I"ve seen something on e-bay...advice please..

[Journeyone144]

Evening All,

I have received a reply from Steve Katz of Prevost Trader, Fl..and am posting a copy of same and my reply...
Looks Like I'm at last going to get to See, Drive, and Inspect the 93 Prevost Elegant Liberty Lady Bus in Duncannon, Pa...on Monday the 15th of Dec. 08..

Many Thanks for all your troubles and help in my behalf...!~!!~!
Hugs Always Viv
************************************************** *****
----- Original Message -----
From: Vivian A. McGraw
To: PrevostTrader
Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2008 8:50 PM
Subject: Re: Making a last effort to get to...See, Drive, and Inspect..The Bus in Duncannon, Pa...
PREVOST TRADER

Dear Steve Katz,

Monday will be fine...with my leaving NJ at 9: 00 A.M. the 15th of Dec. 08...
I am now waiting for your reply with the exact address of where the bus is located and the number you want me to call when I arrive there...so you can call..."MAX"... and inform this person of my arrival...wherever I find a phone to call you...
My own cell phone is out of order permanently and I doubt the new one being shipped to me from AT&T will have been delivered to me by then...but just in case it is ...my number on Cell is 732-779-1227...if need be...In any event I will have your office number with me...

Now I just need a proper address and correct zip code...the previous one you sent me was not valid according to Map Quest...Map Quest changed that zip code to an offer of 17020-7120 as being the closest they could use...

Maybe you should also have a look at where www.zillow.com using the zip code you gave me places the address you gave me previously...for
139 Old Trail Rd. Duncannon, Pa. 17069 ...where the zip code you gave me did give me an exact address in a very sparsely populated area...

I was very apprehensive of going there alone with No Name or Phone Number...another reason I was hesitant to go there last Saturday...if it had been more populated I would have felt better about it...and if the zip codes had agreed I would have trusted the directions more as well...

So please be very exact about the address...

Thank You
Vivian A. McGraw
************************************************** ******
----- Original Message -----
From: PrevostTrader
To: Vivian A. McGraw
Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2008 7:54 PM
Subject: Re: Request Return of 5,000.00 Wire from PNC Bank to Sun Trust Bank 12-5-08

You are scheduled to see the bus on Monday. Please let me know if that is ok, and I will get the exact address where the bus is located. You can get directions from Mapquest to avoid the possibility of getting lost. When you arrive please call me and I will let Max know you are there.
************************************************** *****

[rfoster]

Darl et al, I am familiar with Tenn Law and that is enough for me to deal with, so I am no expert on Florida or New Jersey law. Sounds to me that this Katz guy has gotten his panties in a wad over this lady cause she has spun his wheels before. That is no excuse for this type of behavior. If he is a licensed dealer that is interested in a happy customer - a letter to the Better Business Bureau in his area should get his attention and the proper & correct response - a refund.

In Tenn and I would assume in Florida as Darl stated he would be required to have a "Salesman License".

But it sounds like he may be a consignment shop. No investment, no equity, no inventory, so nothing to loose and everything to gain. A letter to the department of License and Commerce in Florida should be in order. I am not familiar with Florida laws, but I do believe they are very much on the side of the consumer vs the reseller. I have seen 10 times a many Florida cars at auction due to Lemon buyback vs any other state here in the east and that tells me Florida law favors the consumer.

This is very disappointing that folks that should know how to conduct business get themselves in this kind of mess. It is as simple as proper communication between buyer and seller. I would avoid any middle men in the future and deal directly with the seller be it a properly licensed dealer or individual. No bucks up front and only after the deal has been struck and delivery is imminent.

I don't know this guy but it sounds to me as an outsider looking in that he has the potential to take the money and run. I hope not for this Ladys' sake, plus If you are going to rob somebody - Brinks or Congress would probably be the best bet for a big haul.

Bottom line I recommend doing business with a licensed dealer, at least in this state the dealer is required to post a $50,000 bond to the state prior to obtaining a license to help handle sour deals such as this. The state licensing Department under Commerce and Insurance handles it and God only knows how long it would take to resolve this thru a goverment official.

If these actions don't get results, and not knowing what else Darl may recommend, and all else fails I recommend you follow Bruces directions. Do it quick- no procrastination, no grace period.-

Sometimes Attorneys are necessary, but they are not cheap. That 5 grand will evaporate very quickly with an attorney involved.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

I am very concerned that while Viv will be looking at the colors of the tile and the layout of the bus she will not be inspecting the very things that will turn her purchase into a nightmare.

Buying a bus is not about the colors or how much tread is on the tires, but is about how everything works, the quality of the past maintenance, the quality of the care it has received, and verifying nothing expensive needs to be repaired. What are the date codes on the tires and batteries?

Will she insure the generator works, the AC systems work, the Webasto works, the inverters are functioning as they are supposed to, there are no hub seal leaks, the bus doesn't have the leans, the engine starts properly and does not overheat, the transmission shifts properly, there are no DDEC or ATEC issues, etc, etc?

Within 5 minutes of looking at a coach we can tell just by date codes if the bus will need $7500 worth of batteries or tires right away.

With a little more time and effort we can verify the major systems function.

With a short look underneath we can verify if the brakes are OK, if the air bags have dry rot, or if any hub seals leak.

And all of that is before it is even started up or driven.

[Darl-Wilson]

Now Viv is going alone into an area that is"sparsely populated" and not even on the map to meet a "Max" that does not have a phone number for her to call. Steve is going to call "Max" to tell him Viv is in the area. She is going with an inoperative cell phone. Does any of this sound logical? All of this is done at the direction of a guy that has supposedly ripped her off for 5 big, The great suggestions that Jon and Roger posted may be in vain if she encounters more than she has bargained for. At the very least she needs to be accompanied by someone that could protect her if trouble arose.

Roger, I forgot about the BBB in my previous post. You are right about them. I recovered almost 10k from the Yellow Pages for a mistake they made on my company advertising by using the local Bureau.

I found a bit more about Steve Katz. I appears that he was a dentist from New York and was also an RV Dealer. The folks on this website note that they help sell RVs in any state but their site does not have license numbers posted. As Roger and I wrote, these folks need to be licensed in any state where they conduct sales activity. This is also going to require a bond to protect folks like Viv. It looks like SK is just a salesperson for this company.

This is probably my final word on this subject. Viv, stay away from this deal until you can answer the questions poised by Jon, Roger, and the other good POG members. They is just too much hair on this piece of candy!

Darl

[Coloradobus]

Sure wish Chris and I were visiting my mother in NE Ohio, we would head to Duncannon, Pa immediately. BUt we aren't in OHIO now. Both our mothers are over sixty. We wouldn't allow them to go into negotiations in a "sparsely populated" anything.

Viv, please do what everyone here has said, most recently Darl-Wilson. The candy is "hairy", it exceeds the 5 second rule.
don't pick it off the floor. If yo must, take a male friend or several lady friends with you. All the "hugs and Kisses" can't make a bad situation get better. This Steve Katz thing wreaks.!!! Please, come Monday, stay away from Pennsylvania.

[Pete]

Do we not have a member of POG in the general area that can help Viv look at this coach? If the bus is not satisfactory to one of our members, at least it may be reasonable for this guy to refund her $$$$$, and if not, we should all do the best we can to see that this guy NEVER sells a coach to any one within the reach of this group. There is no excuse for this kind of BS if this guy is even implying that he is reputable.

[0533]

I have suggested to Viv to send along her Registered letter of withdrawal, she has the exact text via email now.

The bigger questions are 2 fold. Does Viv really want to purchase a bus, can she drive one can she afford the purchase price and the upgrade and service expense, not to speak of the expenses related to storage travel etc. This is not a purchase for the faint at heart.

2nd: If the answer to is that Viv still wants a bus she might be able to kill 2 birds with a visit to See the bus. Max is the owner of the home (i checked this out) and I suspect the bus. He may be completely unaware of Steve Katz's handling of Viv. If Viv can have someone on hand who knows buses and can give her the underneath, behind the floorboards perspective it might be possible to find out if this bus is right.

If it is not, my guess is that Max would not want to hold up Viv or place his bus in a legal battle. If she does not want the bus she should tell Max and ask Max to tell Steve Katz to refund her money.

This might be the fastest way to the end game.

On the other hand if Viv goes alone without any advice she might make a very bad (I really want a Bus decision) move and fall in love with the whole notion. Who knows maybe Max is single and Viv and he hit it off. Remember it is Christmas and miracles can happen.

[Coloradobus]

Viv,

I PM'd you about this coach.http://staleycoach.com/48793%20-%2094%20MARATHON.htm

[Journeyone144]

Oh My Gosh,

OOOhhhhh....I don't know what to say to such caring and concern !!!! It's never happened to me before...I'm overwhelmed !!!

Yes I do want to buy my own diesel bus with all my heart...It may have looked like I wasn't serious to dealers but that was only because I was being soooooooooo careful not to make a mistake...a bad buy...

I want to drive a real bus again...I do want to see the bus... and I do want to do everything right...and it is a huge move on my part, no one knows this better than me..

After reading these last few posts and the e-mail I woke up to from Jon this morning I won't go to Duncannon alone...

Steve Katz hasn't sent me the directions he said he would in his e-mail to me yesterday, Saturday and it is now after 1:00 PM Sunday...

Gosh...I'm packed for a few days stay in Pa...If Steve had sent the directions earlier I was going to go up there TODAY...so I could find a motel, and look for a mechanic, and I was considering going to the local police to see if an officer could be sent with me rather than go all alone to meet with "Max"...

He could even be a real nice person who might be known in the area..I hate to think the worst of anyone or anything until I'm sure..That's why I would have gone the day early since I had the time...but it's obvious I can't depend on what Steve Katz has told me..

I'd have to see and drive the bus and have a mechanic check it over before I would ever buy it..!!!!!!!!

Oh ... Yes I can drive...drove for Greyhound...but it was a few years ago...

Money will be tight for me after paying 135K for a bus because 40K of it will have to come from my Approved Line of Credit on my house...but I will be putting my house on the market immediately after I buy the bus...I hate bills...Soon as it sells I would pay off my debt and I have plans to buy a mobile home in Fl. for my home base...I've always needed roots to come back to...

I don't need or want this 9 room house anymore...been here 40 plus years...It's worth 300K plus...and I'd maybe even look for a better bus then...but not if I loved the first one...I've only traded up to get more convenience and a little bigger...I have my Dolphin 7 yrs..and will keep it if I can't find the bus with my name on it...

Sure would be wonderful if you were right about Max...lol...

Quote>>> Remember it is Christmas and miracles can happen. Unquote..
Hugs Always Viv Smile...

I have suggested to Viv to send along her Registered letter of withdrawal, she has the exact text via email now.

The bigger questions are 2 fold. Does Viv really want to purchase a bus, can she drive one can she afford the purchase price and the upgrade and service expense, not to speak of the expenses related to storage travel etc. This is not a purchase for the faint at heart.

2nd: If the answer to is that Viv still wants a bus she might be able to kill 2 birds with a visit to See the bus. Max is the owner of the home (i checked this out) and I suspect the bus. He may be completely unaware of Steve Katz's handling of Viv. If Viv can have someone on hand who knows buses and can give her the underneath, behind the floorboards perspective it might be possible to find out if this bus is right.

If it is not, my guess is that Max would not want to hold up Viv or place his bus in a legal battle. If she does not want the bus she should tell Max and ask Max to tell Steve Katz to refund her money.

This might be the fastest way to the end game.

On the other hand if Viv goes alone without any advice she might make a very bad (I really want a Bus decision) move and fall in love with the whole notion. Who knows maybe Max is single and Viv and he hit it off. Remember it is Christmas and miracles can happen.

[0533]

Viv, please make contact with "Jim" Colorado Bus, Jim is in Ohio I believe right now and may be able to meet you at the bus??? Viv's # 732-779-1227

Viv give Jim "Colorado Bus your phone # so he can make contact. I would also call Steve Katz Cell # (239) 229-8207 and tell him you are bringing a POG friend along to see the bus and meet Max, inspect the bus before making your final decision to purchase, need directions phone # for Max.