Here I am

Any one deal with Dave Smith?

Attention: TDR Forum Junkies
To the point: Click this link and check out the Front Page News story(ies) where we are tracking the introduction of the 2025 Ram HD trucks.

Thanks, TDR Staff

Safety Notice

2010 serpentine belt replacement question...

Status
Not open for further replies.
Anyone deal with Dave Smith? They seem to have good prices and lots of trucks. I don't live in Idaho, so how is it buying from them when you live out of state? Thanks.
 
I have purchased 8 or 9 trucks, cars and suv's from them over the years. Always found their prices to be fantastic and super friendly sales staff. I'm from Montana, so although it isn't far away, it's still out of state. No hassles whatsoever.
 
I bought my truck from them. It was a no-hassle arrangement. They said what they did, and did what they said. I did not have time to fly & drive, so I had it delivered. That was a little bit of a hassle, but not too much. I would do it again.
 
I want to use my local credit union. They want to see the contract first, then they will give me a check, which I can take to Dave Smith. Dave Smith wants me to come up and sign the contract and use one of their finance guys. I've never bought from out of state before and this is kinda ******* me off. How have you guys done this?
 
Make absolutely certain you are getting the options list and specific brand of any accessories you are wanting and what you have been offered. In years past they were known to sell trucks for tens of thousands of dollars cheaper than dealers in Alaska, however, when folks got their trucks they weren't equipped with limited slip rear ends, heavy duty cooling and transfer cases and were also equipped with non mopar accessories.

I doubt they still do this but let's face facts, always be skeptical when dealing with salesman and finance guys. The finance guys at Dave Smith are wanting to get their "back end" money by getting you in the hot seat and hopefully making a big up sell while they've got you there.
 
When we got ours, we were living in CA and we used our credit union in MN. We have a great relationship with our credit union and we've gotten many vehicle loans over the phone without signing a paper. I called Dave Smith about a new '06 they had on their lot. We made a deal on the truck over the phone. Called credit union back and told them how much I needed. They sent me a check made out to Dave Smith for the total amount. I had already given DS a list of the accessories I wanted installed so the truck was ready to go when I got there. Had them spray bed liner in the bed and over the rails. Bed liner down the lower section of the sides of the truck and rockers. Under the rail black tool box, goose neck hitch, in bed trailer plug, airbags w/onboard air, AFE cold air intake, seat covers and SRT 10 hood painted to match. I gave the sales man specific details and told him to write everything down exactly as I say it. He emailed me a copy of my build sheet to get it approved. I picked the truck up a month later on my way thru to MN. Everything was exactly how I wanted it with the brands I wanted.
 
I special ordered mine over the phone in late '06. Salesguy was knowledgeable and pleasant. They got me every rebate and incentive they could plus gave me half credit toward the Farm Bureau which hadn't cut in just yet.
Service/accessory department installed everything perfectly.
The only friction I got was an exasperated finance guy who unsuccessfully tried to sell me a Chrysler service contract.
Mine was a cash sale.
DSM recommended a local transporter and my salesguy even hooked me up with another buyer here and we went in on the hauling fee.

We're going to be up that way next summer and I plan to stop in.
 
I have. 3 times. Call Dutch. Out of state they charged me no tax or regristratiion. You are to pay it at home when you register. It is up to you to tell your home state when you bring the new vehicle into your state.
 
I want to use my local credit union. They want to see the contract first, then they will give me a check, which I can take to Dave Smith. Dave Smith wants me to come up and sign the contract and use one of their finance guys. I've never bought from out of state before and this is kinda ******* me off. How have you guys done this?

Not sure if it works on interstate purchases, but you can get an either/or contract at the time of sale and that gives you 10 days (that's what mine was) to obtain alternate financing on your own. It also gives the seller an incentive to get you the best financing since they make money selling the loan. Get pre-approved at your CU so you know the rate you're competing with. Also, check to see how tax is handled, as I believe you won't pay tax at the time of purchase, but you will have to pay when you register it at home.
 
I tried to buy from them last month. Web site showed over 100 trucks similar to what I was looking for. When I called, I was offered 2 trucks which did not have the accessories I wanted and they would not give me the discounts that a local dealership would give me. I ended up using USAA/Trucar with a local dealer and saved about $1500 from what DS offered me, plus I did not have the expense and 2 days of travel required to get to and from the DS dealership.

My experience at the local dealer was not good, but I did get the price and truck I wanted. After agreeing to a price, but prior to actually signing the deal, Trucar/USAA sent me an email about a new $500 discount for just having a AMEX card. I showed them the email the morning I went in to sign the deal and amazingly enough they knocked off another $500!

My mother told me once "to treat all realtors like crooks and you won't be disappointed". I would add car salesmen to that.
 
I've tried twice to deal with Dave Smith - on my 2002 3500 and on my current 2011 3500. Both times I called and gave the receptionist (I guess) all of my information, including my location in Texas, and she said that a sales representative would be in touch with me. I'm still waiting...... In the meantime, I ordered both trucks from the same local dealer. I'm glad dealing with DSM has worked out for others - to this point, it hasn't for me.

Rusty
 
My 2012 was purchased from Dave Smith. Fly into Spokane, they pick you up and take you to Kellogg. Very efficient process. I inquired just a few months ago when I was looking to do something with the 2012 b/c of the recall/buyback. Again they treated me very fair and had a very good discount. I ended up finding a truck in Denver for about the same deal so took that one instead. However, Dave Smith was thousands below any of my local dealers. On the recent negotiation, I was looking at the inventory on their website and did the 'live chat' scenario. I was contacted by a sales rep and the sales mgr. promptly.
 
Bought my 2009 from them. Great experience. I went in pre-approved with a USAA financing offer, they beat that, so I went with them (even though I paid it off in full a month later when GM repurchased my GMC lemon). I flew one way to Spokane, WA, they picked my up a the airport, then I drove the truck home.

I'd deal with them again, ironically I first came to know them by a stop on a trip to Montana with the 2007 GMC and its defective trailer brake controller.. the Spokane dealer did not have the part, Dave Smith did. I arrived over their service team's lunch break, but they cut their lunch short, came to work and fixed my truck promptly to get me back on the road.. that was quite telling, I was not a customer at that point, it was warranty work.

While waiting I looked at the Dodge trucks, the GMC was a lemon due to an oil leak that was apparently unfixable after 7 tries, I did not order the undercarriage and trailer oil spray rust preventive option, but apparently that truck had the option installed at the factory!

Not long after that stop, I was back buying the 2009 Dodge, which has been a good truck.
 
Bought my 11 HO Dually from there. Awesome price! They asked ONCE if I wanted a warranty I said NO they dropped the subject.

Had them price my 15 I wanted to order along with AutoNation in Seattle. They both came back with the same price. AutoNation gave me 3,500 more for my trade.
 
Dave Smith doesn't heavily discount custom orders. Only trucks in inventory get the big price breaks.
 
The advantage to buying out of State for Comifornia, is the tax break when you bring it back to register it in Comifornia. The base state sales tax is all you pay, so the added County/City taxes on top of the State taxes are not charged. I found that out when I purchased my 5ver from Oregon. But if the taxes are more or the same in out of state purchases, then you don't pay any in Comifornia.
 
I think I paid a $50 one trip pass/DOC from DSM which is required from Idaho. It was a very minor charge.
No city/county charges in California. Registration and sales tax was a whopper though in San Diego.
In 10-06,I paid $1100(the holdback) under invoice-50% of the Farm Bureau discount-Dodge rebate at the time+ $800 transportation.
They were very generous. I couldn't get anybody in Southern California or Carson Dodge to deal.
I would have paid $1500 more just to use a local dealer but no dice.
 
Last edited:
My truck was a special order. Spec'ed out exactly what I wanted.

They don't heavy discount custom orders anymore. I can buy a custom order 2016 locally for the same price as DS: $500 +\- invoice.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top