Removed by Bill N.Y. From the Barths For Sale Forum and placed here for comments

I'm an old-timer to this site, about 30 seconds now and don't have a Barth but am looking. However I have seen a trend which is disturbing. Many postings in classified are ridiculed by other members, specifically price. Other sites I frequent, Donzi Registry and Ducati forum would not tolerate this action. If a buyer and seller met in the middle that is typically considered a fair price. This action which appears to be tolerated on the site would not be tolerated on the road, in the camp site, or at Barth functions.

It's an issue of respect. Thanks for listening

Welcome to the site.

Seeing that, by your own words, you're an "Old Timer" to the site, I would expect you to follow the posting rules.

The "Barths For Sale Forum" is only to be used for placing an ad and responding to the ad. What you have placed is an opinion that is better discussed within the General Discussion area. I have not deleted your opinion and will give you some latitude to make your point and to hear counterpoints. I will reserve comment on this, for now, and have moved the post from that forum to here.

This is not the only time we've had this discussion. Here is another exchange about the same subject. Barths For Sale Suggestions

To all, please keep an open mind to both sides of this discussion and make your point/counterpoint.

Well, welcome to the forum, even if you don't like us.

quote:

Originally posted by Ducati:
Other sites I frequent, Donzi Registry and Ducati forum would not tolerate this action.

Which Duc forum is that?

quote:

This action which appears to be tolerated on the site would not be tolerated on the road, in the camp site, or at Barth functions.

Oh, it's pretty common in campsites and I have observed similar at Barth functions. In fact, the comments are wilder lately, now that prices are dropping and expectations and greed are still running high. Many asking prices do not reflect the realities of the market place.

I should also point out that, speaking for myself alone, I feel little obligation to a seller who squats here long enough to try to get a high price for a Barth he is dumping. I believe that all of our opinions, right or wrong, are worthwhile, and as long as they are not abusive, etc, will help us all learn a lot together.

I will go so far as to say that there is a possibility that we have saved a few people from buying a Barth that was not accurately represented in an ad.

So, in short, what you saw and disliked in 30 seconds might not be a fair assessment.

And, having just attended a classic bike show a coupla weeks ago, I have observed that bevelhead sellers, in particular, are not always serious, but will freely admit that their high price is not realistic, but, hey, someone might buy it. I am sure you have seen similar, being a Ducatista. Often, I see the same bike for sale, show after show, and sometimes, year after year. We all can remember some Barth or other just moldering away because the seller thought it was worth more than the market. At least one of our active posters is very, very informed on used prices, and I, for one, welcome his posts, even if they are not supportive of the price asked for a particular Barth.

I think a lot of owners of neat machinery love it so much they think it is worth what it used to be, or what they used to think it was.

Thread drift attempt:

Donzi, too, huh? Good taste. Which one ya got? I particularly like the Aranow designs. I recently lost a good friend who had one. Unfortunately, the boat was also lost. I mourn the loss of both. It was a sweet thang.

I, too, welcome you to the forums!

This isn't the Ducati or Donzi forum, so a comparison with either is undeserved. Comments on prices are made here to bring reality into the mix. Some Barthers are unaware of trends in the RV market, and potential buyers are likewise unaware of the same trends.

On reflection, you'll likely find that posts regarding prices are based on substance, not speculation. While Barths have a certain panache based on their design and construction, the RV market makes only minor distinction among brands.

I conscientiously follow trends on ebay, and posts regarding price here on the Barth forum tend to reflect the realities of the market.

While the tone of some posts may not seem adequately cordial to your sensibilities, I'd advise, "Get over it." Posters on the Barth Forums are oriented more towards honesty and integrity than delicacy.

There is a huge difference between respect and honesty. Too often, all of us have seen motor homes advertised with very misleading statements. If an undercarriage is rusty, it's rusty. If a particular motor is known to have maintenance issues, it has maintenance issues. Etc, etc. I wish I had had access to the expertise this site offers when I bought my first motor home, a 99 Trek. It would have saved me over $10000 in repairs that didn't work. If you're a seller and don't want the whole story told about your item, then put it on Ebay. They are quite good at tolerating that kind of behavior.

"Many postings in classified are ridiculed by other members..."

What one perceives as ridicule often is someone else's honest, knee-jerk reaction to a ridiculous price and/or description.

Not to get too personal, but me thinks Mr. Ducati has a fast bike, and a thin skin, not a particularly good combination ( hope he rides with his leathers on ) I don't think that the purpose of the " for sale " section is strictly as a free listing service for anyone trying to offload a Barth. It's a great way to give a Barth exposure to a few members, and perhaps even more readers, who have some interest in buying a motor coach. Anyone listing a Barth should expect a candid discussion of that particular coach, or a coach with the same mechanical components, or maybe some information about the state, or city, where the coach resides, or perhaps a good wine to drink while researching the outdated NADA estimate of value. Many times these Barth's have a known history that can, and should, be discussed on this forum. I don't think anything should be left off the table. Some people are simply going to be offended by anything, so my philosophy is just say what you honestly think, no reason to hold back. Respect is to be earned, not given away uncritically.

And for the record, I consider myself particularly well qualified to comment on this post because I used to own a Ducati Diana Mark III Super Sport, and still own a Donzi 16 w/ Holoman & Moody 289 used by LBJ when he was VP on the Potomac River. As you can see, we always stick strictly to the subject, if not the facts, on this Barthmobile site.

quote:

Originally posted by izomage:
still own a Donzi 16 w/ Holoman & Moody 289

Oh, please, post some pictures. Is it the Sweet Sixteen? When I had a Glastron GT160, I always wished I had gotten a Sweet 16 instead.

Used to have a Diana, too. Had to buy a Metralla to stay competitive. Gonna get another Diana, someday.

I always marvelled at the civility of which our members demonstrated on our site. I've always got good advice and prompt replies to my questions.
Anyways, Greg, welcome to the site and enjoy the ride.
Richard

Hi Ducati,

Great to see a fellow biker here, but I have to agree the Barth people are a very rare breed - - - honest!!

You could pay a surveyor a great deal to get the truth and professionalism doled out here for free. Now I admit I have gotten opinions from my honest friends that my Barth looks more like a Prevost. I hope someday they also warn me that my wife looks like Christie Brinkley too! Those slams I can take.

If you want to see the folks that don't take value advise, look at the "bottom" of the for sale forum. Some are a few years old.

Anyway, good to have you here. Hope you get your Barth and we can meet at a rally in person. Perhaps by then I'll have my GS 1200 Bimmer. Currently I have Greeves Wessex and a R90S all cafed out with a Duc 900SS fairing. Really cool bike.

Corey