Finding low cost Dealers in Eastern PA

[tmcIlwain]

I'm just about ready to start toward a purchase of a 2014 Big Horn CC 4x4. I want delivery late April.
I've 'built' my truck on line at Ramtrucks.comhttp://www.ramtrucks.com/en/ram_2500/. Then I used that site to located about 50 dealers within about a 90 mile radius of my 'home', near Harrisburg (Hershey), PA.
I want to pare that list down quite a bit so I'm asking for recommendations of dealers that any of you know that discount the truck heavily in primarily three Pennsylvania areas:
Harrisburg, Allentown/Bethlehem, and Philadelphia.
Now there might also be an major east coast dealer outside these areas, know to sell very low. I can fly if needed!

One other problem is that I am wintering in Florida, while everyone else freezes, so I must do my bidding requests by email. I don't see that as a huge problem, do you? I will only have the options descriptions not any Ram line numbers...

Tom

 

[Jeff Knight]

Tom,

Forrer dodge in Duncannon is a small family owned dealer. They might not be the cheapest but there service dept is great. I had my 02 serviced by them with great results. My next ram will come from them.

Jeff

 

[Fear This: Cummins!!]

I will second Forrer Dodge. I bought my '06 Mega Cab from Beaver Motors (Beaver Springs, about 1.5 hours from you). Service was only so, so. Did not know Forrer dodge existed. Since this dealership is just outside of Harrisburg and on my way to work, I thought I should try them out. I pulled in the lot to see a pretty mean cummins with stacks on it!! The service manager and the Dedicated Diesel mechanic drive em and work on em. They have treated me right from day one even though I did not buy my truck there. Including, $3000 worth of injectors that the District rep said dodge would not cover under the warranty period. The service manager took a fuel sample from the filter housing, said it was clean gave me the keys to my truck and said no charge!! They do not mess around, they don't beat around the bush. They fix it once and its done. You may get a lower price at a larger volume dealer, but remember service will be needed at some point and dealers almost ALWAYS treat a customer far better if the vehicle was purchased from them.. This being said, if you are looking for a rock bottom price on a Cummins, Kernerville Dodge in North Carolina is hard to beat and about 7 or 8 hours from you.

 

[rscurtis]

I had Shively in Chambersburg do my HVAC doors, and the job was perfect. I couldn't complain about the $445 labor charge either, (I supplied the parts, from HeaterTreater.) They also have a large dealership in Shippensburg, which is not that far from Harrisburg. I've never bought any vehicles from them so I can't comment on their pricing.

 

[tmcIlwain]

Thanks for the leads. I guess I will broadcast a 'bid request' to a bunch of dealers.

Tom

 

[endoscott]

Check out Dave Smith Motors in Kellogg Idaho. They will fly you out there to pick it up. Talk to Jayelene Hall-she is very knowledgeable about these trucks. We picked up our 2014 Ram 3500 SRW with Aisin transmission and drove it home Saturday. That thing drives so smooth compared to my 2003. Best buying experience ever. Call her and she will tell you the price, and their fees no screwing around.

 

[tmcIlwain]

Since started this thread, I thought it appropriate to post what I learned. I am buying a RAM 2500 BIG HORN CREW CAB 4X4 6'4" BOX with a bunch of other bells and whistles.
First of all you must know that although my ''home' is in Pennsylvania, I am presently spending the winter in warm Florida, so my shopping had to be conducted by email.
I live near Hershey, PA, when I'm home, in eastern central Pennsylvania, and ideally want the lowest cost, but hopefully a dealer ''reasonably' close. But for a good saving, I was willing to drive!
I made a list of 16 dealers in my area, but including a couple near Phila (80 miles away) and even one in Baltimore (recommended by a TDR member). I chose not to use the Idaho lead.
The only other thing I did was to use the free on-line service of TruCar.com, who provided two of my 16 dealers, although there were among the furthest away.

I used the Ram Truck Builder web site to generate my specification and also to get dealer web site URL and then used the dealer Contact form to establish contact. This usually generated an automated response that 'usually' results in an email from a salesperson.
An interesting side note is that of the 16 dealers, 6 either failed to respond at all or never followed through on a formal quote for one reason or another. That is a sad commentary on those 6 dealers. And if their sales/ownership is that inefficient, I hate to think about their service departments!

In summary, the 2 TruCar dealers and the Baltimore dealer were lower than most of the bidders, but my lowest bidder (where I have now ordered the truck) came from:
Lancaster Dodge in Lancaster, PA. The salesman is John Hatzis, email -- email address removed --, 717-682-8255

Lancaster Dodge was over $1100 cheaper than the lowest of the TruCar dealers and $500 cheaper than the far away Baltimore dealer, who was the second lowest bid, AND Lancaster Dodge is about 25 miles from my home.

So my recommendations are to spread your dealer search around more than just your back yard. Also utilize the TruCar.com pricing system. It will at least give you some competitive low prices with in 80-100 miles of you home.

What I failed to do, and would do the next time, is to inform all the dealers that I was also getting bids from TruCar. I think that might have generated more competition from my local dealers, as they know what good prices TruCar generates,
Finally, I did not go back and forth between dealers to hammer them into meeting other bids. Maybe I should have, but I told them all to give me their best shot initially, and let the chips fall as they might.

Again, you PA residents might want to contact John Hatzis at Lancaster Dodge and see what you can do.

Tom

 

[Cummins12V98]

"I chose not to use the Idaho lead."

For anyone wanting to buy a new truck contact DAVE SMITH MOTORS in Kellog, ID the worlds largest Chrysler Dealer. Even if you don't buy there get pricing from them. You will have a lot of ammo with your local dealer.

tmcllwain you may have saved more by contacting them, who knows!

 

[The patriot]

Reedman in Langhorne gave me a good price when I was looking for my 98. I think theyre still there.
I didnt buy from them because they were pushing the auto when I wanted the 5 speed.

 

[PMcCall]

You may also want to check Keene Dodge in Jarrettsville MD. Great family dealership. Ask for Scot when you call

 

[rrnut-2]

I was prepared to drive to Dave Smith from NH with '10 Dodge 2500 as they had the truck that wanted, at the right price. While doing a Google search for Dodge 3500 information, my local dealer popped up with the same truck, well sort of. The truck at Dave Smith's was '13, the local dealer's was a '14. But, I walked into the dealer, Hillsboro Chrysler, and informed the salesman that I bought 2 motorcycles in Tennessee and the truck that I was trading, in North Carolina, so I was not going to be held hostage by him. I bought the truck even though my local dealer was $1500 more. I would have spent that driving to ID and back, not to mention what the weather could have been.