How important is it to buy local?

janegowest wrote:
I heard a long spiel last night on a youtube video about it being very important to buy local, because RV dealers always prefer to work on their own customer's rigs first.

One MORE criteria!! : ( That limits my choices even more, if I have to purchase a rig from the local dealers that I have available!

Can you all weigh in on this issue please?

If you can get a local deal to come reasonably close to prices you can find elsewhere, then buy locally. Were it me, I'd make d@mn-sure the dealer knows that you could have gone elsewhere to save money, but chose to deal with him, so he'd better toe the line on after-sale service. At the same time, don't be afraid to call the mfr and ask them if they will have conniptions if you ask for non-dealer warranty service. Since KZ is on my short-list, and there is exactly ONE KZ dealer in the state of AZ, I had no problem calling them and asking this. They are very aware of the issue and said that they had a number of independent service providers that they would recommend if/when service were needed. Because the RV industry refuses to create an automotive-style dealer network, you're forced into these shenanigans. If you can't get the local dealer to even come close, then buy where it makes sense to buy, then make sure the local dealer =and= the mfr know exactly =why= you chose not to buy locally. =Especially= the mfr!

Lyle