Community Forums

wardy · 02-20-2011, 08:31 AM

Guido,

Not sure why you quoted me? But the original thread seeks advise on a USED coach so MSRP is of no use. Many talk about what great deals they got but really? After all half pay less than the median and half pay more-fact.

11595gulf · 02-20-2011, 08:50 AM

My personal experience is that time IS your friend and that you lose any negotiating leverage when you appear "urgent to buy." RV salespeople can smell it. My statement about overpaying was in reference to Lazyday specifically. And really which end of the "median" do you want to be on anyway? Do you want to get a bad deal, an average deal, or a good deal? New or used, you have to shop the dealers hard and be a savvy negotiator. I just think for the second biggest purchase most people will ever make, everyone needs to take their time.

Guido

SteveLevin · 02-20-2011, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midniteoyl

Dont forget also that a lot of the units at the dealers are there on consignment and thus there might not be that much room for the dealer to haggle...

There can certainly be cases like that where dealers have agreed to take a unit where the owner won't sell for a realistic price, but in general, I consider consignment units to be the best deal -- because you have the dealer working the deal because no matter what it gets sold for, he usually makes money! Sure, the higher the sales price the better (and makes it an easier sell to the owner), but the deal is typically entirely gravy to the dealer... IF the unit gets sold.

Steve

Indian Creek · 02-20-2011, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fansill

I feel like I am in an alternative universe while I am shopping around for a new pre-owned coach... I see something I like and even though I believe that I appear to be a somewhat intelligent and informed individual, the dealers quote me prices that are higher than average retail and then they make it seem that I am insulting them when I offer them less than retail. Am I doing something wrong? I am using NADA prices as a guideline and starting my negotiation at low end of the NADA prices for the units. I have explained my rationale to a few dealers now and they just get angry and walk away. They say that they can not make enough money by selling units at less than mid-high retail. Where are these great deals that I am hearing about?

Frustrated in Massachusetts

First of all, I believe when a dealer sees a couple looking at say, a 200 thousand dollar home, they think, "there must not be a recession for them, or they probably wouldn't be looking". So, what they see is $$$$$$$ or, people looking to spend money. They just don't see a couple looking for a slashed price, due to they economy. I don't believe they use the mentality that selling 3 MH at a huge discount, is better than only selling one at the regular mark up. After all, the salesman works on comission.
Do they think you're stupid? You bet they do.
Good luck

Superslif · 02-20-2011, 12:05 PM

Same as buying a car. First off, I'll go in knowing what I want and what options. I will start with a dealership farthest from home to feel them out. I'll ask for a "out the door price $$". My next stop my be the dealership closest to home or maybe the other side of town.

I may also call an out of state RV dealer and say what will it take me to drive 2 hours to buy from you. As long as you know what you want....My first trailer I called, saiding what I wanted, he called back in 5 minutes with a price that was $1800 less (99' Coleman pop-up) than my 2 in town dealers. Drove out the next day to put down a deposit and picked it up the next weekend. deal done happy camper...

Midniteoyl · 02-20-2011, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveLevin

There can certainly be cases like that where dealers have agreed to take a unit where the owner won't sell for a realistic price, but in general, I consider consignment units to be the best deal -- because you have the dealer working the deal because no matter what it gets sold for, he usually makes money! Sure, the higher the sales price the better (and makes it an easier sell to the owner), but the deal is typically entirely gravy to the dealer... IF the unit gets sold.

Steve

Thats true... But, when i went looking for a Class A, 2 dealers actually told me NOT to bother looking at several coaches on their lots because the owners were asking way too much, refused to come down, and most had sat there for years...One that was only 6 years old even had rust through on the frame that was so bad my pen poked through!

Ended up with a private seller and a super deal, even if it is (much) older

Jim Stewart · 03-02-2011, 10:47 AM

To answer the original question "Do Dealers think we are all stupid"?

No, just the ones that drive onto their lots!

TQ60 · 03-02-2011, 01:39 PM

THe dealer thinks you need their help...so they assume you are not informed...

My question, what is your buying position?

If you have a certian amount od cash to spend, then discover what is available for that and possibly highr end units.

Say you have $40K in cash, and you would like a County Coach of certian model year that normally goes for $60K, have that as a goal and when you find one on the market work on the owner, not too many folks are in a cash position and after working the owner you make the cash offer and start to leave, if they need to sell you are good, if not, nothing lost.

The key here is to do your homework, know what you need, what you want, and how much you can lay on the table, this puts you in charge of the deal, then with private party or dealer, you can control the deal.

Remember, it is YOU that have the CASH, and it is them who wants it, and they only get it when you are happy.

Gary - K7GLD · 03-02-2011, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TQ60

THe dealer thinks you need their help...so they assume you are not informed...

My question, what is your buying position?

If you have a certian amount od cash to spend, then discover what is available for that and possibly highr end units.

Say you have $40K in cash, and you would like a County Coach of certian model year that normally goes for $60K, have that as a goal and when you find one on the market work on the owner, not too many folks are in a cash position and after working the owner you make the cash offer and start to leave, if they need to sell you are good, if not, nothing lost.

The key here is to do your homework, know what you need, what you want, and how much you can lay on the table, this puts you in charge of the deal, then with private party or dealer, you can control the deal.

Remember, it is YOU that have the CASH, and it is them who wants it, and they only get it when you are happy.

As a rough, and I do mean *ROUGH* price guide, there are several good online sources for value quotes - just be aware that even some of THOSE are behind the times and reality as to the current actual going prices of various units - but it's a start.

scenic route · 03-02-2011, 03:44 PM

"Do all dealers think we're stupid"? From what I've experienced, you bet... most do.

Before we bought, I carried around a current copy of the NADA RV appraisal guide (over 6 months) while looking at RVs on Craig's List, Ebay, RV Trader, private owners and dealers alike. I drove my wife crazy with all the looking we did...sure was fun!

Anyway, I found alot of dealers (and private owners) didn't like the fact that I knew what the wholesale/trade in price was...they don't like informed customers. I looked at a 7 year old Bounder that wasn't in very good shape and smelled of wet dog. The dealer wanted, according to NADA, $2K over retail. After I showed him my 'book' (he already knew)he got perturbed and told me "there's an @$$ for every seat" and that I should try to find a better deal. Seezh!

Gary - K7GLD · 03-02-2011, 05:51 PM

Here's the NADA website for RV's:

Prices & Used Values for RVs, Travel Trailers & more - NADAguides

HMXDave · 03-03-2011, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary - K7GLD

Here's the NADA website for RV's:

Prices & Used Values for RVs, Travel Trailers & more - NADAguides

Am I doing something wrong with the site....I can't find Newmar.

Gary - K7GLD · 03-03-2011, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HMXDave

Am I doing something wrong with the site....I can't find Newmar.

Nope - I couldn't find it either - wonder if they go by another name - like Itasca, by Winnebago?

purduepete2 · 03-03-2011, 11:39 AM

If you're looking for a used rig and you want to save money you have to buy from a private party. Dealers have to cover overhead on used units just like on new ones. Sometimes even more. They know what their cost is from the Manufacturer and that the Mfg will pay for any problems with the unit under the warranty. If there are problems with a used unit they have to eat it if you discover it before the sale is final and you're stuck with it after you've signed for it! Running a business is expensive while a private party has the cost of the sales ad and a depreciating asset he wants off his property for various reasons.

Pete