Bad apple in Camper Family

[Howard Kirsch]

I'm writing this blog to hopefully prevent someone from making a mistake like I did. I'm in the market to purchase a Westy, and I saw an ad on eBay advertising a 1986 mode, in pretty good condition. The ad was placed by one of the member's of the VW Camper Family, Jordan Herrmann. Mr Herrmann runs an unlicensed business in El Cerrito CA., where he buys, refurbishes, and resells VW Camper's. I visited his business, and saw a vehicle I was interested in. He was still in the process of refurbishing the van, but was asking $18,000. He represented that the van would be free of mechanical problems before he sold it. I told him I'd need to have it inspected by my mechanic, and he asked for a "good faith" deposit. I gave him a check for $500 towards the purchase of the vehicle, pending the outcome of the inspection. The inspection cost me $200, and pointed out a number of repairs that were needed that totaled more than $1500. When I contacted Mr. Herrmann to discuss the inspection report, he confronted me with a take it or leave it offer for the vehicle "as is" for $18,000. I said no thanks, and he hung up the phone. I tried calling him back to discuss his returning my deposit, but he ignored my calls. He eventually sent me a text saying he wasn't going to return the deposit, claiming it was part of a contract, and that if I set foot on his property I'd be trespassing. I'm in the process of taking legal action against Mr Herrmann to try to recover my deposit. I just wanted to warn anyone that was potentially thinking of doing business with him, to be aware of his character and the way he does business. He is not an honest man.

[Brett Budlong]

Lame!!

[Peter]

Wow! Hello small claims court. Please keep us posted.

[Gary Marrs]

This man doesn't seem to realize that VW Camper owners are a close knit group. I hope he is reading this now, because the word is going out on him and how he does business. Selling a camper "as is", is one thing, ripping people off is another.

[said abdallah]

I think this will cost him more than $500 in the long run. I wouldn't let him of the hook.