pop yachts website

 POP Yachts and RVs Mark Ellefsen 573-207-4022

POP Yachts and RVs have a large inventory of used boats and used RVs for sale across the United States and Canada.

POP Yachts and RVs used boats for sale, and our used RVs for sale inventory is made up of "boats for sale by owner" and "RVs for sale by owner," and the sellers are using us to broker the transaction to protect both parties.

When you search terms "boats for sale near me" or "RVs for sale near me," POP Yachts and RVs will most likely have something in our inventory.

POP Yachts and RVs has a network of over 300 brokers across the United States and Canada. POP Yachts and RVs is here to help you sell your used boat or your used RV, as well as help you buy your next boat or RV

573-207-4022

© 2020 POP Sells, LLC. All rights reserved.

We've been listed twice on Inc. Magazine's coveted list of the fastest growing companies in America.

We're fortunate to work good people working with good customers.

Rated one of the fastest growing companies in America (twice)

Across 750+ public reviews from sellers, we're rated 4.7955 out of 5.0 stars.

Rated 4.8 out of 5.0

Over the past 11 years, we've sold more than  15,000  boats and RVs.

15,000+ units sold

Being big is good for you. Any listing anywhere gets shown to buyers everywhere.

Operating in 35+ states

Louisville, Kentucky

If I could, I would give this service 10 stars. BIG THANKS to POP Yachts and especially Kevin, Alan and Tracy. 

Anaheim, California

Actual sale was safe, easy and stress free...thanks to Pop Yachts. Only way to sell/buy a boat. 

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Over the past 11 years, we've perfected how to handle the sale of boats and RVs, safely, ensuring buyers get the unit and sellers get their money.

Selling your boat or RV is harder than it looks.

Impossible to match advertising

We're available to answer any questions you have about the process.

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Or call: (239) 320-4323.

We advertise units across more than 160 websites, including your favorites like BoatTrader.com, RVTrader.com, and Facebook Marketplace.

You can cancel at any time, for any reason, easily. You can even still sell on your own.

Buyer funds are held safely in escrow until the unit changes hands.

Literally, no risk

Safe and convenient.

And we have the results to prove it.

The best brokers in  the world.

Thousands of boats and rvs for sale..

www.popyachts.com |  www.poprvs.com

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Review Highlights

“ I enlisted the services of POP RV and couldn't be more pleased with the support across the board I received... ” in 10 reviews

“ This was mainly due to the professional assistance of two POP Yachts employees, Gena Kraft and Rusty Kline. ” in 2 reviews

“ I worked with Jessica in their closing department and she has also been great throughout the closing process . ” in 3 reviews

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Location & Hours

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5717 Bessie Dr

Sarasota, FL 34233

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What happens if you don't get approval for financing?

Thanks for the question! There are indeed only two methods of purchasing a boat, cash or finance. If you cannot get approved for financing, you'll have to have the cash. There are a number of great sources of boat financing, including JR Bates at… more

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115 reviews

I bought a travel trailer through POPs RV and the whole process was very easy and professional. They were very good at communicating every step of the way and the closing process was smooth and effortless. I highly recommend POPS!

After one year listed my boats for this company I couldn't sell my boat. The sells man was not expert. Dont waste your time.

We were attempting to sell our Class B+/C motorhome on our own through social media sites with several lookers and no really serious buyers. We went with Pops RVs and immediately felt like we had made a great choice. From the initial contact thru to the closing we had outstanding team members to guide us through each step until the Motorhome was sold and closed on two months later. We can't say enough positive things about the whole experience. Thanks POPs team for promptly selling our Motorhome in a short period of time. We would recommend this team to anyone wanting to sell their RV.

The entire staff did a great job working with me on the purchase of my first boat. Salesman answered every question in a timely manner. Captain that went on trial run did a great job presenting the boat and again answering every question. Paper work was completed in a very timely manner. Very friendly team. Everyone did their job. Could contact them way pass the 9-5 normal people. The Team at Pop Yachts is very professional. They let me choose the boat I wanted and everything else they made easy.

Happy Boating Days ahead Thanks to POP YACHTS

I've been TRYING to purchase through Pop Yachts since August 27th! I've been re-assigned 3 closing agents, 1 director of closing, 2 boat brokers, ............ we WERE supposed to close on Thurs the 13th (ie. "today" before Midnight) It is almost like they just DO NOT WANT to make a sale nor do they act like the know how to sell anything. They have come up with every excuse in the book as to why *I* am more concerned with getting the ball rolling/us-going with each step than they are..... to my knowledge, the ONLY thing that they have done thus far, is presented my offer to the seller/owner (who accepted), drafted a tentative agreement, and now playing Pass-The-Buck Email-style!!!!!!!! I am trying to find boats NOT listed with Pop Yachts at this point!!!!! #SoFrustrated They are SUPER TOTALLY UNPROFESSIONAL!

I bought a boat through Pop Yachts and it was a terrific experience. I'm in MA, they're in FL, and the boat was in CT. It wouldn't have any smoother if we were all in the same town! The process was easy, the team was helpful and responsive, and they took care of everything. I highly recommend them if you're in the market for a boat

Sold my RV after it was listed on site for price I wanted. I had plenty of referrals come and look at vehicle due to POP RV. They list on largest website and my buyer flew from New Mexico and drove it away in California. Pop was available for any questions throughout the process. It was a bit unsettling to send title in the mail, but they are legit and useful. If you want to sell your RV or any other item (boat or even house) I'd trust them to get the job done in a professional manner. They have extensive friendly staff that was well versed @ the type of vehicle I had and will look for them next time I buy a vehicle.

2007 Fleetwood Tioga @ Yosemite Valley

After reading reviews of this place I thought it would be a good company to buy a boat and list my RV. I made an offer on the boat and right away I was given the runaround and I really wanted the boat. At the same time I noticed they also do RV consignments and thought I can use them for both. Here is my issue after requesting to see the boat, Reggie the person I dealt with stated the owners was in town and to give him some date and times when I can see boat. So I gave him some dates and times 2 weeks go by and I texted Reggie and no response. Reggie was also supposed to get back to me in regards to the valuation of RV. Reggie disappeared and I reached out to Dennis but he is just as bad, he kept stating on email he would call me back in regards to boat and RV. He never did, same with listing the RV. I just feel bad for their customers because they don't seem interested in selling anything. I probably won't list the RV with them as I saw what customer service they had. None....terrible place and terrible customer service. I do like the boat also to add I tried calling Reggie but he is a joke and noticed he screens his calls. I can't get a straight answer from POPs

DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH POP YACHTS! They are dishonest people who take advantage of their clients! I hired Pop Yachts to sell my boat. I paid them nice commissions and my understanding was that they are representing me i.e. working in my best interest; I also disclosed to them that I needed the boat sold immediately. I later found out from the buyer that they told him to low ball me on the price; they were suppose to present my bottom line, NOT to suggest to the buyer to further LOW BALL me!. I complained to Pop Yacht and gave them the chance twice to address this unfortunate situation through 2 different people in the organization where I got BS stories and all kind of explanations that did not address my issue with their unethical/deceitful malpractice in my case. I will never work with Pop Yacht ever again as they are not to be trusted! Ronen Sigura

worst brokerage service ever it's all about you paying them . terrible service as a buyer it's very difficult to schedule seeing a boat and as a seller they will pursue money from you even after you cancel the contract I buy about 1 or 2 boats a year and when browsing if I see pop representing it I just keep looking knowing the aggravation will not be worth the time invested

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Phone number, what kind of boat is she, do you know the model year, what is the brand name, what is the model name or length, please briefly describe your boat, ownership history, and how much money you're expecting to net after a sale..

Pop RVs is the newest and most innovative idea in the RV industry. While brokerage has been a standard in industries like boating and real estate for centuries, brokerage is completely unknown to the RV industry. What that means is you don't need to stick your RV on a parking lot for six months somewhere in order to sell it. Once you sign up with us, we come out to your RV, take a professional photo shoot and video, build your RV advertisement, and place it on 12 major websites. We'll handle all phone calls and emails, facilitate a successful and fair negotiation, and we will handle a safe and secure closing, holding all funds in escrow and creating all necessary documents in order to transfer title the right way. We do all this for 10% of the total sale, only if and when a successful sale is completed. We only get paid if WE actually sell your RV. POP stands for Paid on Performance!

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Model year (if you know it), please briefly describe your rv, ownership history, and how much money you're expecting to net after a sale., the latest independent review latest review.

I could not have done it without their support and assistance!!!

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Is POP Yachts a Scam? Why Many Believe it Is

In its own words, POP Yachts is a boat broker. Otherwise, its version of an About Us page is filled with the kind of information that most people would expect, which is to say, a description of what it does as well as how it does it but touched up to make it as presentable as possible. Something that isn't particularly uncommon for business websites to say the least. However, if interested individuals choose to look further using search engines, chances are good that they will turn up further web pages on other webpages with much more unpleasant things to say about the boat broker. Due to this, it is perfectly natural for them to wonder whether POP Yachts is a scam or not.

Is POP Yachts a Scammer?

Unfortunately, there is no simple and straightforward method for telling when a business has crossed the line from being a poor provider of products and services to being a straight-up scam. There are plenty of places where people have posted complaints about POP Yachts. For proof, look no further than the Better Business Bureau , which has provided it with a B- rating based on a total of 11 complaints. Furthermore, it is important to note that the Better Business Bureau has listed a 3-star review based on an aggregate of the customer reviews that have been submitted to it. Curiously, these reviews are either very good or very bad with few reviews that are in-between, which could be interpreted to mean that POP Yachts customers either have very good or very bad experiences. This is further supported by what people have said on various boat forums, which show a fair amount of negativity mixed in with some pretty positive comments.

As for the exact nature of the complaints, they are wide-ranging in nature rather than focused on one or even a small number of issues. In some cases, people complained about POP Yachts representatives misrepresenting the truth, which is a serious warning sign for obvious reasons. In other cases, complaints ranged from the poor attitude of POP Yachts representatives to a lack of response on the part of the boat broker and over-aggressiveness in their attempts to convince boat owners to sell through them. Based on this, it seems reasonable to say that POP Yachts has some serious issues, particularly since the range of reviews posted on a number of websites make it clear that this isn't just one or two customers who are dissatisfied by their interactions with the boat broker.

Moving on, it is curious to note that POP Yachts claims to be one of the best businesses of its kind when measured using the reviews posted on Trustpilot.com . For those who are unfamiliar with that particular name, Trustpilot.com is a review website where customers can post reviews about the businesses that they have interacted with. Perhaps unsurprisingly, online review sites are filled with dishonest reviews, which are the inevitable outcome when there are such strong incentives at work without the corresponding barriers set up to prevent people from acting upon them. However, Trustpilot.com is particularly concerning because KwikChex has turned up actual examples of fake reviews on its website, which isn't helped by the fact that the website lets its premium users filter the reviews that interested individuals see without any indication that said reviews have been filtered. Combined, these facts don't exactly inspire a great deal of confidence in what Trustpilot.com has to say on the matter, particularly when there are so many other complaints on other websites that contradict the substance of this particular claim.

Summed up, there is no simple and straightforward method for determining whether POP Yachts is a scam or not. When one considers the fact that it has been in business for years and years, it seems probable that it isn't a scam so much as a business that hasn't been very good at satisfying a substantial number of the customers that it has interacted with. However, whether POP Yachts is a scam or not probably isn't actually that interesting for most consumers out there. Instead, what most of them are really interested in is whether POP Yachts can be trusted to provide them with their desired service or not, in which case, the answer is at best a "maybe, maybe not." Suffice to say that this isn't what anyone would consider to be a stirring endorsement, meaning that interested individuals might want to look elsewhere. Something that is particularly true because there isn't exactly a shortage of other service providers that can help them with whatever it is that they are looking for in this regard.

How Can You Tell that Something Is a Scam Anyways?

In any case, interested individuals might want to look into the various ways that they can pick up on something being a scam, which should help them avoid a wide range of potential pitfalls. Generally speaking, interested individuals should be suspicious of anything that sounds too good to be true. In fact, they should be suspicious of anything that is making them rush into a decision because that reduces the chances of them making a cool, reasoned-out choice that is in their genuine best interests. Under this light, something that sounds too good to be true is suspicious because it seems designed to encourage them to rush into a decision instead of thinking about it. Similarly, if someone is getting a lot of pressure from the representatives of a business into making a decision, that tends to be rather suspicious as well, though to be perfectly fair, it is possible that they are just pushy salespeople rather than scammers seeking to pressure consumers into making a bad decision.

Besides this, there are various other things to watch out for. For instance, a business that hasn't existed for very long time is very suspicious because they are a complete and utter unknown, meaning that it is best to look elsewhere. Likewise, if a business has no physical presence at the place that they are claiming, that is even more suspicious. Fortunately, the Internet makes it easier for people to communicate than ever before, meaning that if people are interested, they should have no problems finding more information on how to pick up on potential problems.

Written by  Allen Lee

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Pop Yachts - brokers or scammers?

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I see their listings plastered all over Ebay and at times on CL - the boats tend to be older and all are overpriced for the Florida market - in the body of each ad is a come-on for people to join their brokerage to sell boats - pretty tacky. Just curious if anyone has bought or sold a boat through them ?- they do at least provide lots of pictures  

I bought one thru them, out of state, and it was a good experience. No games, straight forward.  

I recently inquired about a boat that POP Yachts represented. The broker that contacted me had the customer skills one would usually stereotype with a used-car salesman. In general, the broker did several things to piss-me-off. I told him that my interest in this boat or any other boat that POP Yachts represent is gone. I will not deal with them again.  

I looked at one they had listed. Broker was friendly and helpful. I ended up not purchasing the boat but I had no issues with POP Yachts I'm guessing the experience varies from broker to broker.  

My complaint is that you have to register before you can even look at all of the photos. I'm a potential buyer and you're going to force me to register before you'll even show me what you have for sale!?! Give me a break!!! That's just stupid. Imagine how long Walmart would have stayed in business if, when he opened the first one, Sam Walton had stood at the door with a clipboard and said, "You can't come in and look around until you let me collect some information about you." Sadly, PopYachts is not the only one that does this sort of thing. It just amazes me that there are business people out there who are so completely brain-dead that they think -- just because it's the internet -- it is okay to throw roadblocks in front of potential customers who want to get some information.  

denverd0n said: My complaint is that you have to register before you can even look at all of the photos. I'm a potential buyer and you're going to force me to register before you'll even show me what you have for sale!?! Give me a break!!! That's just stupid. Click to expand...

You mean like. Mmm. Costco. ......  

No. Not like Costco. Unless they've changed their policy in the last few years, Costco will let you come in and look around without joining. You can check prices, browse through the whole store, and so on. Only when you decide that you want to buy something are you then required to join. If PopYachts followed that sort of policy I would have no complaints. But PopYachts won't let you browse around -- they won't let you see the pictures of the boats they have -- until you register. That is stupid. Just plain STOOOPID!  

I believe that each POP Yachts broker has the latitude to set their own policies for dealing with customers. Many salespeople feel that you have entered a series of transactions and negotiations from the minute that they pick up the phone; I'll do something for you only if you do something for me. I used to be in sales training, and I recognize the behavior. Before I made a 5-hour car trip to see a boat, I asked the POP Yachts broker for the HIN of the vessel I was interested in. He flatly refused, explaining that he thought that I would use it to identify the seller, and cut him out of his commission. He stated that he would provide the HIN and answers to other questions that I had after I signed a contract to buy the boat. I found this unacceptable and lost interest in dealing with either him or POP Yachts. Shortly thereafter I was contacted by another POP Yachts broker who sent me a link to where I could get a free copy of a "Carfax for boats" that had been done on that vessel. I never looked at it, because I had moved on.  

eherlihy said: ......explaining that he thought that I would use it to identify the seller, and cut him out of his commission....... Click to expand...

I had a bad experience with a PopYacht broker. I will never even look at one of their listings again.  

One question for you all who have recently dealt with POP Yachts. When I was looking 2+ years ago it seemed to me that they were claim jumping for sale listings. As in they were listing boats for sale that were not actually listed with them...in an effort to get you to work with them to buy a boat. Have any of you come across this??  

SV Siren said: One question for you all who have recently dealt with POP Yachts. When I was looking 2+ years ago it seemed to me that they were claim jumping for sale listings. As in they were listing boats for sale that were not actually listed with them...in an effort to get you to work with them to buy a boat. Have any of you come across this?? Click to expand...

d0n- "you're going to force me to register before you'll even show me " I expect that is just one more example of a company (in this case, the parent company itself) trying to monetize everything, gathering up your demographics to sell them. Someone is willing to pay them for every "potential boat buyer" they can name, and when you sign up...you've been datamined. So, step right up and join the game, send the emails to your favorite local FCC chairperson or other deserving entity. Heck, its only karma, right?(G) They seem like an "MLS" for people who want to be self-employed boat brokers. You find a boat someone is selling, copy it to your PY account...and if you're lucky, get a split. Or something to some similar effect, from what I've seen. And just like real estate brokers (who aren't "Realtors®") hey, if the broker is on their toes...all the same to the buyer, right?  

hellosailor said: I expect that is just one more example of a company... gathering up your demographics to sell them. Click to expand...

I contacted them a couple years back about a boat and had a good experience with the broker I dealt with. Did not get past the offer stage. They use a marketing automation system for ongoing marketing (which I don't see a lot of in this industry) which is the reason for the quicker push to collect an email address (my opinion from looking from the outside in). I got the feeling they are more of an "association" type of arrangement selling leads to various brokers.  

I don't think I'd call Popyachts itself a "scam". They are more like the real estate MLS, or Amazon, ebay, Alibaba, and every eastern bazaar. It seems pretty much that anyone can sign up, use the Popyachts "umbrella", and then proceed to try posting and selling pretty much anything--without being bothered by things like having or needing a broker's license or other professional oversight.  

No, nothing like an MLS. Yachtworld is the MLS and Popyachts was banned from there. So the answer to the original question is a resounding "YES!!". They supposedly had a boat in Maine for sale, broker was in FL. This was a couple years ago. They kept harvesting and harvesting my info. But would never tell me where the boat was. Supposedly in "Saco, ME." It was a lie. Too good to be true. They steal Craigslist photos and post them themselves, then approach the seller and try to get a commission. They charge fees to buyers, etc., etc. Absolutely no ethics. Now there's a new one that comes after you through Craigslist offering "free FSBO postings," then torments you by phone until you pay them $300.00. I offered to provide the guy's number to the Maine Attorney General's office and never heard from him again.  

POPYACHTS is a scam. Here is what I think they do. They look for boats on Craigslist and ebay and contact the seller and get them to agree to have them represent their boat. They then mark up the original seller price 2X and then make a really flashy ad on Ebay and Craigslist hoping to get you to over pay for the boat. How do I know this? I had been watching a boat in the Pittsburgh area. It had been listed for a long time on craigslist locally. This ad stood out because the seller was listing it as a Chris Craft Baja. Two manufacturers that were never related. The boat was also a wreck and had been sitting out for a long time. One day while looking at local ebay ads I saw the same boat and same pics listed by POPYACHTS. The ad was glowing and misrepresented the actual condition of the boat. I contacted the POPYACHTS broker regarding the boat. They got back to me. When I said why was the boat listed locally for a price that was half of what they were listing it for. He then became angry with the question and said owners can list them locally for what they want. So I am not actually sure if the local owner was even aware that their boat was listed on ebay. I suspect not. I would say, if you are consider a boat listed by POPYACHTS to search for the boat locally and do the deal with the owner and cut out mark up of the middle man. Pretty sleazy company in my opinion. I suspect any positive reviews are made up by the company. I would avoid.  

Every time an add for a POP yachts boat comes up there is an add for Seatow on the page. what is that telling you.  

Tells me seatow buys promotion ads.  

Ya. you are going to buy adds where your customers are, tells me they get a lot of business from POP 's customers  

Brokers or scammers? Maybe a little of both. I really hate to give up my information, or have to speak with a broker, just to look at photos of a boat online.  

Free 1 yr seatow low level membership  

It could also be that the self-employed "local representatives" were scamming both the owners AND Popyachts by putting the boat on ebay without the knowledge of either. Popyachts makes it clear that they are only going to take a 10% commission. But like the Uber drivers who rudely embarrass Uber...the contractors might be up to anything else.  

Curiously, I just got an email from a Pop Yachts scammer broker in Bradenton, and the boat is on Craigslist in Maine. Wanted to get my phone number so he could "call and explain the process." Said he wanted to market the boat and charge any fees to the buyer. So, Shane, the answer is a resounding "NO." There's a reason (I told him) Pop Yachts is banned from Yachtworld. I also warned him if he ripped and represented my photos in any way, I'd be calling both the Maine and Florida Attorney General's offices.  

It might be worth contacting Popyachts about this guy. THEY may not want to be affiliated with him either. Their basic concept, to have a wide listing service other than YW, and to provide "local brokers" to make it different from just a laundry list, isn't so crazy. But if they are not vetting the "local brokers"... Well, even Youtube has been having problems cancelling pedophile accounts, and Amazon can't seem to get rid of the counterfeiters. Scams appear wherever there's money to be stolen. Ergh, made.  

No to contacting Pop Yachts about anyone. The business model is the problem. They rip photos off FSBO's, then try to claim a commission. They got booted from YW for a reason. I mean, how BAD do you have to be to get kicked out of the only multiple listing service for yacht brokerage in the U.S.?  

I don't know why (or for sure if) YW kicked them off, but since the Popyachts operation would seem to be a competitor to YW, not just a simple brokerage, that in itself would be reason to kick them off regardless to any questions of misbehavior. Very few businesses, including hobby web forums that depends on viewers and advertisers, allow competitors to set up camp on them. If PY is doing all that you say they are, a complaint with the FTC might get them shut down. Ripping off other people's photos and "trying to claim a commission" when there was no prior arrangement would violate numerous laws and probably qualify for prosecution under RICO as well. Which would make them a great target for any federal agency, assuming that's what has been going on.  

So, I haven't seen anyone on here from the seller perspective...and while every situation is different, I seriously doubt POP is advertising and trying to sell boats at 2X the seller's asking price. Why do I know this? Because I am selling my boat through POP and they are advertising less than 10% higher and that is their commission. Again, just a different perspective from the seller's side of the story.[/QUOTE]  

Cappa said: So, I haven't seen anyone on here from the seller perspective...and while every situation is different, I seriously doubt POP is advertising and trying to sell boats at 2X the seller's asking price. Why do I know this? Because I am selling my boat through POP and they are advertising less than 10% higher and that is their commission. Again, just a different perspective from the seller's side of the story. Click to expand...

it looks like a scam  

Everyone's experience may be different, but I find the listings annoying and basically click bait. We did contact a POP Yachts sales agent about a boat, and when we met to see the boat it was clear that he knew nothing about it, and probably had never met the owner. I can usually find a listing for the same boat on multiple sites so I usually favor the more legit, local agent.  

That's what they do. For example, a recent Dyer 29 (nice little downeaster ********) was on the local Craigslist for $75,000.00. I think the actual listing broker (who had a legitimate listing) and the owner got wind of it and it was taken down. The number to call, for a Maine boat, was in Florida. Same number as I called a few years ago for a Pearson 365 that looked great and was claimed to be in Saco, Maine. I called the boatyards in Saco, asked around and the boat didn't exist. Click bait. When I called, they had to "coordinate with the owner." It dragged out awhile and then other P365's were offered. Scam. I also researched complaints against them. There were a lot, overcharges, etc., etc.  

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Purchase of boat in Tennessee

Boat is located at marina in Tennessee. The marina required 2 month's notice in giving up the slip. Pop paid for two month's rent to satisfy them. Thanks. The buyer's agent was in Florida. We had difficulty obtaining information about the current status of the boat as no Pop rep. was at the marina. The seller's agent contact was given to me to ask about the boat's current status. The sale was completed and sales tax was paid in Florida. The Tennessee registration requires a form to be completed that was supposed to come from the broker. None was provided. TN also requires that TN taxes were paid. Not done.

Date of experience : February 26, 2024

After trying several times to sell our RV

After trying several times to sell our motor home on RV Trader, we were contacted by POP, and they took on the sell. Great people to work with, and all details taken care of. I am recommending them to anyone that is selling their RV. Thank you POP

Date of experience : February 27, 2024

Reply from popsells.com

Thanks for the outstanding 5-star review, Mark! We are so glad that we were able to find a buyer for your beautiful motorhome. We love hearing praises about the team and how we take care of all of the details for you - that is what we strive for every day. You were a pleasure to work with and we hope that we have the opportunity to work together again one day. Thank you for your recommendations, we very much appreciate it!

Great experience

Great experience, Paul and Lauren were great. The whole PoP team was great.

Date of experience : March 15, 2024

Kevin was fantastic!

Kevin was fantastic! I was skeptical at first, but his attention to detail and communication was spot on. Lauren was very responsive and helpful with all paperwork related items. Overall it was a great experience and I'm very happy with the result.

Thank you so much for the fantastic review! We are so happy that you had a great experience with Pop and our Team. Enjoy!!

Hanna Banana earns POP 9.5 stars

Pop is the greatest platform I’ve ever experienced is selling a unit, I had been trying for 6 months on my own with not much action. 2 days after listing I received a offer for $4000 more than what I was trying to get. Roy my personal representative was to my place with in days to make video and take pictures ( all at pops expense) showing it very well. My heart and greatest appreciation goes to “Hanna Banana “for her tireless dedication and ability to handle a very complex closing over the weekend. She started @ 5 stars and by time everything was finished I moved her up to 9.5 ( I’m a communist judge and never give 10.0) . She is a true professional and reflects the dedication that POP has for clients, they should be proud to have her on board

Date of experience : February 04, 2024

WOW, Joseph, thank you for this outstanding review! We are so glad that we were able to sell your RV for more than you wanted within 2 days. We especially love hearing the praises of our Pop Team. We are also amazed by their dedication and professionalism. We are grateful to have them on board. Thank you for choosing Pop. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.

My experience with Pop Yachts was…

My experience with Pop Yachts was great! My associate Brandon was with me all the way, offering advice on my Boat description, pricing, and adjustments when necessary. The span of advertising is the key. They reach a very large market, and take ALL calls with offers and help to filter out the non- serious offers. Would use them again 👍

Date of experience : January 25, 2024

Thank you, Robert, for the terrific 5-star review! We are so glad that Brandon took great care of you while we found a buyer for your boat. We will be here if you are in the market to buy or sell a boat or RV, and we promise to make it as easy as possible. Thanks for choosing Pop!

Great Company to serve as an advisor between a buyer and a seller

We knew we wanted to purchase a specific higher-end Class A motorcoach and being a CPA, we didn't want to pay the upcharge that you pay when purchasing through a RV dealership. Given the cost of this RV, we were not comfortable trying to navigate a purchase directly with a seller. Luckily, we found the (almost) exact RV we wanted and it was listed by Popsells. The entire process was seamless from the negotiations to the RV titling/tag receipt. The communication was better than expected as I was consistently informed. Given the industry in which I work (Audit Director of the largest title company in the US), I was amazed by the escrow process, including the security around the wire process (which can be very risky in today's world and the use of email). There is not one thing I can point out in Popsells' process that needs enhancement from a buyer's point of view (and that says a lot coming from someone in the audit field). I highly recommend having this company by your side when making a purchase of this size.

Date of experience : January 22, 2024

Personalized service

Felt like service was personalized and detailed to answer any concerns or questions. Kevin and Sharon were very good at maintaining contact with me throughout the processl

Date of experience : February 10, 2024

Thank you for the great 5-star review, Warren. We are happy to hear that the Pop Team gave you personalized service, maintaining contact with you throughout your purchase. We wish you many great days out on the water on your new boat!

The appointment to view the RV was made…

The appointment to view the RV was made quickly and we are able to conclude our business within one day. The RV offered was an excellent condition which was also reflected in the advertisement. The consultants for getting the RV financed registered and in my possession, we're all very professional and extremely competent. The whole process was finished within 7 days over the Christmas holidays which I thought was next to impossible. Thank you very much I will recommend you in the future. Marty Novinski

Date of experience : December 19, 2023

Thank you so much for the outstanding, detailed review, Marty! We are so glad that you were able to find the perfect RV and complete the transaction within one week, over the holidays. We love hearing that the Pop Team is professional, competent, and expeditious. We appreciate your recommendation and wish you many great adventures in your new motorhome!

Unprofessional Sales and Finance Reps

The individuals at Pop Rv are totally unprofessional. I'm specifically calling out Andy Baker and Caleb Grassi. Andy prompted me to apply for a loan through Rock Solid Funding (their partner) without ever calling or speaking with me personally. I received a computer rejection in less than 5 minutes after submitting the application. No human being ever looked at my application. When I questioned the process, Caleb Grassi gave me a "sorry we can't help you" reply. I make over $100k/year, have $0 debts, and have stellar ratings on my credit report from Chrysler, Ally Bank, Verizon, Capitol One, and more. My prediction: Pop RV will be out of business in a year or two max. My Recommendation: Shop Elsewhere.

Date of experience : October 10, 2023

Cory was very attentive to my needs and…

Cory was very attentive to my needs and sent me quite number of boats to consider buying. Although I ended up purchasing a boat on my own, not affiliated with Pops Boats, I would not hesitate to use them the next time I'm in the market to purchase a boat. Thank you Cory! Ron C. Raleigh, NC

Date of experience : January 10, 2024

Thanks for the great review, Ron! We are glad that Cory sent you a lot of boat options for sale through Pop. We wish you many great days out on the water in your new boat and hope that we have the pleasure of working with you again in the future.

Good Overall Experience

Good overall experience working with Pops RV. Only thing I would recommend is have the area representative be available at inspection or delivery of the RV to assist with any issues that might arise. Other than that they worked to keep me informed on the sale transaction Rusty from Pops stepped in to help with getting me the paperwork from the finance company as it was running late. He also ensured I was reimbursed late fees I was assessed for the paperwork not getting to me on time. Would recommend Pop RVs if you’re in the market for an RV.

Date of experience : October 31, 2023

Thank you for the review and recommendation, Steven. We are always looking to expand our Pop Consultants across the country, but in some cases there is not a local representative (yet). If you happen to know anyone interested in being a local rep, please ask them to visit popsellscareers.com. We are glad that Rusty was able to get your paperwork delivered and took care of your late fees due to the delay in delivery. We appreciate your recommendation and wish you many great adventures in your new RV!

Buying a boat was easy with Pop Yachts.

My boat buying experience with Pop Yachts was professional and quick. Very responsive and helped out with every step of the transaction. I would do business again with them, highly recommend. Michael Hill and Paul Albert were great reps!

Date of experience : December 05, 2023

Thanks for the outstanding review, Aaron! We love hearing how great the Pop Team is and how they make the boat buying experience quick and professional. We will be here, ready to help whenever you're ready to buy or sell a boat or RV. Wishing you many great days out on the water in your new boat!

Excellent Class A RV Buying Experience

I recently purchased a Class A motor home after a long search. Without seeking PopRVs out, I purchased it through them. I’m very pleased that I did. The rep, Sonny, was extremely helpful and patient with me and my specific desires. The Closing Advocate, Tracy, was SUPER. She was very congenial and professional and walked me through the process in a friendly manner. The listing agent, Raymond, went above and beyond what you get in today’s world of customer service. Everyone treated me with respect and kindness throughout the entire experience. I certainly recommend PopRVs.

Date of experience : October 09, 2023

Thank you for the outstanding review! We love hearing how helpful, professional and responsive our Pop Team is. We are truly grateful to have them support our customers as you've described. We appreciate you choosing Pop and wish you many great adventures in your new RV.

This possibly the worse broker whom…

This possibly the worse broker whom I've ever dealt. They send multiple confused emails, cancel appoints frequently and with almost no notice, schedule appointments at times they have told I'm not available. After four (4) weeks and requesting to see five (5) 'vessels,' haven't been able to see any. The one appointment not canceled, the rep wasn't at the address I had been given

Date of experience : February 02, 2022

Highly recommend

Popsells did an incredible job for me. From beginning to end, they kept me informed every step of the way. The first buyer they brought me purchased my boat, and the closing process was seamless and very fast. My representative, Steve Sotelo, was knowledgeable, prompt, and overall an awesome guy.

Date of experience : October 18, 2023

Thanks for the outstanding review, Jonathon! We are so glad to hear that we were able to quickly find a buyer for your boat and the Pop Team made closing seamless and fast. We hope to have the pleasure of working with you again in the future.

Highly recommend Pop Yacht/RVs!

Highly recommend Pop Yacht/RVs!! I initially contacted Shane Head after seeing a fantastic YouTube video on the Newell 2000. Shane placed me in contact with James Schwartz, Sr Consultant. James was amazing to work with. He answered every question I threw his way. Once an agreement was reached between the Seller and myself, I was introduced to Tracie Roberts, Closing Advocate. Tracie was also amazing and helped us through the purchasing and closing process. All in all, amazing experience. Extremely professional staff, friendly and knowledgeable in their respective fields. If you’re in the market for a top notch motorhome, visit Pop RV website. You won’t be disappointed. Jon & Jeff Tampa, FL

Date of experience : July 13, 2023

Wow, thanks for the terrific review, Jon & Jeff!! We are so happy to hear that James, Shane and Tracie were friendly, knowledgeable and professional in helping you find and purchase your top notch motorhome. We really appreciate the recommendation. Wishing you many great adventures in your new RV!

RV purchase

We purchased a Tiffin motor home from Pop RV. Allen and Tracy were great to work with. They made our purchase very smooth from start to finish. We would definitely use POP RV again if we are ever interested in buying another RV.

Date of experience : December 15, 2023

Thank you for the terrific review, Dan. We love hearing how easy the Pop Team makes purchasing an RV. We will be sure to pass your comments along to them. We will be here, ready to help, should you decide to purchase another RV (or boat). Wishing you many great adventures in your new motorhome - she's a real beauty!!

Pop Rv was very impressive

Pop Rv was very impressive. Garett was over the top on service something my wife and I were when we were selling real estate. The professionalism with this company is very refreshing . Very happy how this buying experience happened in a safe and secure manor. thanks John

Date of experience : November 01, 2023

Thank you for the outstanding review, John. We are so happy to hear that Garett was over the top on service and that the Pop team always treated you with professionalism. Congratulations on the purchase of your new RV. We hope that you and your wife have many great adventures in it!

We purchased a 1999 Chris Craft boat…

We purchased a 1999 Chris Craft boat July 2022. We reached out 7/3/22 & picked up boat 7/30/22. It was extremely painful process dealing with popyachts office & closing department. Steve Friedrich was our saving grace, as he helped balance out all the issues we were having with Christine Harrower, our closing person. We also reached out to Rusty Kline her manager without a response till after we were actually closing. The actual close day went mostly without a hitch, but I would never recommend the company, which actually charged me the buyer $495.00 to do the closing documents- which was required if we wanted to buy boat. The papers were sent & accurate & came pretty quickly, but everything else I had to essentially set up ( inspection, sea trial) myself.

Date of experience : July 30, 2022

From Russia, Elaborate Tales of Fake Journalists

As the Ukraine war grinds on, the Kremlin has created increasingly complex fabrications online to discredit Ukraine’s leader and undercut aid. Some have a Hollywood-style plot twist.

Credit... Devin Oktar Yalkin for The New York Times

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By Steven Lee Myers

• March 18, 2024

A young man calling himself Mohamed al-Alawi appeared in a YouTube video in August. He described himself as an investigative journalist in Egypt with a big scoop: The mother-in-law of Ukraine’s president had purchased a villa near Angelina Jolie’s in El Gouna, a resort town on the Red Sea.

The story, it turned out, was not true. Ukraine denied it, and the owner of the villa refuted it. Also disconnected from reality: Alawi’s claim to being a journalist.

Still, his story caromed through social media and news outlets from Egypt to Nigeria and ultimately to Russia — which, according to researchers, is where the story all began.

The story seemed to fade, but not for long. Four months later, two new videos appeared on YouTube. They said Mohamed al-Alawi had been beaten to death in Hurghada, a town about 20 miles south of El Gouna. The suspected killers, according to the videos: Ukraine’s secret service agents.

These claims were no more factual than the first, but they gave new life to the old lie. Another round of posts and news reports ultimately reached millions of internet users around the world, elevating the narrative so much that it was even echoed by members of the U.S. Congress while debating continued military assistance to Ukraine.

Ever since its forces invaded two years ago , Russia has unleashed a torrent of disinformation to try to discredit Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, and undermine the country’s support in the West.

This saga, though, introduced a new gambit: a protracted and elaborately constructed narrative built online around a fictitious character and embellished with seemingly realistic detail and a plot twist worthy of Netflix.

“They never brought back a character before,” said Darren Linvill, a professor and director of the Media Forensics Hub at Clemson University, who has extensively studied Russian disinformation.

The campaign shows how deftly Russia’s information warriors have shifted to new tactics and targets as the war in Ukraine has dragged on, just as Russian forces on the ground in Ukraine have adjusted tactics after devastating battlefield losses.

Groups with ties to the Kremlin continue to float new narratives when old ones fail to stick or grow stale, using fake or altered videos or recordings and finding or creating new outlets to spread disinformation, including ones purporting to be American news sites .

A video appeared on TikTok last month claiming to show a Ukrainian doctor working for Pfizer accusing the company of conducting unlawful tests on children. On the social network X, a man claiming to be an associate producer for Paramount Pictures spun a tale about a Hollywood biopic on Mr. Zelensky’s life.

The tale attributed to Mohamed al-Alawi is not even the only baseless allegation that Mr. Zelensky had secretly purchased properties abroad using Western financial assistance. Other versions — each seemingly tailored for a specific geographic audience — have detailed a mansion in Vero Beach, Fla., and a retreat in Germany once used by Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi minister of propaganda.

The Russians have “demonstrated adaptability through the war on Ukraine,” Microsoft wrote in a recent report that disclosed Russia’s fraudulent use of recorded messages by famous actors and celebrities on the Cameo app to try to smear Mr. Zelensky as a drug addict.

Even when debunked, fabrications like these have proved exceedingly difficult to extinguish entirely.

YouTube took down the initial video of the character Mohamed al-Alawi, linking it to two other accounts that had previously violated the company’s policies. The accusation still circulates, however, especially on platforms, like X and Telegram, that experts say do little to block accounts generating inauthentic or automated activity. Some of the posts about the video appear to have used text or audio created with artificial intelligence tools; many are amplified by networks of bots intended to create the impression that the content is popular.

What links the narratives to Russia is not only the content disparaging Ukraine but also the networks that circulate them. They include news outlets and social media accounts that private and government researchers have linked to previous Kremlin campaigns.

“They’re trolling for a susceptible (and seemingly abundant) slice of citizens who amplify their garbage enough to muddy the waters of our discourse, and from there our policies,” said Rita Katz, the director of the SITE Intelligence Group, an American company that tracks extremist activity online and investigated the false claims about the villa.

The Making of a Fake Journalist

The video first appeared on Aug. 20 on a newly created YouTube account that had no previous activity and almost no followers, according to the Institute of Strategic Dialogue, a global nonprofit research organization in London, which traced the video’s spread.

The man appeared in a poorly lit room reading from his computer screen, which was reflected in his thick glasses. He appeared to be a real person, but it has not been possible to verify his actual identity. No one by the name of Mohamed al-Alawi appears to have produced any previous articles or videos, as would be expected of a journalist. According to ActiveFence, an internet security company, the character has no educational or work history, and no network of friends or social connections online.

The video, though, showed what purported to be photographs of a purchase contract and of the villa itself, creating a veneer of authenticity for credulous viewers. The property is, in fact, part of a resort owned by Orascom Development, whose website highlights El Gouna’s “year-round sunshine, shimmering lagoons, sandy beaches and azure waters.”

An article about the video’s claim appeared two days later as a paid advertisement, or branded content, on Punch, a news outlet in Nigeria, as well as three other Nigerian websites that aggregate news and entertainment content.

The article had the byline of Arthur Nkono, who according to internet searches does not appear to have written any other articles. The article quoted a political scientist, Abdrulrahman Alabassy, who likewise appears not to exist except in accounts linking the villa to the corrupt use of Western financial aid to Ukraine. (Punch, which later removed the post, did not respond to requests for comment.)

A day later, the claim made its first appearance on X in a post by Sonja van den Ende, an activist in the Netherlands, whose articles have previously appeared on propaganda outlets linked to the Russian government, according to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. (She also served as an election observer in an occupied territory of Ukraine during Russian parliamentary elections in September.)

Within days, reports about the villa appeared on X in French and Romanian, and in English on three different Reddit forums.

According to Roberta Duffield, director of intelligence for Blackbird.AI, an internet security company, nearly 29 percent of the accounts amplifying the reports appeared to be inauthentic bots, an unusually high number that would normally indicate a coordinated campaign.

Eight days after the video appeared, Russia state television networks like Channel One, Rossiya 24 and RT (in Arabic and German) reported it as a major revelation uncovered by a renowned Egyptian investigative journalist.

The story seemed to stall there. Naguib Sawiris, the scion of the Egyptian family that owned the development, curtly denied the sale in a reply on X.

And no more was heard from or about the character called Mohamed al-Alawi — until late December.

That was when two new videos emerged on a YouTube channel called “Egypt News,” claiming that he was dead.

The channel had been created the day before. One video showed a man identified as Alawi’s brother, Ahmed, answering questions from another man.

The police, he said, told him that they suspected his brother had been beaten to death by “Ukrainian special forces who acted on behalf of President Zelensky or another high-ranking official.”

He spoke with his hand cupped over his face to obscure his identity. The other video showed what was said to be the site of an attack, though the images were indistinct. “I can’t tell you anything else,” he said in the video, which YouTube later removed. “I’m afraid for my family.”

The video also tried to explain away some of the obvious holes in the initial story, including why there was no evidence online of Alawi’s previous work. “It was his first big assignment,” the man said.

The new episode spread as the first video had. A day later, an article about the death appeared on an obscure website created last year called El Mostaqbal, a name similar to but unrelated to the actual news organization in Lebanon.

“A reporter who announced that Zelensky’s mother-in-law brought a luxury villa has died under mysterious circumstances,” the headline read. Other reports that followed dropped any uncertainty and began referring to his “murder.”

In fact, Egypt’s Ministry of the Interior said there were no reports or evidence that anyone resembling the man in the video had been “subjected to harm.” The statement went on to note that the property itself had not been sold.

Still, according to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, posts about the supposed killing were viewed a million times on X on Dec. 25.

It also appeared on the website of the Middle East Monitor, or MEMO, operated by a well-known nonprofit organization in London and financed by the government of Qatar. A journalist who once reported from Moscow for The Telegraph of London, Ben Aris, cited it at length on the platform, though, when challenged, he said he had just made note of the rumor. “I don’t have time to check all this stuff myself,” he wrote.

It appeared in English on a site, Clear Story News, that Mr. Linvill of Clemson’s Media Forensics Hub had previously linked to Russia’s disinformation efforts. (The site lists no contact information)

Mr. Linvill described the process as a form of “narrative laundering” — moving false claims from unknown or not credible sources to ones that, to the unwitting at least, seem more legitimate.

More Elaborate Narratives

The Institute for Strategic Dialogue studied three other complex narratives about Ukraine, as well.

One featured a French journalist who claimed that the son of George Soros — a regular target of Russian and far-right political attacks — had secretly acquired land for a toxic waste dump in Ukraine. An unnamed doctor in Africa said in another that an American medical charity, the Global Surgical and Medical Support Group, was harvesting the organs of wounded Ukrainian soldiers for transplants for NATO officers.

Then there was the case of a man calling himself Shahzad Nasir, whose profile on X identifies him as a journalist with Emirates 24/7, an English-language news outlet in Dubai, though he has no apparent bylines on the site.

In November, he claimed that cronies of Mr. Zelensky bought two yachts — Lucky Me and My Legacy — for $75 million. His evidence, like Mohamed al-Alawi’s, includes photographs of the vessels and purported purchase agreements.

In fact, as the BBC documented in December, the yachts had not been purchased and remained for sale. Despite numerous efforts by fact checkers to dispel it as rumor, the claim circulated extensively.

Last month, the character Nasir reappeared in another video. This time he had a new version of the tale, claiming that the purchases had been scuttled after he exposed the secret deal.

The ramifications of these campaigns are difficult to measure precisely. There are signs, though, that they resonate even when proved false.

Senator J.D. Vance, a Republican of Ohio and an outspoken critic of Ukraine aid, seemed to embrace the claim in December during an interview on “War Room,” the podcast hosted by Stephen K. Bannon, the onetime adviser to former President Donald J. Trump.

“There are people who would cut Social Security — throw our grandparents into poverty — why?” Mr. Vance said. “So that one of Zelensky’s ministers can buy a bigger yacht?”

That prompted a public rebuke this month from a Republican colleague, Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who ridiculed those who repeat unproven allegations.

“They’ve heard somebody say that if we pass this bill, that we’re all going to go ride to Kyiv with buckets full of money and let oligarchs buy yachts!” he said of critics of the assistance to Ukraine, in what he later called a reference to Mr. Vance’s comments. “I wonder how the spouses of the estimated 25,000 soldiers in Ukraine who have died feel about that? I mean, really, guys?”

Karoun Demirjian contributed reporting.

An earlier version of this article misstated, in one reference, the name of a group at Clemson University that studies disinformation. It is the Media Forensics Hub, not the Digital Media Hub.

How we handle corrections

Steven Lee Myers covers misinformation for The Times. He has worked in Washington, Moscow, Baghdad and Beijing, where he contributed to the articles that won the Pulitzer Prize for public service in 2021. He is also the author of “The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin.” More about Steven Lee Myers

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

News and Analysis

A day after securing a new term in a rubber-stamp presidential election, President Vladimir Putin of Russia said he would not back down in Russia’s war against Ukraine .

With additional American aid still in doubt, Lloyd Austin, the U.S. defense secretary, called for “creative, adaptable and sustainable ways” to continue arming Ukraine  and praised European allies who were trying to bolster Kyiv’s military.

Ukraine fired a volley of exploding drones  at Moscow and other targets on the final day of Russia’s presidential vote, the local authorities said, continuing a flurry of attacks timed for the election .

Elaborate Tales: As the Ukraine war grinds on, the Kremlin has created increasingly complex fabrications online  to discredit Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, and undermine the country’s support in the West.

Targeting Russia’s Oil Industry: With its army short of ammunition and troops to break the deadlock on the battlefield, Kyiv has increasingly taken the fight beyond the Ukrainian border, attacking oil infrastructure deep in Russian territory .

Electronic Warfare: Drones have become a critical weapon for both Russia and Ukraine. But Moscow’s capability to overpower Ukrainian signals  by broadcasting on the same frequencies at higher power is putting Kyiv at a disadvantage.

How We Verify Our Reporting

Our team of visual journalists analyzes satellite images, photographs , videos and radio transmissions  to independently confirm troop movements and other details.

We monitor and authenticate reports on social media, corroborating these with eyewitness accounts and interviews. Read more about our reporting efforts .

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