40' (Sold)

Re: Asking a Favor! (segment 3) re: "Hang up the Keys"

Reply #6 –
Hey John,
Wishing you the best in this new chapter of your life.

Jim and Sim