What kind of "deal" is a good one???

[Dkevdog]

OK. Here it is. I'm a little irratated by sleezy sales scum when it comes to buying ANY rv. We have been looking at both new and used (As most know from my other posts) and actually got to the point of making an offer today. In reality, I don't think the model and prices are relevant to this discussion, but rather the percentage off the stcker is what really counts. In this case, it was a smaller 5er, but here goes.



Sticker $16,770 (+ tax & feess)



Salesman suggestion "I think we can get my boss to go for $13000, this coach has been here and isn't moving... "



So we make an offer. $13000



They saleman runs all that damn paperwork and comes back. "Boss says, thats only $400 over invoice, can't do it. $14995 is his offer... . "



Gosh damn friggin sales jerk!!! Why the hell did you suggest $13000 when you knew full well that would never fly?? So we walked.



IS there any formula to figure what a realistic invoice/profit margin is??



Better yet, (without disclosing prices- that's not really relevant) what percentage off of list did some of you actually manage to get on new rigs?? That's the real test- actual sticker or asking price, VS what you actually paid.



I hate this process. It's killing me!!



Kev

 

[swamp rat]

For older model new or used RV's here is a good place to start:



http://www.nadaguides.com/GlobalFrame.asp?wSec=5&wPg=1102



The process should be similar to spec'ing out a truck and making an offer based on dealer invoice and how long the dealer has been stuck with a particular unit and when the new ones are coming out.



I got my '95 25004x4 for a few bucks over invoice and the dealer still made a nice profit, but just not as much as he wanted.



Took ten trips back and forth between the sales droids desk and the real salemans desk to work the deal, but I got what I wanted for a mere pittance more than I wanted to pay and I had a good time in the process. The sales manager said the same thing to me after all was said and done.

 

[Ramboy]

Kev,

I have owned several trailers and have found the best buys to be had at RV shows where the dealer gets factory incentives and buying at the end of the model year. Usually big mark-downs on both.

Phil

 

[RustyJC]

Kev,



The rule of thumb is that you should be able to get between 20% and 25% off MSRP on an RV. You may be at or slightly below 20% on the lower-priced models, but should be at or near 25% on the higher-priced ones.



Rusty

 

[Extreme1]

Don't know about RVs...

But a car dealership will consider $400 the minimum profit. The sales manager will ask the sales man if you (the customer) can be "bumped" and if it is a popular model, they will hold out for more. If it has been there for a while, they will actually loose a little to move it. They have to pay interest on the money borrowed to buy the iventory.

 

[Shovelhead]

????? DEAL ??????

I've spent a little time in dealerships... ...



The game seems to be played like this:



A. pigeon, excuze me, customer walks in.



B. Sales"person" starts to chat to see if this is another "tire-kicker"



C. Salesman will try to get your keys to "let the used car/truck appraiser test drive your trade" (now you can't leave)



D. Salesman has to "run this offer past the sales manager"

stays gone for 5-10 min.



E Comes back with " the manager says we can't go that low, howseabout this price.



F. Continue D, and E at least twice more before comming back with the "manager" (probably another salesman playing the part)



G. If you stand and walk out you will probably get your best offer from them before you hit the door, I've walked out of two different dealers, only to have them call me the next day to "accept my offer if I'll pick it up now" Sorry BOZO you played, you lost.



A good deal is any one where you wake up two days later and your butt ain't STILL sore



sorry for the looooong post.

 

[Dkevdog]

That NADA thing is way wrong

I've tried that NADA thing, and it is way off, at least in my opinion. I just ran a report on a used 2000 Prowler model 27-5-J. The dealer wants $14,500 for it, its in pretty good shape. With the options and using the little online checklists, it came out to about $23,000. Let me tell you something, NEW ones cost less than $23K. So I don't know where they get off with the price index, but IMHO its worthless.....



Kev

 

[Alan Reagan]

Consumer reports usually does a thing (at least on cars) where they give the bottom line you should expect to pay. You may try and see if they have done one on RVs. Another good resource is the bank. They will usually give you bottom line pricing for autos, boats, etc.

 

[Scott Gray]

And the right price is????

Originally posted by RustyJC



... between 20% and 25% off MSRP on an RV. You may be at or slightly below 20% on the lower-priced models, but should be at or near 25% on the higher-priced ones.

I agree with Rusty. I got 30% off of mine but felt very lucky about it. Dealer had just moved to a new location and I think he was hungry... .

 

[Northrunner]

Dkevdog, In my opinion getting the dealers to say no to my 1st offer is where I start in this process. If I can make the same offer at 2 or 3 dealers for the same vehicle and they all say no, I'm even happier, I like to find where their bottom line is. I don't expect them to sell their product at a loss, but let's keep their profit reasonable. Now is a perfect time of year to be shopping for RV's. Leftover models from last year and new models arriving now or very soon motivates the dealers. Make sure they know you are serious and they'll keep in touch. Make it a point to leave them all your phone number. They play this game everyday. They WANT to sell you that RV before you buy somewhere else. Take your time, play the game... ... . good luck.

 

[tom sweeney]

i too ordered my rig at the RV show in Va. this past spring... my wife and i sat down with the dealer and picked out the model we wanted,and then decided what options were "mandatory",and so forth... when we had finished compiling our "dream rig",the total was right back up to 30k... . way out of our league... the dealer then knocked off a sizeable amount AND gave us a FAIR trade-in on our 16yr old,worn-out TT..... it appears that RV buying is very much like buying a truck or anything else,you simply need to find a dealer WILLING to work with you... . my experience could not have been much better in my opinion... . good luck!!... tom