Ebay Started Our Family RV Camping Adventures

There was a time that I never would havepickup date that was a few weeks away -
pictured myself camping, let alone purchasing myperfectly fine with the sellers because they
first travel trailer on Ebay. But after a number ofwanted to get our new toy ready for us. Little
circumstances falling into place, that is just wheredid we know, how far these two people went to
I found myself in 2005, spending late nights onmake our purchase smooth and enjoyable.
Ebay scouring the RV travel trailer listings.As the two weeks elapsed, the emails turned to
And so the camping adventure began...camping advice, trials and tribulations and the
We don't exactly live in the camping capital of thewishes from the sellers that we would have as
world and when my family and I decided tomany fond camping memories as they did.
purchase a travel trailer, we were in for quite anKnowing that we were complete novices, these
education. We did what I suspect most peopletwo people went so far above and beyond a
would do, and started scanning the local classifieds,seller's obligations, that they could give lessons in
picked up the trader magazines, etc. All to nogood service after the sale. They covered
avail. Everything we looked at locally was eitherquestions we didn't even know we had!
way overpriced or uninhabitable. Mind you, weSo the big day came and we took off on our
weren't looking for a mansion on wheels, but weroad trip to go get out new baby. It was a 7
wanted to at least make sure that we could towhour drive, so we also made arrangement to stay
it to our driveway without falling apart.at a local hotel - which our new friends
So, that little voice inside said, Ebay! But I was arecommended based upon the ease of parking
little hesitant at first because this was a largeour new trailer there overnight for the first time.
ticket item and there were the logistics ofAnd until that point, being car travelers, the size
transport to consider as well. But hey, it doesn'tof a parking lot was certainly never a concern
cost a dime to look, so off we went to searchwhen we booked our hotels.
Ebay.When we arrived, the trailer was everything we
Luckily, I have an uncle who is basically a campingthought it would be and more. One of those rare
and RV guru in his own right, so I can't quite claimtimes that the photos didn't even do it justice.
that I did this single handedly, but for the mostAnd the hospitality the sellers extended was
part, it took about two weeks before I clicked onawesome. They even had dinner waiting for us!
an auction that would forever change our family'sSo after our long trip and a very tasty dinner, we
vacation adventures.were taken through all the basics of hookup,
We ultimately found our "perfect" trailer, but notawning setup, electronics, maintenance, upkeep
after swapping many emails and more photosand more! It was so refreshing to find others
beyond what was in the listing. But along the way,who go the extra mile and we were so clueless
Ebay did more for us than just match us up withgoing in, they don't even know how easy they
a seller. It matched us up with two wonderfulmade the whole transaction on us.
human beings that were just as happy to haveSo as we swap campfire stories from
found us as buyers as we were to find them ascampground to campground, we will always have
sellers.such fond memories of our largest Ebay purchase
After the auction was complete, we arranged ayet. And what a story to tell!