How important is it to buy local?

GoPackGo wrote:

colliehauler wrote:

laknox wrote:

GoPackGo wrote:
When Honda and Toyota start building RVs, TTs, and Fivers, things will magically improve. But not until then.

History DOES repeat.

Hell, ANY car mfr!

Lyle

I wouldn't hold my breath.

Let's see a new Escalade is 90k, what would a 5er cost 300k? 500k?

I not thrilled about the quality, but at least I can afford one.

I think most people can afford a Honda - if not 'new' then 'used'. All of the ones ever owned by my family have been very reliable from the git go and have run forever.

How many cars does Honda sell a year. What kind of volume would they have to sell to realize a ROI. Are they going to use the same parts as all the other mfg's or make there own?

Do you think if they could make money they would not already be in the market? Honda builds cars, motorcycles, generators, yard equipment, jet planes, jet skies, boat motors and who knows what else. I would be willing to bet if they thought it was profitable they would already be in the market.

Coach-man wrote:

Now if all your camping is done locally than you have a point. But what good is that advantage if your 500 miles from home and need a repair??

I would say buy from a dealer who offers the best price for what you want!

And to the dealers who will not or will put your rig at the bottom of the priority list, well I would be looking at another dealer for my next rig!

Dealers make Money off both the sale and service, and they should earn your business!

The only reason to use a *dealer* of/for your brand (local or distant) for repairs - is when your RV is under warranty.

Appliances in your RV are warrantied by the appliance mfgr - often much quicker & easier to handle warranty probs by/with an independent repair shop.

If the dealer you contact when traveling - won't accommodate you for warranty repairs - contact the mfgr -AND- go elsewhere.

Unless it's something really simple (that you probably could have fixed yourself)...many, many "local dealers" have long waits for service on the RVs purchased from them!

Buy local = smoke and mirrors!
"We will take really good care of you if you buy from us" - then it's, sign here and - "Goodbye!"...:S

Search for the best deal you can find, and smile all the way to and from your bank or credit union...:B

.

Late to comment... We fulltime and early on we were in Yuma and ordered our current trailer. Since then, we have not returned to Yuma for anything. We have visited the factory in Chanute for repair items, but normally use a local dealer or mobile service for anything we can't do.

We have Mor/ryde and have gone back to Elkhart for minor work. Most dealers will not pull the "didn't buy it here" BS if you are upfront that you fulltime. We have never had any period longer that overnight for repairs.

Jim

colliehauler wrote:

laknox wrote:

GoPackGo wrote:
When Honda and Toyota start building RVs, TTs, and Fivers, things will magically improve. But not until then.

History DOES repeat.

Hell, ANY car mfr!

Lyle

I wouldn't hold my breath.

Let's see a new Escalade is 90k, what would a 5er cost 300k? 500k?

I not thrilled about the quality, but at least I can afford one.

I think most people can afford a Honda - if not 'new' then 'used'. All of the ones ever owned by my family have been very reliable from the git go and have run forever.

laknox wrote:

GoPackGo wrote:
When Honda and Toyota start building RVs, TTs, and Fivers, things will magically improve. But not until then.

History DOES repeat.

Hell, ANY car mfr!

Lyle

I wouldn't hold my breath.

Let's see a new Escalade is 90k, what would a 5er cost 300k? 500k?

I not thrilled about the quality, but at least I can afford one.

OK, I guess "it is better to buy from a local dealer" for the service after the sale? Now if all your camping is done locally than you have a point. But what good is that advantage if your 500 miles from home and need a repair?? I would say buy from a dealer who offers the best price for what you want! And to the dealers who will not or will put your rig at the bottom of the priority list, well I would be looking at another dealer for my next rig! Dealers make Money off both the sale and service, and they should earn your business!

"Warranty work is a slightly different matter. Any dealer who sells a particular manufacturers units is contractually obligated to service those manufacturer's units if they have a service dept. They can tell you about their workload, backlog, etc but they can't refuse to service your unit without endangering their contract with the manufacturer. But you may have to complain directly to the factory to get things to happen."

This is factually not correct. RV dealers are not "franchised" like in the car business so there is no contract that forces a dealer that carries a certain brand to do warranty work on that brand if it wasn't purchased from them.

Joyce in NY wrote:
Each of our rigs came from different dealers who had the unit we wanted at the time. One dealer was a four-hour drive from home, closest was an hour. Our current unit went in for service twice -- once for an improperly wired bathroom fan (which we ended up fixing ourselves because service didn't order the part like they said they would), and for a leak around the scare light. Most of the repairs we had on our rigs were done on the road. AC went while wintering in Florida -- repaired by mobile tech under warranty. Leaf spring broke in Amarillo, TX -- repaired by mobile tech. Replaced axles near Amarillo, TX. Front jacks wouldn't raise in Elkhart, Indiana -- Forest River sent us over to the Lippert Factory who replace them in their parking lot -- under warranty. Different rig -- axle replaced in Durango, CO under warranty. Had to wait a few days for the part because it was 4th of July weekend! Had a tire blow out near Erie, PA when a leaf spring broke that caused $6,000 damage to the side of the unit. A dealer in Erie promised if we could get it in by 4:00 they would get us on the road again, same day, but they closed promptly at 5:00 on Fridays. We got there, and true to their word, were on the road at 5:01. Another unit had the roof replaced under warranty -- our dealer sent it to a specialist 6 hours away. They had the trailer all winter, and come spring, we were set to roll again. Stuff WILL happen if you use your rig, but fixes can be painless. Small stuff, non warranty, mods, DH does himself.

We always buy the unit we love, regardless of where we need to go. The repairs WILL get done!

Yikes!!! Axles replaced!! That sounds pretty dangerous!! What were the symptoms? How and why is it that new rigs would need axles replaced?? And a new roof?? I don't understand why a new unit would need a roof replaced, either!! And a blowout? Ugggh!!

GoPackGo wrote:
When Honda and Toyota start building RVs, TTs, and Fivers, things will magically improve. But not until then.

History DOES repeat.

Hell, ANY car mfr!

Lyle

It really depends on whether you have the ability to fix things yourself.

Those that are not comfortable with swapping out a microwave or diagnosing an electrical issue will always recommend buy local. But those same people complain when their brand new RV is sitting at their local dealer for 2 months to get their 'list' of items fixed. If your list contains tightening up cupboard door hinges, then I can't blame the dealer.

I am more of a fix-it-myself kinda guy. We bought our first used trailer knowing the floor was soft. First winter I tore the entire inside out, repaired the leak, replaced the floor and put it all back together. Learned a lot about RV's and wiring from that. :)

Our last two new campers have come from 1000+ miles away and I had zero intention of going back to the dealer for service. I would NEVER buy local based on location and/or promise of service. I will buy local if they can meet an acceptable price.

I have no intention of having the RV sit at a dealer for a month waiting to get something fixed. But it really comes down to the actual dealer. The sales rep's empty promises are exactly that.