BEWARE THE GYPSY TRAILER SCAM. PART 2: FRAUDULENT TRAILER SALES IN THE U.S.
A Wakarusa, Indiana, recreational vehicle (RV) manufacturer, Marauder Travelers, Incorporated, candidly admits that it sells travel trailers and park models to so-called "gypsy dealers." Typically, these dealers undersell legitimate dealers by offering the trailers at attractive prices. The trailers are often poorly built and not covered by standard warranties. A Marauder spokesman contends that the gypsies are a legitimate outlet for the firm's products. He emphasizes that his company has a bona fide dealer network and that the dealers do not object that Marauder, Lariet, and Rogue trailers are sold to these "travelers." The company says that if one of its coaches has a problem unrelated to vendors' equipment, it sends the customer to the nearest Marauder service center. The Marauder representative also says that its trailers meet or exceed all codes, and that he considers the travelers to be dealers, not retail customers, since more than 50% have dealer's licenses. Authorities in several states (Ohio, Illinois, and Pennsylvania), working with RV industry leaders, have been effective in reducing or eliminating the number of gypsy trailer sales. Currently, large-scale tax frauds on both the state and Federal levels are being investigated, possible violations of Federal product warranty laws are being considered, and fraudulent practices (from confidence games to warranty misrepresentation) are being examined. Advice on how to avoid being a victim of trailer sales fraud includes making sure that the seller has an easily verified legitimate residence, avoiding "straight-from-the-factory" trailers, disbelieving "emergency sale" stories, being skeptical of trailers priced considerably below the current market values, disbelieving anyone who claims that he forgot to fill out warranty papers, and checking with an RV dealer about name brands typically sold by con artists.
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00410780
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Supplemental Notes:
- Part 1 is HS-028 898.
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Corporate Authors:
Trailer Life Publishing Company, Incorporated
23945 Craftsman Road
Calabasas, CA United States 92132 -
Authors:
- Wright, D
- Publication Date: 1980-7
Media Info
- Features: References;
- Pagination: 6 p.
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Serial:
- Trailer Life
- Volume: 40
- Issue Number: 7
- Publisher: TL Enterprises, Incorporated
- ISSN: 0041-0780
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Automobile dealers; Fraud; Industries; Recreational vehicles; Retail trade; Trailers
- Old TRIS Terms: Dealers
- Subject Areas: Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00385634
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report/Paper Numbers: HS-029 102
- Files: HSL, USDOT
- Created Date: Jun 28 1984 12:00AM