🚩🚨Red Flags Your RV Consignment Dealer Doesn’t Want You to Notice 🚨🚩
If you’ve been trying to sell your trailer privately on platforms like Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace, you’re probably tired of endless messages, tire-kickers, and people who never show up. At some point, consignment starts to sound like a great idea.
And it can be—but only if you choose the right dealer.
Unfortunately, the trailer consignment business has its share of horror stories. Knowing what to watch out for can save you thousands of dollars, months of frustration, and a lot of regret.
The Biggest Risks of Trailer Consignment
1. Dealers Who Don’t Really Want to Sell Your Trailer
Many new-trailer dealerships will take consignments, but selling your used trailer is rarely their priority. In some cases:
Your trailer sits dirty and neglected
Tires go flat
It’s used as a comparison tool to push customers into buying a new unit
Instead of selling your trailer, it becomes a prop to sell theirs.
2. Overpromising on Value
Some dealers will promise unrealistically high prices just to get your trailer on their lot. Once you arrive:
The story suddenly changes
You’re told it’s worth far less
You’ve already cleaned it out, hauled it in, and committed
This puts you in a very weak negotiating position.
3. Surprise Repair Bills
Another common tactic is using consignments to feed service departments. Suddenly your trailer needs:
$3,000–$5,000 in “mandatory” repairs
Work you weren’t expecting or budgeting for
Immediate payment before it can even be listed
Now you’re stuck choosing between paying up or hauling it home again.
4. Missing Parts & Misuse
It’s rare—but it happens:
Consigned trailers rented out without permission
Parts quietly taken for other repairs
Appliances mysteriously not working when you pick it up
If a dealer wouldn’t take parts off their own inventory, they certainly won’t hesitate to take them from a consignment.
5. Payout Surprises
Some consigners only discover the problem after the trailer sells. When it’s time to get paid:
Hundreds or thousands are deducted
Claimed inspection issues appear after the sale
You’re told “this didn’t work” or “that needed repairs”
The payout is suddenly far less than agreed.
How Auto Nation Canada Does Consignment Differently
At Auto Nation Canada, consignment is our main focus—not an afterthought.
Here’s what makes the difference:
Realistic pricing discussions upfront
Clear market value and realistic timelines
Trades accepted, which dramatically increases buyer pool
Full financing and warranty options for buyers
Complete inspections at our cost—not yours
Bearings, brakes, electrical, water systems, and appliances checked
No surprise deductions after sale
Agreed price = what you get paid
When your trailer sells, you receive exactly what was agreed to.
Why Reputation Matters
Before you consign anywhere, check Google reviews.
If a dealer can’t maintain at least a 4.9-star rating, you shouldn’t trust them with your trailer. Reputation reflects consistency, transparency, and how people are treated after the sale—not just before.
Final Advice
Consigning your trailer can be a smart move—but only with:
An honest, transparent dealer
Clear expectations in writing
A business that’s incentivized to sell your trailer, not theirs
Do your research. Ask hard questions. And don’t let desperation rush you into a bad decision.
Transcript:
Hey guys, it’s Don here at Auto Nation Canada. Today I want to talk about selling your trailer on consignment.
Maybe you’ve been trying to sell it privately on Kijiji or Marketplace. You’re getting tired of endless messages, people asking a million questions, and nobody actually showing up. So you start thinking consignment might be a good idea.
It can be—but you need to be very careful where you take your trailer.
I’ve been in this business a long time, and I’ve seen a lot of consignment horror stories. Often, dealers won’t take trades, which cuts out a huge group of buyers. Some don’t offer financing or warranties. Your trailer ends up sitting month after month while you’re still making payments.
New trailer dealers will often take consignments, but it’s usually not in their best interest to sell your trailer. Sometimes they let it deteriorate—leave it dirty, let the tires go flat. I’ve even heard of dealers intentionally overpricing consignments so they can point to them and say, “Why buy that old one when you can buy a new one for almost the same price?”
In those cases, your trailer is just being used to sell theirs.
There are also dealers who promise you the moon just to get your trailer on the lot. Then, once you arrive, suddenly the story changes and they can’t get anywhere near that price. You’ve already cleaned it, emptied it, and hauled it in—now you’re stuck.
Another big issue is surprise repair bills. Suddenly, before it can even be listed, it needs thousands of dollars in work. That puts you in a terrible position where you’re forced to pay for repairs you didn’t expect or need.
Unfortunately, there are bad actors in this business. You also have to watch out for misuse—trailers being rented out, parts taken, appliances no longer working when you pick it up.
Some consigners don’t even find out until after the trailer sells. When they go to collect their check, hundreds or thousands are deducted for “inspection issues” they were never told about.
That’s not how we operate at Auto Nation.
We have realistic conversations upfront about market value and timelines. It doesn’t help anyone if a trailer just sits here. We don’t use consignments to feed a massive service department—we inspect everything at our cost, not yours.
We accept trades, offer financing and warranties, and put 100% of our effort into selling your trailer—not ours. Most of our inventory is consignment, and that’s where our focus is.
Do your research. Check Google reviews. If a dealer can’t maintain a strong rating, you shouldn’t trust them with your trailer.
When we agree on a price, that’s what you get paid. No surprises. And that’s reflected in our reputation.