Date:         Tue, 3 Mar 2015 15:01:47 -0800
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Roadside service
Comments: To: The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <05ca01d055f3$20b87dc0$62297940$@busdepot.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Ron, I think you did okay too.  Did you buy it back from Nationwide for parts, or just let it go?

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of The Bus Depot
Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2015 12:47 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Roadside service

> Stuart, thanks.  Just did the same.  Range 5625-21,800, avg retail 
> 14,700.  I agree, not bad.  Now, other than the photos and receipts, 
> how does one support that a particular van is worth the higher figure when dealing with an insurance company?

I had to deal with this when a tree crushed my '89 Westy a few years ago. (See <http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QNXy6VZcEPg/T5gdF2yvjkI/AAAAAAAAA6s/kBayWIWVcYM/s400/Westy&Tree.JPG> for the carnage.)  My insurance company (Nationwide) started by offering me somewhere around $5k. I told the adjuster that if he could find me a comparable Westy for $5k I'd gladly accept his offer. He actually did try, emailing me a couple of links, but none of them were full campers and most were a few years older. I sent him receipts for all parts and repairs, pictures of the interior and exterior, and comp values from Craigslist, Ebay, etc. He negotiated hard and kept bumping his offer by $1000 or so at a time, which was still way too low. I guess I can't blame him for hoping I'd settle for $7k or $8k; it's his job. Finally I threatened to file a grievance with the state insurance commissioner's office, and within a few days they made me a reasonable offer - around $12 or $13k as I recall.  The Westy was in excellent shape before the tree landed on it, but it was a former Florida flood vehicle with an R (Reconstructed Vehicle) title so I thought that amount was fair. 

Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot, Inc.
www.busdepot.com